Philosophy

The Book of Five Rings

The Book of Five Rings

  • Downloads：1957
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-12-21 05:53:26
  • Update Date：2025-09-13
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Miyamoto Musashi
  • ISBN：1590302486
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Summary

The Book of Five Rings is one of the most insightful texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to emerge from Asian culture。 Written not only for martial artists but for anyone who wants to apply the timeless principles of this text to their life， the book analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction。

The Book of Five Rings was composed in 1643 by the famed duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi。 Thomas Cleary's translation is immediately accessible， with an introduction that presents the spiritual background of the warrior tradition。 Along with Musashi's text， Cleary translates here another important Japanese classic on leadership and strategy， The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yagyu Munenori， which highlights the ethical and spiritual insights of Taoism and Zen as they apply to the way of the warrior。

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Reviews

The Picky Reader ，

I liked this a lot， albeit not as much as other texts， such as Sun Tzu and Lao Tsu。 There are interesting insights and topics for reflection also applicable in everyday life。Would have highly appreciated if the edition I’ve read had additional notes on the text and reflections on the text。

Andrea ，

This is just my personal thing - I simply couldn't say "it was ok"， when really， I didn't like it。 I guess I don't have enough imagination to see HOW this is supposed to apply to other situations/walks of life。 And the repetitiveness！ "You must study this"， "You must study this deeply"， "You must consider this deeply"， "You must research this" - I was ready to shred the book after these constant， unvarying exhortations。 The only fight was trying to finish the book without falling asleep。 This is just my personal thing - I simply couldn't say "it was ok"， when really， I didn't like it。 I guess I don't have enough imagination to see HOW this is supposed to apply to other situations/walks of life。 And the repetitiveness！ "You must study this"， "You must study this deeply"， "You must consider this deeply"， "You must research this" - I was ready to shred the book after these constant， unvarying exhortations。 The only fight was trying to finish the book without falling asleep。 。。。more

Simone ，

Figo

Sam ，

"Fixation is the way to death， fluidity is the way to life" "Fixation is the way to death， fluidity is the way to life" 。。。more

Zhipeng Chen ，

触类旁通

Erik ，

Yes the rumors are true if you read this book you will turn into a samurai from the Eido period and instantly sprout a man bun。If you are a martial artist this is a must read as it can really help you think at a granular tactical level。 If you go to harvard business school you are probably better of reading Clausewitz

Riccardo Pallotta ，

Molto interessante e scalabile in ogni aspetto della vita， non solo nell'arte della spada。 D'altronde come tutte le arti marziali che sono prima delle filosofie di vita e solo successivamente delle discipline sportive。 Molto interessante e scalabile in ogni aspetto della vita， non solo nell'arte della spada。 D'altronde come tutte le arti marziali che sono prima delle filosofie di vita e solo successivamente delle discipline sportive。 。。。more

Julio Cesar Costa ，

Muito legal os fatos históricos desse samurai。 Li a versão em português。 HUNTER BOOKS EDITORA

Dylan ，

This is a great book for people who want to improve their strategy in any way shape or form。

Avesta Mahmoudvand ，

حلقه پنجم، نیستیتمام هستی در نیستی است

Bosco Raj ，

It's interesting to see how much value men have given to strategy in the old time as a way of life。 Even though battling with a sword is obsolete， the importance of strategy and learning the warrior's way still holds value in our times。 It's interesting to see how much value men have given to strategy in the old time as a way of life。 Even though battling with a sword is obsolete， the importance of strategy and learning the warrior's way still holds value in our times。 。。。more

Aleksander Hristov ，

"the important thing in strategy is to suppress the enemy's useful actions but allow his useless actions" "the important thing in strategy is to suppress the enemy's useful actions but allow his useless actions" 。。。more

Sean ，

What an amazing read。 I found strong similarities to the Art of War & the Tao te Ching。 I find it incredible that Musashi lived less than 400 years ago， and how brief his teaching lineage is。

Joshua ，

This was a painfully slow and uninteresting read for me。 Thankfully it was short。I did enjoy Musashi’s explanation about the WAY of the warrior， that it is a “RESOLUTE ACCEPTANCE OF DEATH”。 I interpret this as having the mindset to be able to overcome any circumstance。 The confidence he had in his abilities to be able to defeat ten men in battle was impressive， but my interest was piqued by only a few paragraphs。The bulk of this book covers Musashi’s sword-fighting and war strategies， which for This was a painfully slow and uninteresting read for me。 Thankfully it was short。I did enjoy Musashi’s explanation about the WAY of the warrior， that it is a “RESOLUTE ACCEPTANCE OF DEATH”。 I interpret this as having the mindset to be able to overcome any circumstance。 The confidence he had in his abilities to be able to defeat ten men in battle was impressive， but my interest was piqued by only a few paragraphs。The bulk of this book covers Musashi’s sword-fighting and war strategies， which for me， was unrelatable。I recommend this book to anyone planning to take up the practice of sword fighting， which is something I don’t have the time or inclination to do at the moment。 。。。more

Jwd ，

he is literally me

Jayne E。 ，

This book is rather interesting for both its history and the reflection of the authors mind。 With that said， its hardly a "must read"。 Its one of those books， just like the art of war where deeper meaning can be found if dug for and created by the reader。 Theres a few moments of deeper thought in the beginning but the majority is simply pamphlet literature for his students。 A portion of this book is all about which way to pull a sword out after you slice someone。 I say this to mean the majority This book is rather interesting for both its history and the reflection of the authors mind。 With that said， its hardly a "must read"。 Its one of those books， just like the art of war where deeper meaning can be found if dug for and created by the reader。 Theres a few moments of deeper thought in the beginning but the majority is simply pamphlet literature for his students。 A portion of this book is all about which way to pull a sword out after you slice someone。 I say this to mean the majority of the book is specific and not applicable to our lives。 Unless of course you are taking people on with 2 swords， in which case i highly recommend this book。 "Its perfectly ok to stab someone in the face， you must consider this deeply。" 。。。more

Nathan Trevizo ，

3。75 StarsI had first heard about this book from an old coworker of mine a few years ago and then again the JRE pod。 Since then it has been on my to read list for awhile。 After finally getting to it I can honestly say this book is not what I expected。 I was expecting more of a book who’s lessons can be applicable to anything in life。 While there are certain moments of that， this book is most definitely a book about martial arts。 While Miyamoto Musashi was big on being well versed in every aspect 3。75 StarsI had first heard about this book from an old coworker of mine a few years ago and then again the JRE pod。 Since then it has been on my to read list for awhile。 After finally getting to it I can honestly say this book is not what I expected。 I was expecting more of a book who’s lessons can be applicable to anything in life。 While there are certain moments of that， this book is most definitely a book about martial arts。 While Miyamoto Musashi was big on being well versed in every aspect of life this book focuses primarily on how to be a well rounded warrior/martial artist。 If you are a person who train any discipline of martial arts， fitness， or weaponry this is a good book for you。 While Musashi focuses primarily on combat with a sword there are many applicable lessons to other martial arts and disciplines or even fire arms。 You will need to be very open minded and think creatively to use these strategies outside of what Musashi presents them for。 If you have any interest in becoming a better martial artist/ warrior this book is a good start。 。。。more

Rivan Akhsa ，

WOW！！！！

Martin Bouma ，

The book provides some insight into a hardened mind。 Some useful ideas for a practical philosophy。

Paul Ivans ，

bruce 。。plan

Owen dame ，

There’s a lot to be learned by samurais especially miyamoto。 My goal was to learn about mindset from someone that lived such an intense life with 60+ duels and 3 wars and meditated for large chunk of it。 Much of this book was about fighting strategy and I was only able to apply bits to my life。

Rex ，

Every so often I read a book like this as if I am some sort of leader or general that needs to understand how to strategize and crush my enemies。 When in actuality I am a guy who lives a lone with a couple pet rats。

Sean Stark ，

It is a classic book with the addition of the 35 strategies， and the 42 strategies documents。 Enjoyed the audible performance。

Shannon ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Ksks

Jude ，

A great book on mental toughness， discipline， and maintaining equanimity and balance in all aspects of life。

Esperance A Mulonda ，

I especially enjoy the last book the most。 This is a book that required learning and meditation。 I might have to come back to this soon but so far， I really enjoyed it。

Alex Senson ，

I am a traditional martial artist of over two decades。 I love this translation as the book contains both Miyamoto Musashi's work as well as Yagyu Munenori's Book of Family Traditions in the Art of War。 Both are extremely insightful， especially when viewed through a more discerning psychological lens。 The language and interpretation is simplified compared to some other translations I've read。 It's hard to get a robust understanding from only one reading， especially since Musashi was himself fairl I am a traditional martial artist of over two decades。 I love this translation as the book contains both Miyamoto Musashi's work as well as Yagyu Munenori's Book of Family Traditions in the Art of War。 Both are extremely insightful， especially when viewed through a more discerning psychological lens。 The language and interpretation is simplified compared to some other translations I've read。 It's hard to get a robust understanding from only one reading， especially since Musashi was himself fairly cryptic to begin with。 Try to look beyond the application of techniques as they apply to war and see through to the important lessons in human behavioural science and psychology that these warriors didn't even realize they were pioneering。 The "way" was simply what was required to succeed as a warrior， but these same "ways" are totally relevant to our lives today。 Not to make war， to win or compete - but to live well， to find ways of managing conflict and interpersonal challenges， and to unlock the true potential of individuals。 I used many of the lessons in these books to inform my own professional development program， since as an experienced martial artist I had the context to really read deeply through the layers of meaning in these texts and interpret them in my own unique way。 I see the lessons in these texts as a blueprint for peace and harmony， rather than for fighting， war， conflict， domination and hierarchal ranking。 。。。more

Alexander De Vadas ，

Good book though Musashi comes across as very full of himself。 As if his way is the only way a person should practice life let alone swordsmanship。。。。

Jerome ，

These books are replete with not-so-common common sense。 While phrases along the lines of "this concept is difficult to learn by reading" were common， so， too， were passages that I highlighted。 I'm certain I'll return to this book as I progress toward the ideals presented within。 There is much food for thought。 These books are replete with not-so-common common sense。 While phrases along the lines of "this concept is difficult to learn by reading" were common， so， too， were passages that I highlighted。 I'm certain I'll return to this book as I progress toward the ideals presented within。 There is much food for thought。 。。。more

Jobim ，

Really cool to see how old martial arts principles can still be valid in modern day。 A lot of Japanese martial arts are meant to be used against people with weapons so a lot of the techniques and strategy shows up here in dueling

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Book of Five Rings

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Book of Five Rings&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Book of Five Rings&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0