A Book of Five Rings

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Summary: A Mile-Marker Along the Way
Review: Was it the eighties when everyone ran out to buy this book to use as a business tool? Admirable, perhaps, but one might miss the point. Whether you are a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker, this book can help illuminate the Way for you. There are no easy answers in life. You have to find them for yourself. This book is an excellent map along the road to greater understanding of all things. If you are looking for a quick fix to your business woes, take a class at a community college. If you want to learn something about life and yourself, buy this book. Read it. Go away and think about. Come back and read it again. Understanding will happen somewhere along the Way.

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Summary: Not a book to simply read through.
Review: This is not a book that you can sit down and read in a straight line and get the point-- each of the strategies deserves its own session and a great deal of thought. I've now gone through it several times and feel like I'm only now beginning to have a grasp on the applicability of certain pieces. Although currently being read out of context, the author himself notes at one point that once you know the Way broadly, you will see it in all things. It's a nice gift that we have the ability to read and learn from it in this here and now.

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Summary: Have tea with Musashi, and learn from his endless experience
Review: All those who have even minimum interest with martial culture should read this book, from militaries to karateka's. Simple and profound it gives enlightning basic notions on "how to defeat your enemy" in the "fastest way". It is incredible how this centuries old script applies to the modern society, as it is possible to considerate it a "fundamental manual in combat strategies". Where for combat you can intend all possible situations that implicate struggle: war, fight, work, love.

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Summary: A fine translation of a rich book
Review: In a fit of generosity I gave away my copy of Victor Harris' translation to a martial artist friend. Having searched for a replacement I finally purchased a dismal 'Interpretation' of the book by an American Karateka, who restyled many passages until they spoke the exact opposite of the original. I threw it away. Mr. Harris' faithful translation, however, bears reading again and again and I believe keeps to the spirit of the original which defies simplistic interpretation, and increases in depth with each reading.

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Summary: When I was...
Review: When I first started the martial arts my sensei reccomended this book for me to read. He told me it would give me basic understanding of strategy, (for now that is) and some balance when it comes to understanding combat. I learned a lot in the manuel by Mushashi, more than I can learn on my own. The wise words, and absolute ways are something that we should all understand as people.

I reccomend this to any one training in ANY martial art!

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Summary: strengths and limitations of the Japanese psyche
Review: Can it really be just ten years since the Great Rising Sun Hysteria?... There was that decade-long spasm when the media and the Leftconvinced themselves that the Japanese had it all figured out. Sothere was this ridiculous craze in Japanese management techniques andfaux profound philosophical teachings. Riding in on the crest of thiswave came A Book of Five Rings by one of the most revered warriors inJapan's history, Miyamoto Musashi. Shinmen Musashi No Kami Fujiwara NoGenshin, aka Miyamoto Musashi, was orphaned by the age of seven and,in order to earn his way in the world, became a swordsman, killing hisfirst man at the age of 13. Eventually he fought some 60 duelswithout ever being defeated. By the end of his career, he had becomeso expert and dominant that he would fight his opponents with nothingbut a stick. Then in 1643, he retired to a contemplative seclusion ina cave, where, just before his death. he wrote Go Rin No Sho (A Bookof Five Rings), a book of strategy addressed to his disciple TeruoNobuyuki.

The book is essentially a treatise on the Way of thewarrior, the strategy that should be employed in combat:

It is saidthe warrior's is the twofold Way of pen and sword, and he should havea taste for both Ways. Even if a man has no natural ability he can bea warrior by sticking assiduously to both divisions of theWay. Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptanceof death. Although not only warriors but priests, women, peasants andlowlier folk have been known to die readily in the cause of duty orout of shame, this is a different thing. The warrior is different inthat studying the Way of strategy is based on overcoming men. Byvictory gained in crossing swords with individuals, or enjoiningbattle with large numbers, we can attain power and fame for ourselvesor for our lord. This is the virtue of strategy.

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Thisis the Way for men who want to learn my strategy:

Do not thinkdishonestly. The Way is in training. Become acquainted with everyart. Know the Ways of all professions. Distinguish between gain andloss in worldly matters. Develop intuitive judgment and understandingfor everything. Perceive those things which cannot be seen. Payattention even to trifles. Do nothing which is of nouse.

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To attain the Way of strategy as a warrior youmust study fully other martial arts and not deviate even a little fromthe Way of the warrior. With your spirit settled, accumulate practiceday by day, and hour by hour. Polish the twofold spirit heart andmind, and sharpen the twofold gaze perception and sight. When yourspirit is not in the least clouded, when the clouds of bewildermentclear away, there is the true void.

Until you realise the true Way,whether in Buddhism or in common sense, you may think that things arecorrect and in order. However, if we look at things objectively, fromthe viewpoint of laws of the world, we see various doctrines departingfrom the true Way. Know well this spirit, and with forthrightness asthe foundation and the true spirit as the Way. Enact strategy broadly,correctly and openly.

Then you will come to think of things in awide sense and, taking the void as the Way, you will see the Way asvoid.

In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom has existence,principle has existence, the Way has existence, spirit isnothingness.

Essentially, he has two extremely simple messages: behumble and study what other people do. This is a thoroughly Japanesephilosophy and the recipe for both their success in the 80's and theirdemise in the 90's. It is really tactical thinking more than it isstrategic. The Japanese system calls for precisely duplicating whatalready exists, for learning what is already known. The Americansystem demands innovation, the end run around the status quo. If youwant a metaphor for the two systems, two images come inescapably tomind: David vs. Goliath and the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark whereIndiana Jones shoots the enormous scimitar wielding Arab. You canjust picture Musashi studying Goliath's moves or the Arab'stechniques, being reactive and imitative, while the American picks upa gun or a sling and uses technological innovation to triumph.

Nowimagine if you will thousands of American businessmen riding the trainto work in the morning with this book clutched in their hands, eagerlyseeking clues to the Japanese economic miracle in the pages of a 17thcentury sword fighting manual. Pretty amusing, eh? It's quite alovely little book and it is helpful for understanding the strengthsand limitations of the Japanese psyche. But if you approach itseeking profound and vital truths to apply in your own life, you aremore than likely going to be disappointed.

GRADE: C+

Rating:
Summary: The helix of learning
Review: One of the most illuminating books I have ever read and one of the best works on strategy ever written. Musashi takes the reader into the world of helical learning. The novice sets off understanding the book at face value and as his understanding of strategy gets more advanced through study, he comes to the realization that the advanced techniques are actually the basics, the same but taken to a higher level. He has gone full circle and arrived at the beginning but at a higher level than whence he started.

But it doesn't stop there, making the circuit again and again and each time rising ever higher in understanding he progresses through the purely physical applications into the mental and spiritual applications of Musashi's ideas thus honing mind, body and spirit and fusing it to will, showing him how to succeed in adversity.

A timeless classic and life-changing book.

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Summary: Great book for the fighter in you
Review: I purchased this book in hopes of improving my fighting strategy. As an amature fighter myself I could relate to everything that was said, further, his language is straight forward and is meant to be directed to those who battle and those who control men in battle.

If you try to translate this into business strategy, it will lose its essence and true purpose of the writting. It will lose meaning because it wasn't meant for business. He actually says that money must not be our only motivation, but self improvement. If you are interested in Japanese history, this is a must. If you are interested in martial arts, this is a must. If you are looking for business strategy, I suggest The Prince, or The Art of War.

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Summary: different views
Review: i wasnt going to write a review but after reading the other reviews i felt i had to. while musashis teachings are applicable to many walks of life it is important to realize that while they have the scent of zen they are at the same time very amoral. in business if you plan on succeeding at the expense of others and in an unethical way his teacings are very applicable. most people greatly misunderstand this work and read it more because it is trendy than to learn. whatever your motivation it is an excellent book and i highly recommend it. just remember becoming mindless does not mean being mindless.

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Summary: Essential for martial artists
Review: I tend to agree that the business applications of this brilliant volume are a bit exagerrated. Musashi was a martial artist, and although the lessons of anyone successful in their craft can apply to many facets of life, this book primarily concerns swordsmanship and military tactics. Clearly, Musashi emphasizes numerous times that there are no amazing secrets, profound philosohpies or special techniques that will help you achieve victory--there is only the mastery of the basics and a deep understanding of yourself and your opponent. And, he also concedes, a natural inclination for any given profession is essential. As a martial arts text, this work is timeless--on par with the classical poems of Taijiquan. For martial artists, the lessons laid out by Musashi need to be pondered, put into practice, and pondered again.....