Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings
Miyamoto Musashi, who lived in Japan in the fifteenth century, was a renowned samurai warrior. He has become a martial arts icon, known not just as an undefeated dueler, but also as a master of battlefield strategy. Kenji Tokitsu turns a critical eye on Musashi's life and writings, separating fact from fiction, and giving a clear picture of the man behind the myth.\ Musashi's best-known work, The Book of Five Rings , provides timeless insight into the nature of conflict. Tokitsu translates...
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Japanese-born Tokitsu has taught karate in Paris since 1971 and has doctorate degrees in sociology and Japanese language and civilization. Here he recounts the life and translates the principle works of Musashi, the legendary 17th-century sword master, painter, sculptor, and calligrapher. The original Miyamoto Musashi: Maitre de Sabre japonais XVIIe siècle was published in 2000 by Editions Desiris. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Library Journal Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645), the most famous of all samurai, fought and won 60 duels during his lifetime and was a master military strategist and a skilled artist. In the latter part of his life, he formed a martial arts school and trained many disciples. Tokitsu, an expert in martial arts with a doctorate in sociology, here provides a new translation and commentary of Musashi's major work, The Book of Five Rings, which gives his teachings on sword technique, military strategy, martial arts training, and general philosophy. Tokitsu also offers a biography of Musashi, which helps give context for understanding his thought. Beyond this, the work includes chapters discussing key topics in Japanese martial arts, such as budo, as well as a substantial glossary. The recent Tom Cruise film The Last Samurai may have heightened interest in Japanese martial arts. This excellent book might well capture the interest of a significant audience. Recommended for both public and academic libraries.--John Jaeger, Dallas Baptist Univ. Lib. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
IntroductionixA Legendary FigureixThe Main Periods in the History of Japanese Schools of SwordsmanshipxxiiiChronology of Musashi's LifexxixPart 1The Life of Miyamoto MusashiIntroduction to the Life of Musashi31.Childhood and Training7The Birth of Musashi7Musashi's Childhood and His First Duel12The Founding of the School of Two Swords22The Two Sources of Musashi's Art26The Schools of Two Swords412.Musashi's Duels46Duels and Wars from Age Fifteen to Twenty47Studying the Arts of Other Schools through Duels61The Duel against Sasaki Kojiro70Musashi at the Battle of Osaka893.Deepening the Way92Maturity92Musashi's Last Years112Composition of the Gorin no sho and Musashi's Death128Part 2Musashi's Writings4."Writings on the Five Elements" (Gorin no sho)137The Scroll of Earth137The Scroll of Water150The Scroll of Fire168The Scroll of Wind185The Scroll of Heaven1955.The Texts Preceding the Gorin no sho197"The Mirror of the Way of Strategy" (Hyodokyo)197"Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy" (Hyoho sanju go kajo)199"Forty-two Instructions on Strategy" (Hyoho shiju ni kajo)209"The Way to Be Followed Alone" (Dokkodo)2166.Notes of Musashi's Disciples on the Practice of His School227Notes on Mind, Energy, and the Body in Strategy (Hyoho shin ki tai oboe gaki)228Attitude toward Training231The School of the Fighters of the Two Heavens (Senki niten ryu)232The State of Mind of Those Devoted to the School of Musashi (Musashi ryu shugyo kokoroe no koto)233Part 3Miyamoto Musashi and the Martial Arts7.The School of Musashi (Hyoho niten ichi ryu)239Branches of the School239The School of Musashi Today2428.The Transmission of Musashi's Art245The Role of Musashi's Writings in the Transmission of His Art245The Transmission of Musashi's Art through Practice2549.Musashi Today: The Practice of a Contemporary Adept262The Labyrinth Created by the Way of Holding the Sword263The Nen ryu and Its Lineage27410.Weapons and Ethics in Swordsmanship Training280The Status of Warriors281Technique and the Status of the Body286Integration of the Religious Element into the Art of the Sword292The Formation of Katas29611.Budo302The Meiji Turning Point and the Modern Notion of Budo302The Evolution of Budo in the Twentieth Century30912.The Relationship between Adversaries315The Complexity of Combat in Budo317The Significance of the Quest for Kizeme323Confrontation and Harmony32613.One Life, One Art333Appendix 1The Translation of the Gorin no sho337Appendix 2Sen--Taking the Initiative348Appendix 3External Influences on the Japanese Art of the Sword355Notes358Glossary442Bibliography460Index468
\ Library JournalMiyamoto Musashi (1584-1645), the most famous of all samurai, fought and won 60 duels during his lifetime and was a master military strategist and a skilled artist. In the latter part of his life, he formed a martial arts school and trained many disciples. Tokitsu, an expert in martial arts with a doctorate in sociology, here provides a new translation and commentary of Musashi's major work, The Book of Five Rings, which gives his teachings on sword technique, military strategy, martial arts training, and general philosophy. Tokitsu also offers a biography of Musashi, which helps give context for understanding his thought. Beyond this, the work includes chapters discussing key topics in Japanese martial arts, such as budo, as well as a substantial glossary. The recent Tom Cruise film The Last Samurai may have heightened interest in Japanese martial arts. This excellent book might well capture the interest of a significant audience. Recommended for both public and academic libraries.--John Jaeger, Dallas Baptist Univ. Lib. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.\ \
