The Book of Five Rings

Miyamoto Musashi

May 2012 · Shambhala Publications

About this ebook

Along with Sun Tzu's The Art of War, The Book of Five Rings is considered to be one of the most insightful texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to emerge from Asia. Composed in 1643 by the famed duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction. For Musashi, the way of the martial arts was a mastery of the mind rather than simply technical prowess—and it is this path to mastery that is the core teaching in The Book of Five Rings. This brilliant manifesto is written not only for martial artists but for anyone who wants to apply the timeless principles of this text to their life.

Ratings and reviews

This is an excellent and accessible translation of the classic collection of scrolls. In dealing with a complex and esoteric subject, Wilson provides a simple and direct take on a text that is oftentimes overly complicated by the translator.

Love it understood and felt all the wisdom from musashi and its a great book and to me its a work of art

Great For Everyone Who Honors A Samurai's Culture.

About the author

Miyamoto Musashi, who lived in Japan in the 1600s, was an undefeated dueler, a masterless samurai, and an independent teacher. He spent the last decades of his life refining and teaching his military science.