The Book of Five Rings (Book) AKA 五輪書, Go Rin no Sho
The Book of Five Rings
1645 AD
AKA 五輪書, Go Rin no Sho
A text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi between 1643-5. The title draws from the godai (五大) of Buddhist esotericism (密教), and thus it comprises five volumes: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Void.
Musashi is drawing upon classical Buddhist Five Element theory, so Void refers to Sunyata (in Pali), sometimes translated as "Emptiness", or "ether". Void, as such, is also empty of the sense of self (anatta), good and evil, wanting and non-wanting, and is the spiritual dynamic that forms the jumping off point to satori, enlightenment. Emptiness, and the establishing of the conditions that allow it to arise, is a common theme in Zen Buddhist meditation practice, which informed the perspective of the author.
Many translations have been made, and it has garnered broad attention in East Asia and throughout the world. For instance, some foreign business leaders find its discussion of conflict to be relevant to their work. The modern-day Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū school employs it as a manual of technique and philosophy.
Musashi establishes a "no-nonsense" theme throughout the text. For instance, he repeatedly remarks that technical flourishes are excessive, and contrasts worrying about such things with the principle that all technique is simply a method of cutting down one's opponent. He also continually makes the point that the understandings expressed in the book are important for combat on any scale, whether a one-on-one duel or a massive battle. Descriptions of principles are often followed by admonitions to "investigate this thoroughly" through practice rather than trying to learn them by merely reading.
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