num_pages: 112
description: Born into strife, Miyamoto Musashi ultimately lived to see his country achieve peace; but he never forgot two essential elements of the ancient samurai keep calm in the midst of chaos, and remember the possibility of disorder in times of order. Devoted to the practical art of war, his strategic classic The Book of Five Rings focuses attention on the psychology and physics of assault. Whether you are looking to gain the advantage in the practice of martial arts or on the corporate battlefield, this book counsels wisely in the ways of confrontation, stressing important subtleties such as rhythm, state of mind, physical bearing, and eye contact, as well as perseverance, self-knowledge, and inner calm. Thomas Cleary's uncluttered translation brings Musashi's work into sharp, accessible focus, as does the inclusion in the same volume of another important Japanese classic, The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War , highlighting Taoist and Zen aspects of the warrior tradition.
language: English
title: The Book of Five Rings
titlecomplete: The Book of Five Rings
genres: Military Fiction, History, Classics, Japan, Philosophy, Japanese Literature, War, Business, Martial Arts, Nonfiction
ratings_count: 48994
places: Japan
publisher: Barnes & Noble Books