Lone Samurai: Miyamoto Musashi

Author(s): William Scott Wilson

Biography

Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) was the legendary samurai known throughout the world as a master swordsman, spiritual seeker, and author of the classic book on strategy, the "Book of Five Rings." Over 350 years after his death, Musashi and his legacy still fascinate us and continue to inspire artists, authors, and filmmakers. Here, respected translator and expert on samurai culture William Scott Wilson has created both a vivid account of a fascinating period in feudal Japan and a portrait of the courageous, iconoclastic samurai who wrestled with philosophical and spiritual ideas that are as relevant today as they were in his time. For Musashi, the way of the martial arts was about mastery of the mind rather than simply technical prowess--and it is this path to mastery that is the core teaching in his "Book of Five Rings." This volume includes supplemental material on Musashi's legacy as a martial arts icon, his impact on literature and film, and the influence of his" Book of Five Rings."

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"Asked to name the best swordsman ever, most Japanese would pick Musashi, the famous 17th-century samurai turned artist who is the subject of more than 50 movies and dozens of books. But most of those focus on his superior warrior skills. This fascinating new biography by Wilson, an American translator of samurai literature, goes much deeper, seeking to explain what ultimately drove Musashi from sword-fighting to Zen teachings, ink paintings and writing. He literally embodies the adage 'the pen is mightier than the sword." -Newsweek International. This is the perfect book to satiate your desire to experience the sacrifices and triumphs inherent to a life lived by the sword. While Miyamoto Musashi is one of the martial arts world's favorite warriors, relatively little is known about him. Thanks to historian William Scott Wilson, that's about to change.

William Scott Wilson is the foremost translator into English of traditional Japanese texts on samurai culture. He received BA degrees from Dartmouth College and the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies, and an MA in Japanese literary studies from the University of Washington. His best-selling books include "The Book of Five Rings," "The Unfettered Mind," and "The Lone Samurai," a biography of Miyamoto Musashi.

General Fields

  • : 9781590309872
  • : Shambhala Publications Inc
  • : Shambhala Publications Inc
  • : 0.34
  • : February 2013
  • : 191mm X 133mm
  • : United States
  • : May 2013
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : William Scott Wilson
  • : Paperback
  • : 952.025092
  • : 320
  • : Illustrations, map