Book of five rings the classic guide to strategy download

Nov 16, Florencia rated it really liked it Shelves: philosophyland , non-fiction , japanese. I do not know how I got here. I did not even know I had this book. But I am glad I read it. This book was written by Miyamoto Musashi, a Japanese swordsman that had his first duel when he was 13 years old. Among all the tactics that can be used, he shared his insightful thoughts on several matters.

Martial arts are not just a I do not know how I got here. Martial arts are not just about technique. There are some principles to follow; there is a clarity of mind to be reached. You have to be able to find a balance between a world of war and a world of peace.

The last "ring", the Book of Void View 2 comments. Apr 22, Bradley rated it it was amazing Shelves: non-fiction , shelf , fanboy-goes-squee. Practice it a LOT? I'm not picking up a blade, and I'm not reading this from the PoV of some modern businessman wanting to get one-up on my competition, but I sure as hell got a LOT out of this. You can say that it can be distilled down into a version of Buddhism, or you can say the essence is Fire, Wind, Water, and Stone, plus The Emptiness.

But saying so doesn't explain a damn thing, nor does it teach anyone what is really beneath the words in this very clear text. It always makes them flinch. Of course you're supposed to dominate the battlefield with your own timing, never losing momentum, and always face your opponents with courage.

Pay attention to everything. Use everything. But above all, heed the path of the Emptiness. Stop assuming shit! Learn your lessons well, always be honest with yourself, and never stop facing -- absolutely everything.

I think I'm going to buy this in a very nice edition and place it within my reach everywhere I go. It's that good. After all, minds ARE blades. View all 3 comments. I have different expectation when l looked at the cover book. There was a modern-day white collar person mimicking ancient Japanese samurai pose. So, I have expectation there was some modern interpretation in business management based on Miyamoto Musashi's teachings.

Then I found the book's content was basically translations of ancient text, without much interpretations into modern management style. That's why I rated it only 3 star. The philosophy value itself beyond my own judgment. View all 4 comments. The classic book on strategy that transcends martial-arts.

Highest recommendation. Nov 01, Kristi rated it liked it Shelves: reading-challenge Despite Musashi's many admonitions to "investigate this thoroughly," I fear that I have not done so enough to truly understand or appreciate the profundity of The Book of Five Rings ; however, it was interesting to read this work about swordsmanship and strategy and to think about the ways that it has been applied to business and perhaps other aspects of Japanese life.

I'm not going to deny the fact that it was hard to see beyond the direct references to sword fighting and martial arts at times-- Despite Musashi's many admonitions to "investigate this thoroughly," I fear that I have not done so enough to truly understand or appreciate the profundity of The Book of Five Rings ; however, it was interesting to read this work about swordsmanship and strategy and to think about the ways that it has been applied to business and perhaps other aspects of Japanese life.

I'm not going to deny the fact that it was hard to see beyond the direct references to sword fighting and martial arts at times--fundamentally, that's what this book is about, although defeating one's opponent is a profoundly psychological and spiritual task as well for Musashi. But particularly in The Fire Chapter where he begins to delve into the art of defeating many foes, the application to the market was much easier to divine. The emphasis on initiative and rhythm and true observation are all very pertinent to many aspects of competition and negotiation.

Still, I have a feeling I would need to read this book carefully a few more times in order to really grasp it.

In that sense, it's different from Bushido The Soul of Japan , which is much easier to see as a guide to one's way of life. Bushido The Soul of Japan was also written in English, which may aid its portability. It was harder for me to jump from the literal battle strategy elements of The Book of Five Rings to larger themes.

I'd recommend this to people interested in martial arts, the Japanese "way," Japanese history, "traditional" ideas of Japanese culture, and maybe business strategy. But those interested in the latter are going to have to wade through a lot of tall about stances and swords before you get your kernels of wisdom.

This book was read for a session of the Nitobe Kokusai Juku. View 1 comment. Swordsman Miyamoto Mausashi had written The Book of the Five Rings with a practical approach to swordsmanship, on how to use the sword, where to stand and use the sun or shadows. For him, the point of battle was not showmanship it was winning, That's why he never lost a duel.

The Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death. In short, the Way of my school is the spirit Swordsman Miyamoto Mausashi had written The Book of the Five Rings with a practical approach to swordsmanship, on how to use the sword, where to stand and use the sun or shadows. In short, the Way of my school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size. This is the practical result of strategy.

This is the Way for men who want to learn my strategy: 1. Do not think dishonestly. The Way is in training. Become acquainted with every art. Know the Ways of professions. Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters. Develop intuitive judgement and understanding for everything. Perceive those things which cannot be seen. Pay attention even to trifles. Do nothing which is of no use.

Water adopts the shape of its receptacle, it is sometimes a trickle and sometimes a wild sea. Water has a clear blue color. Be neither insufficiently spirited nor over spirited. An elevated spirit is weak and a low spirit is weak. Do not let the enemy see your spirit. You should not have a favorite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well.

You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handily properly. Look at things from a high point of view. The commander must know natural rules, and the rules of the country, and the rules of houses. He should take into account the abilities and limitations of his men, circulating among them and asking nothing unreasonable.

He should know their morale and spirit, and encourage them when necessary. You must cultivate your wisdom and spirit. Polish your wisdom: learn public justice, distinguish between good and evil, study the Ways of different arts one by one, so that you can understand the enemy's stratagems, his strength and resources, and come to appreciate how to apply strategy to beat ten thousand enemies. When you cannot be deceived by men you will have realized the wisdom of strategy.

It is difficult to know yourself if you do not know others. See through the enemy's spirit so that you grasp his strategy and perceive his quality and his strong and weak points to defeat him. This is because, if you attack quickly and thoughtlessly without knowing the enemy's spirit, your rhythm will become deranged and you will not be able to win. If you advance too slowly, you will not be able to take advantage of the enemy's disorder, the opportunity to win will escape, and you will not be able to finish the fight quickly.

The important thing in strategy is to suppress the enemy's useful actions but allow his useless actions. It is bad to be led about by the enemy. You must always be able to lead the enemy about and make him obey your spirit. Attack in an unsuspecting manner, knowing his meter and modulation and the appropriate timing.

Knowing the times means seeing right into things. You must force the enemy into inconvenient situations. Attack where his spirit is lax, throw him into confusion, irritate and terrify him. Perception consists of concentrating strongly on the enemy's spirit, observing the condition of the battlefield, fixing the gaze strongly, seeing the progress of the fight and the changes of advantages. This is the sure way to win. Attaining this principle means not attaining the principle.

The Way of strategy is the Way of nature. When you appreciate the power of nature, knowing the rhythm of any situation, you will be able to hit the enemy naturally and strike naturally. All this is the Way of the Emptiness. There is no timing in the Emptiness.

There is timing in the whole life of the warrior, in his thriving and declining, in his harmony and discord. You win battles with the timing in the Emptiness born of the timing of cunning by knowing the enemies' timing, and thus using a timing which the enemy does not expect.

We shout during the fight to get into rhythm. When the enemy attacks and you also decide to attack, hit with your body, and hit with your spirit, and hit from the Emptiness with your hands, accelerating strongly. This is the No Design, No Conception cut. This is the most important method of hitting. In the Way of strategy as a warrior you must study fully other martial arts and not deviate even a little from the Way of the warrior. With your spirit settled, accumulate practice day by day, hour by hour.

Polish the twofold spirit heart and mind, and sharpen the twofold gaze perception and sight. When your spirit is not in the least clouded and your self is free, when the clouds of bewilderment clear away, there is the true Emptiness.

Aug 23, Robert rated it liked it Shelves: philosophy. This book, written by a famous Japanese duelist, tells one of his relatives how to win with the sword. It is divided into five "Rings" based on five "Elements". He concentrates on Strategy and does not talk about the best guard to take or other technicalities. Many people find this book to be immoral as it espouses winning at all costs in a deadly pursuit. I regard it more as a-moral. Musashi simply never considers the question.

He is simply putting down his concept of Strategy. Perhaps the mora This book, written by a famous Japanese duelist, tells one of his relatives how to win with the sword.

Perhaps the moral onus is on the reader of the book? Students of Zen would do well to read the book, particularly the final Ring - entitled The Void. Afterward the perceptive student would take up an individual sport - not necessarily fencing, tennis would do just as well - and give up trying to solve koans. After all, even the Masters say that the more you study Zen the further from enlightenment you get and there can be little doubt that Musashi was a master.

This translation from the original Japanese also contains an insightful introduction. Mar 27, P. Here is an edition littered with relevant subtext on the times Miyamoto Musashi has been living, and on his legacy. This makes for an entertaining and highly rewarding read. This is leisure at its best. Le loisir dans ce qu'il offre de mieux!

Aug 15, Vaishali rated it really liked it Shelves: ancient-cultures. Called the Go Rin No Sho, this treatise is eye-opening, though at times gruesome. One of the great joys of experiencing older texts is the sheer regality of the narration, so it's overall enjoyable.

There are sections which are decidedly male and archaic Quite different from Funakoshi's precept of nonviolence in shotokan karate. I've included here some striking quotes, and some lists of Musashi's principles. To be overfamiliar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. It is bad for commanders and troopers to have likes and dislikes.

These are things you must learn thoroughly. All things entail rising and falling timing. Become a criminal of purpose. Be put in jail, and extricate yourself by your own wisdom. Too much is the same as not enough. Without imitating anyone else, you should have as much weaponry as suits you. Of course, slowness is bad. Really skillful people never get out of time, and are always deliberate, and never appear busy.

Know the smallest things and the biggest things, the shallowest things and the deepest things. I tried to do the latter, and I failed. But I don't admit that my failure proved my view to be a wrong one, or that my success would have made it a right one; though that's how we appraise such attempts nowadays--I mean, not by their essential soundness, but by their accidental outcomes.

If I had ended by becoming like one of these gentlemen in red and black that we saw dropping in here by now, everybody would have said: 'See how wise that young man was, to follow the bent of his nature! Ward, quote from Lover Avenged. It was made by those who are Dead, and the Dead keep it, until the time comes. The way is shut. If you see a Google Drive link instead of source url, means that the file witch you will get after approval is just a summary of original book or the file has been already removed.

Loved each and every part of this book. I will definitely recommend this book to philosophy, non fiction lovers. Your Rating:. Your Comment:.