Books for the Martial Artist
Discover essential books for the martial artist, from Musashi Miyamoto’s A Book of Five Rings to Thomas Cleary’s Code of the Samurai. This curated list unites philosophy, history, and timeless warrior wisdom to deepen your practice and mindset.
Book
A Book of Five Rings
by Musashi Miyamoto
Translated by V. Harris. Japan's answer to the Harvard MBA...Written over three centuries ago by a Samurai warrior, the book has been hailed as a limitless source of psychological insight for businessmen-or anyone who relies on strategy and tactics for outwitting the competition.
Book
Code of the Samurai
by Thomas Cleary
A powerful contemporary translation of the classic treatise of the Way of the Warrior! Code of the Samurai is a four-hundred-year-old explication of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido, the Japanese way of the warrior. Bushido has played a major role in shaping the behavior of modern Japanese government, corporations, society, and individuals, as well as in shaping the modern martial arts within Japan and internationally. The Japanese original of this book, Bushido Shoshinshu, has been one of the primary sources on the tenets of Bushido, a way of thought that remains fascinating and relevant to the modern world, East and West. With a clear, conversational narrative by Thomas Cleary, one of the foremost translators of the wisdom of Asia, and powerfully evocative line drawings by master illustrator Oscar Ratti, this book is indispensable to the corporate executive, student of the Asian Culture, and martial artist.
