Japanese Art of War

Rating:
Summary: Interesting to the lover of Asian history.
Review: In history most nations are always taking ideas and beliefs from others, even when they don't know it. Japan is no different. Much of the Far East classes in American colleges spend much of their time teaching students about where Japan gets much of its culture, language and traditions.
The Art of War is like everything else that came to Japan. They took it, made it Japanese and used it in the way THEY felt was best. The Art of War soon spread into areas of business and philosophy. The ideas were soon adapted and proved to be useful rules for every walk of Japanese life. It could guide a warrior or help a baker do his best.

Rating:
Summary: Really, a commentary on "A Book of Five Rings"
Review: This is a great book if taken for what it really is, a commentary on Cleary's translation of "A Book of Five Rings" and other material that Cleary has handled. I wish I had read this directly after I had initially read "5 Rings". The latter book is an extremely cold-blooded and dispassionate look at the art of killing. Nevertheless it has had great influence in some Japanese circles. I was extremely put off by it.

"The Japanese Art of War" puts "5 Rings" into its cultural context and compares it with works by other Japanese writers of the same era. It examines the thought and cultural patterns at work during this period and delves into how these patterns have carried over into the present.

If you're looking for a good book on the Samurai, this isn't it. Try Westbrook's "Secrets of the Samurai". But if you want an interesting journey into the realm where Zen and the traditional martial arts of Japan meet, this may be what you're looking for.