The Way of the Warrior: Deluxe 3-Volume Box Set Edition

by Sun Tzu, Miyamoto Musashi, Nitobe Inazō

This deluxe boxset contains three classic texts from China and Japan, The Art of War , The Book of Five Rings and The Way of the Samurai , presented in beautiful silkbound volumes inside a decorative slipcase.

The Art of War , written by ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu in the 6th century bc, is the most widely published work on warfare and military strategy and was consulted by Napoleon and Mao Zedong among others. Covering all aspects of warfare, Sun Tzu promoted strategic flexibility, quick thinking on the battlefield, the use of intelligence, and understanding the enemy's intentions.

The Book of Five Rings dates from the mid-17th century and was conceived by a Japanese swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi. Though it covers swordsmanship and the martial arts, the text's discussion of how to deal with conflict has been used more widely than its author originally intended. He explains that the principles described can be applied to a two-person duel as well as a full-scale battle, and emphasizes the need to perfect the techniques to improve control and discipline.

In The Way of the Samurai, originally published as Bushido, the Soul of Japan, Inazo Nitobe explores the moral code of the Japanese warrior class, from the importance of politeness rituals to the ultimate self-sacrifice in hara-kiri or suicide. He describes the importance of chivalric principles amid brutal warfare, ideals that still resonate in modern Japanese society and the wider world.

Featuring elegant cover designs with gold foil-stamping, these luxurious editions make a wonderful gift or collectible.

ABOUT THE The Arcturus Collector's Classics series are high-quality, clothbound box-sets of classic works of literature. With elegant embossed cover-designs and coloured endpapers, these editions make wonderful gifts or collectibles to treasure forever.

Hardcover

Published October 12, 2020

About the author

Sun Tzu (traditional Chinese: 孫子; simplified Chinese: 孙子; pinyin: Sūnzǐ) was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period (771–256 BC). Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thought. Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and East Asian culture as a legendary historical and military figure. His birth name was Sun Wu (traditional Chinese: 孫武; simplified Chinese: 孙武) and he was known outside of his family by his courtesy name Changqing (Chinese: 長卿). The name Sun Tzu—by which he is more popularly known—is an honorific which means "Master Sun".
Sun Tzu mastered the military science of ancient China and created the military doctrine of asymmetrical warfare. According to it, an attack on the enemy should begin only after the enemy has no opportunity to either defend or counterattack. It was used in the wars in the era of the Warring States in ancient China (about 475–221 BC). It differs from the modern interpretation of asymmetric military strategy. The ancient warriors used to call it the Victorious Methods of Warfare (sheng er zhan zhi), but it has the same meaning as the modern asymmetrical military strategy. The ancient professional warriors used it in individual combats against the enemies in the wars. As a result, a variety of armed and unarmed combat combinations have been created for various combat situations as the individual battle plans. Those combat combinations had specific names, descriptions and classifications.
Sun Tzu's historicity is uncertain. The Han dynasty historian Sima Qian and other traditional Chinese historians placed him as a minister to King Helü of Wu and dated his lifetime to 544–496 BC. Modern scholars accepting his historicity place the extant text of The Art of War in the later Warring States period of 475 to 221 BC, based on its style of composition and its descriptions of warfare. Traditional accounts state that the general's descendant Sun Bin wrote a treatise on military tactics, also titled The Art of War. Since both Sun Wu and Sun Bin were referred to as "Sun Tzu" in classical Chinese texts, some historians believed them identical, prior to the rediscovery of Sun Bin's treatise in 1972.
Sun Tzu's work has been praised and employed throughout the arc of East Asian military history since its composition, and eventually earned global attention. During the twentieth century, The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in the Western world as well. It remains influential in many contemporary competitive endeavors across the modern world beyond military strategy and warfare, including espionage, culture, governance, business, and sports.