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Summary: The Japanese answer to Sun-Tzu's Art of War
Review: I was introduced to this book while taking Aikido years ago. Unlike the mystical (and somewhat hard to understand) Book of Five Rings, The Hagakure is very practical, readable and interesting. If you don't do martial arts, but do work with the Japanese in business, The Hagakure gives some important insights into the Japanese mindset. It helps to remember that top businessmen in Japan almost always have studied Kendo, the martial art of the sword. This permeates their philosophy. There are a number of good books on Bushido (way of the warrior) and of course Sun Tzu's book on strategy, but this is the best book for understanding the Japanese view on the art of war.
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Summary: What? 3 stars for the "tome of the samurai"?
Review: It doens't have to do so much with the original as the translation. Of course, this book would be a royal pain to translate, and since I haven't done one I suppose I have little room to complain. But I will. This book helps one understand one view on how Samurai were suppose to live. There were many more, however. Tsunemoto's stance is that a samurai is a vassal of his lord, and the most important thing was to serve your lord even if it meant risk to your personal well being. In peaceful old Edo, there were no enourmous battles to look forward to so the best one could do was move up the ranks by giving good advice and protecting and defending your lord. This is a manual of how to do just that: point out another's mistakes without enraging them (and losing your head) and without them losing face (and you losing your head). Besides this the book also discusses how people harden themselves against the world. Some would see the views as barbaric at times, but how different were they from ideas that existed in 17th century Europe, America, or China? An interesting read for those interested in one perspective on the samurai way of life, but keep in mind... there were many others. Also, don't be fooled. Historically, even, more westerners have read this book than Japanese (even samurai). Still does not mean the thinking was not present, though.
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Summary: HagaKure
Review: Outstanding book! also recament Code of the Samurai : A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinsu
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Summary: Wisdom and ugliness
Review: Short passages of advice, some in the form of anecdotes, some not. A sample passage: A helmet is usually thought to be very heavy, but when one is attacking a castle or something similar, and arrows, bullets, large rocks, great pieces of wood and the like are coming down, it will not seem the least bit so. Another: Ikuno Oribe said, "If a retainer will just think about what he is to do for the day at hand, he will be able to do anything. If it is a single day's work, one should be able to put up with it. Tomorrow, too, is but a single day." Another: Be true to the thought of the moment and avoid distraction. Other than continuing to exert yourself, enter into nothing else, but go to the extent of living single thought by single thought. One of the, uh, less progressive ones: The late Jin'emon said that it is better not to bring up daughters. They are a blemish to the family name and a shame to the parents. The eldest daughter is special, but it is better to disregard the others. It's fun to pick up the book and read a few passages at random--you never know if you're going to encounter some wisdom, something funny, or something (in my eyes at least) twisted and backward.
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Summary: A way of life long ago, but still usefull for today
Review: The book of hidden leaves "Hagakure" expresses the view of a man who lived in a time three hundred years past, but his words are still valid and usefull in today's society. They preach the values of men who will succeed in life, and if you take time to think about it they are still applicable for a person in present-day. "A samurai will use a toothpick even though he has not eaten. Inside the skin of a dog, outside the hide of a tiger."
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Summary: Mishima and Hagakure
Review: The bulk of the reviews prior to my own do a great job of covering the books aspects. However, I wanted to make one point in regards to those who, after reading the book, were really impressed by it. If you enjoyed reading the book, also try and find a copy of "The Way of the Samurai Yukio Mishima on Hagakure in Modern Life" from a library or used book store. It is out of print for the time being, but if you can get ahold of a copy you will get even more out of Hagakure after reading this book. I was fortunate enough to obtain both books around the same time and this really fostered my interest in bushido and the samurai culture in a very profound way as well as lead me to discover Mishima's works and life in regards to the samurai ideals.
Rating:
Summary: Mishima and Hagakure
Review: The bulk of the reviews prior to my own do a great job of covering the books aspects. However, I wanted to make one point in regards to those who, after reading the book, were really impressed by it. If you enjoyed reading the book, also try and find a copy of "The Way of the Samurai Yukio Mishima on Hagakure in Modern Life" from a library or used book store. It is out of print for the time being, but if you can get ahold of a copy you will get even more out of Hagakure after reading this book. I was fortunate enough to obtain both books around the same time and this really fostered my interest in bushido and the samurai culture in a very profound way as well as lead me to discover Mishima's works and life in regards to the samurai ideals.
Rating:
Summary: An accessable understanding of the Bushido
Review: The Hagakure explains the Japanese warrior code (Bushido) simply and elegantly, and in a much more accessable manner than "The Book of the 5 Rings," considered THE authority on the subject. The observations, thoughts and reflections of the author reflect the Zen aspect of the samurai code ("a samurai should reflect daily and in the most graphic manner his demise"), as well as the strong Confucian influence on Japanese culture (the tale of his Master, Nabeshima Mitsushige, covering his face with his sleeve in order not to see his men flustered when a wounded boar lunged at a hunting party) in addition to the crisis of peace the samurai faced under the Tokugawa Shogunate (providing advice on how to practice severing heads on the condemned.)
All in all it was fascinating, and a marvelous "picture in time." I recommend this before reading Sun Tsu ("The Art of War") or Mushashi ("A Book of Five Rings.")
Rating:
Summary: An accessable understanding of the Bushido
Review: The Hagakure explains the Japanese warrior code (Bushido) simply and elegantly, and in a much more accessable manner than "The Book of the 5 Rings," considered THE authority on the subject. The observations, thoughts and reflections of the author reflect the Zen aspect of the samurai code ("a samurai should reflect daily and in the most graphic manner his demise"), as well as the strong Confucian influence on Japanese culture (the tale of his Master, Nabeshima Mitsushige, covering his face with his sleeve in order not to see his men flustered when a wounded boar lunged at a hunting party) in addition to the crisis of peace the samurai faced under the Tokugawa Shogunate (providing advice on how to practice severing heads on the condemned.)
All in all it was fascinating, and a marvelous "picture in time." I recommend this before reading Sun Tsu ("The Art of War") or Mushashi ("A Book of Five Rings.")
Rating:
Summary: An accessable understanding of the Bushido
Review: The Hagakure explains the Japanese warrior code (Bushido) simply and elegantly, and in a much more accessable manner than "The Book of the 5 Rings," considered THE authority on the subject. The observations, thoughts and reflections of the author reflect the Zen aspect of the samurai code ("a samurai should reflect daily and in the most graphic manner his demise"), as well as the strong Confucian influence on Japanese culture (the tale of his Master, Nabeshima Mitsushige, covering his face with his sleeve in order not to see his men flustered when a wounded boar lunged at a hunting party) in addition to the crisis of peace the samurai faced under the Tokugawa Shogunate (providing advice on how to practice severing heads on the condemned.)
All in all it was fascinating, and a marvelous "picture in time." I recommend this before reading Sun Tsu ("The Art of War") or Mushashi ("A Book of Five Rings.")
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