Musashi's Book of Five Rings. Stephen F. Kaufman
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MUSASHI’S
BOOK
OF
FIVE
RINGS
MUSASHI’S
BOOK
OF
FIVE
RINGS
The Definitive Interpretation
of Miyamoto Musashi’s
Classic Book of Strategy
STEPHEN F. KAUFMAN, HANSHI 10th DAN
TUTTLE PUBLISHING
Tokyo • Rutland, Vermont • Singapore
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, Vermont 05759 U.S.A. and 61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12, Singapore 534167.
Copyright © 1994 Stephen F. Kaufman Hanshi
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kaufman, Steve, 1939–
Musashi’s book of five rings : the definitive interpretation of Miyamoto
Musashi’s classic book of strategy / Stephen F. Kaufman.
Kaufman, Steve, 1939– Martial Artist’s book of five rings.
Miyamoto, Musashi, 1584–1645. Gorin no sho. English.
p. cm.
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0636-9 (ebook)
Previous title : Martial artist’s book of five rings. 1994.
Miyamoto, Musashi, 1584–1645. Gorin no sho.
Military art and science—Early works to 1800.
Swordplay—Japan—Early works to 1800.
| U101 .K38 2004 | 2003054039 |
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15 14 13 12 11 10 18 17 16 15 14 13
Text design by Jill Winitzer
Printed in the United States of America
TUTTLE PUBLISHING ® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
This book is dedicated to my father
Jack Kaufman
a warrior in his own right
and to the legacy of
Miyamoto Musashi
CONTENTS
| Preface | ix |
| About the Translation | xi |
| Introduction | xv |
| THE BOOK OF EARTH | 1 |
| THE BOOK OF WATER | 23 |
| THE BOOK OF FIRE | 53 |
| THE BOOK OF WIND | 81 |
| THE BOOK OF NO -THING | 101 |
PREFACE
Musashi is well known to most martialists. He is considered the Kensei, sword-saint of Japan. While his teachings are essentially centered around swordsmanship, his teachings fall without question into the domain of study for practitioners of all the martial arts, including karate, judo, Western fencing and other killing forms as well, but, only if they are used to take life in combat.
The Book of Five Rings is Miyamoto Musashi’s teaching on the art of strategy in combat based on swordsmanship. It must be understood that whether or not you practice the martial arts or use the teachings for other disciplines, there are profound truths to be gleaned from this work, Musashi’s legacy.
My own personal involvement in the art of karate for nearly forty years, along with my ten-year study of the “Rings,” has led me to take the responsibility of interpreting these teachings for the martialist who wishes to understand the true “Way.”
This is a profound work on life and death in combat. It is not for the immature. I do not advocate the taking of life for any reason. Keep in mind that Musashi’s work was done at a time when mortal combat was a way of life. The teachings of Musashi, and this interpretation are to explain the principles and philosophy of a warrior’s life in ancient Japan.
ABOUT THE TRANSLATION
This