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The book of five rings: +Biography of Miyamoto Musashi, Illustrated Edition, Modern Translation
"The Book of Five Rings," written by the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi, is a classic work detailing combat techniques and strategies, as well as profound reflections on martial arts and the philosophy of life. Divided into five chapters, each corresponding to an element - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void - this text explores the nuances of martial strategy and offers teachings that transcend time, applicable both in physical confrontation and in the challenges of everyday life.
New in this This new edition adds an additional dimension to Miyamoto Musashi's classic work. It includes a detailed biography that sheds light on the life and times of the samurai, offering an enriched context to better understand his teachings. Furthermore, the book is enhanced with illustrations that visualize the concepts and strategies described, offering an immersive reading experience. The original translation into modern French makes the text more accessible, opening Miyamoto Musashi's wisdom to a broader audience and facilitating the understanding of his timeless strategies and philosophies.
New in this This new edition adds an additional dimension to Miyamoto Musashi's classic work. It includes a detailed biography that sheds light on the life and times of the samurai, offering an enriched context to better understand his teachings. Furthermore, the book is enhanced with illustrations that visualize the concepts and strategies described, offering an immersive reading experience. The original translation into modern French makes the text more accessible, opening Miyamoto Musashi's wisdom to a broader audience and facilitating the understanding of his timeless strategies and philosophies.
- GenresPhilosophy
94 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2023
55 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Miyamoto Musashi
238 books1,198 followersMiyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, c. 1584 – June 13, 1645), also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was an expert Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age. He was the founder of the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū or Niten-ryū style of swordsmanship and the author of The Book of Five Rings (五輪の書 Go Rin No Sho), a book on strategy, tactics, and philosophy that is still studied today.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 30, 2024
I found this much more impressive than The Art of War. Full of philosophy as well as martial arts strategy, this should be required reading alongside its more famous cousin. I was really moved in parts by Miyamoto's clear thinking and how his principles could be applied to every day life, not to mention business and politics.
I'm not even sure how this book ended up in my Kindle recommendations, but I'm glad it did. It can be a bit dense in parts, and like a lot of Buddhist ideas, Miyamoto's idea about The Void was a bit head-scratching.
This e-book had some superb illustrations but I can't find any credits for the artist. It also includes a Miyamoto biography, also anonymous.
I'm not even sure how this book ended up in my Kindle recommendations, but I'm glad it did. It can be a bit dense in parts, and like a lot of Buddhist ideas, Miyamoto's idea about The Void was a bit head-scratching.
This e-book had some superb illustrations but I can't find any credits for the artist. It also includes a Miyamoto biography, also anonymous.
May 27, 2025
Anytime you get a look into the mind of a true legend, you have to find something to take away. Miyamoto Musashi is nothing if not a legend. We are 500 years removed from his life. His teachings and philosophies have made their way to English and have been read all over the world. What a reach. Unfathomable for his time.
All that said, the primary subject is sword fighting. Not exactly relevant to anybody’s life today. There are some good takeaways for competing and strategy. Most of which aren’t exactly groundbreaking, but when included in every facet of your training, they should become second nature.
He also describes the limitation language has on his teachings. There are things we cannot understand without training and physically practicing. You cannot become elite at a craft by reading about it. He emphasizes a need for intentional training.
Reading, being taught, having mentors are all important. They’re important for better framing and helping with questions that only experience yields answers to. But you can’t outsource hard work when perfecting a craft. You can’t read about Allen Iverson’s
Crossover and go do it. You can’t read about Steph Curry’s jumper and go do it. At the end of the day, hard work prevails.
Moreover, hard work is more than brute force. Mediation and understanding your own goals is part of the success story. In competition, understanding your opponent’s strengths, weaknesses, motivations, etc. gives you an edge.
Miyamoto is said to have won 60+ duals without ever losing one. The biography was the most interesting part of the book to me.
All that said, the primary subject is sword fighting. Not exactly relevant to anybody’s life today. There are some good takeaways for competing and strategy. Most of which aren’t exactly groundbreaking, but when included in every facet of your training, they should become second nature.
He also describes the limitation language has on his teachings. There are things we cannot understand without training and physically practicing. You cannot become elite at a craft by reading about it. He emphasizes a need for intentional training.
Reading, being taught, having mentors are all important. They’re important for better framing and helping with questions that only experience yields answers to. But you can’t outsource hard work when perfecting a craft. You can’t read about Allen Iverson’s
Crossover and go do it. You can’t read about Steph Curry’s jumper and go do it. At the end of the day, hard work prevails.
Moreover, hard work is more than brute force. Mediation and understanding your own goals is part of the success story. In competition, understanding your opponent’s strengths, weaknesses, motivations, etc. gives you an edge.
Miyamoto is said to have won 60+ duals without ever losing one. The biography was the most interesting part of the book to me.
February 11, 2026
"He embraced mortality not as a tragic end, but as an inevitable and natural component of life."
As someone that has always found the life of Miyamoto Musashi intresting this book was right up my alley. While a short book it fits a great amount about his work as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, swordsman in history. Sharing his techniques and principles in combat you learn lots about self-improvement and growth as a warrior for combat, but still being relevant and useful for life in general.
The latter of the book which focuses on his life and philosophical aspects was my favourite part. Musashi was an incredibly intelligent man and had a profound and deep understanding about human nature which I say it what made him so proficient in duels. Looking into other aspects of his life like his philosophy of mortality and life, his work as a painter and sculptor, and later years of education was so intresting. This book has solidified my thoughts that Miyamoto Musashi is one of the most intresting men to live.
As someone that has always found the life of Miyamoto Musashi intresting this book was right up my alley. While a short book it fits a great amount about his work as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, swordsman in history. Sharing his techniques and principles in combat you learn lots about self-improvement and growth as a warrior for combat, but still being relevant and useful for life in general.
The latter of the book which focuses on his life and philosophical aspects was my favourite part. Musashi was an incredibly intelligent man and had a profound and deep understanding about human nature which I say it what made him so proficient in duels. Looking into other aspects of his life like his philosophy of mortality and life, his work as a painter and sculptor, and later years of education was so intresting. This book has solidified my thoughts that Miyamoto Musashi is one of the most intresting men to live.
January 6, 2026
The more I read, the more I began to understand the Way that Miyamoto Musashi teaches. In regard to life philosophy, this book was phenomenal. Even though its target audience was swordsmen, its lessons and concepts can be applied universally. That being said, it is especially fittingly applied to those in combat sports.
As for the validity of this specific company behind the book, I am suspicious of. I could not find a translator mentioned nor was there anyone credited for the biography section. Could it be AI? Well, the graphics seem to point in that direction. However, Musashi’s work does seem to be translated well.
Anyway, it was great to pair this reading along with listening to the Jocko Podcast episode (80) on it. Yet, never forget that the Way of Strategy must be put into practice for each and every step “on the path of a 1,000 miles.”
As for the validity of this specific company behind the book, I am suspicious of. I could not find a translator mentioned nor was there anyone credited for the biography section. Could it be AI? Well, the graphics seem to point in that direction. However, Musashi’s work does seem to be translated well.
Anyway, it was great to pair this reading along with listening to the Jocko Podcast episode (80) on it. Yet, never forget that the Way of Strategy must be put into practice for each and every step “on the path of a 1,000 miles.”
May 28, 2025
I’m giving this 5 stars from a martial artist’s perspective. I think people who not have participated in martial arts along with philosophy might not think this is a 5 star book. I may be wrong…
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April 9, 2024Kenjutsu
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews