Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings

Undefeated swordsman master of battlefield strategy martial arts iconMiyamoto Musashi who lived in Japan in the 1600s is the most famous samurai of all time. His masterwork the Book of Five Rings (Gorin no sho) is one of the most insightful texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to emerge from Asian culture. Over the centuries Musashis reputation has grown to mythic proportions but in fact much about Musashi and his life remains a mystery. Here Kenji Tokitsu a modern martial arts master and scholar turns a critical eye on Musashis life and writings separating fact from fiction and providing a view of the man and his ideas that is accessible and relevant to todays readers and martial arts students. Tokitsu provides a vivid and meticulously researched biography and a fresh translation of the Book of Five Rings along with four other texts on strategy all with extensive commentary. He is a thoughtful and informed guide putting the historical and philosophical aspects of the text into context. He also covers: The main periods in the history of Japanese swordsmanship Musahis childhood and his first duel The founding of Musashis School of Two Swords Musashis influence on contemporary practice The evolution of budo or martial arts practice for self-cultivation Musashi was also a respected artist and this book contains color reproductions of his own calligraphies and paintings with commentary by the well-known art historian Stephen Addiss.