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