The Book Of Five Rings

CONTENTS Introduction 1 2 xvii the 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 earth book 1 The Way of Strategy 1 Comparing the Way 2 The Way of Strategy 3 Outline of the Five Books Ichi Ryu Ni To 5 The Benefit of Reading. . . Benefit of Weapons 6 Timing in strategy 7 the 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 water book 11 Spiritual Bearing in Strategy 11 Stance in Strategy 12 The Gaze in Strategy 12 Holding the Long Sword 12 Footwork 13 The Five Attitudes 13 The Way of the Long Sword 14 The Five Approaches 14 The ”Attitude No-Attitude” Teaching 15 To Hit the Enemy ”In One Timing” 16 The ”Abdomen Timing of Two” 16 No Design, No Conception 16 The Flowing Water Cut 17 The Fire and Stones Cut 17 The Red Leaves Cut 17 The Body in Place of the Long Sword 17 Cut and Slash 18 Chinese Monkey’s Body 18 Glue and Lacquer Emulsion Body 18 To Strive for Height 18 To Apply Stickiness 18 The Body Strike 19 Three Ways to Parry His Attack 19 To Stab at the Face 19 To Stab at the Heart 20 To Scold ”Tut-TUT!” 20 3 6 ii contents 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 The Smacking Parry 20 There are Many Enemies 20 The Advantage when coming to Blows One Cut 21 Direct Communication 21 3 the fire book 23 3.1 Depending on the Place 23 3.1.1 Examine your environment 23 3.2 Methods to Forestall 24 3.2.1 The First - Ken No Sen 24 3.2.2 The Second - Tai No Sen 25 3.2.3 The Third - Tai Tai No Sen 25 3.3 To Hold Down a Pillow 25 3.4 Crossing at a Ford 26 3.5 To Know the Times 26 3.6 To Tread Down the Sword 27 3.7 To Know ”Collapse” 27 3.8 To Become the Enemy 27 3.9 To Release Four Hands 28 3.10 To Move the Shade 28 3.11 To Hold Down a Shadow 29 3.12 To Pass On 29 3.13 To Cause Loss of Balance 29 3.14 To Frighten 30 3.15 To Soak In 30 3.16 To Injure the Corners 30 3.17 To Throw into Confusion 30 3.18 The Three Shouts 31 3.19 To Mingle 31 3.20 To Crush 32 3.21 The Mountain-Sea Change 32 3.22 To Penetrate the Depths 32 3.23 To Renew 33 3.24 Rat’s Head, Ox’s Neck 33 3.25 The Commander Knows the Troops 33 3.26 To Let Go the Hilt 33 3.27 The Body of a Rock 34 4 the 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 21 wind book 35 Other Schools Using Extra-Long Swords 35 The Strong Long Sword Spirit in Other Schools Use of the Shorter Long Sword in Other Schools Methods of using the Long Sword 37 36 37 contents 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 5 Long Sword in Other Schools 38 Fixing the Eyes in Other Schools 39 Feet in Other Schools 39 Speed in Other Schools 40 ”Interior” and ”Surface” . . . 41 the book of the void 43 iii HISTORICAL BACKGROUND japan during musashi’s lifetime Miyamoto Musashi was born in 1584, in a Japan struggling to recover from more than four centuries of internal strife. The traditional rule of the emperors had been overthrown in the twelfth century, and although each successive emperor remained the figurehead of Japan, his powers were very much reduced. Since that time, Japan had seen almost continuous civil war between the provincial lords, warrior monks and brigands, all fighting each other for land and power. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the lords, called daimyo, built huge stone castles to protect themselves and their lords and castle towns outside the walls began to grow up. These wars naturally restricted the growth of trade and impoverished the whole country. In 1573, however, one man, Oda Nobunga, came to the fore in Japan. He became the Shogun, or military dictator, and for nine years succeeded in gaining control of almost the whole of the country. When Nobunga was assassinated in 1582,