Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai

By Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Yamamoto Yosho, Yamamoto

Book Overview

This comprehensive and authoritative edition of the Hagakure is an essential resource for readers interested in samurai history, bushido philosophy, Japanese culture and martial arts.

Written over 300 years ago by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, the Hagakure remains one of the most influential works on the ideals, values and mindset associated with the samurai way of life. Its influence has been felt throughout the world, and yet its existence is scarcely known to many Westerners. This edition includes the complete first two books of the Hagakure along with the most reliable and historically significant passages from the third book, making it one of the most comprehensive English-language editions available.

Alex Bennett's wholly new and highly readable translation of this essential work includes extensive footnotes that serve to fill in many cultural and historical gaps in the previous translations. Combining scholarly rigor with an accessible modern translation, this edition makes one of Japan's most important samurai texts available to contemporary readers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 4805311983
• ISBN13: 9784805311981
• Release Date: May 2014
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Great for martial artists

I first want to mention that I have not read any other translations of this book, so I'm unable to compare it to others. However, it's a really good book for martial artists who want to learn more of the spiritual side of martial arts, like myself. The book is written in what I like to call little "tidbits," so you can read one part and meditate on it each day, or if you don't have much time to read, you would be able to read a tidbit at a time. It's also a great way to find more about the lives and the mindset of the samurai of the times. I would recommended this book to martial artists, zen artists, or those who have an interest in history.

Hagakure

I've read various versions of "Hagakure", and this one is my favorite. Very philosophical and inspirational, delves into the mindset of one whose only dedication is to serving one's master and way, in everyday life, and into one's chosen path, the battlefield.

Interesting

I bought this book after seeing the movie "Ghost Dog - Way of the Samurai". I didn't really know what to expect, but the book has some very interesting aspects on life and ways to live, that still work extremely well in todays society. I have at many times found myself in situations described in the book and even though some answers might be a bit hard to understand, the book has given me answers, or perhaps ways to answer/respond, in different situations. It's not really a book you read from cover to cover, but pick up and read a couple of "rules" every now and then, which after a while are in the back of your head, ready for use.I highly reccommend this book to pretty much every one.

Reveals the essence of Samurai thought.

HAGAKURE: The Book of the Samurai is a very interesting book which describes the everyday life and mindset of a samurai. For those that are not interested in the Samurai thought, this book may appear rather dry and in some instances, absurd. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The book is made up of short entries of various topics. Whether it's describing a wise samurai's actions, or cracking jokes at the noblemen around him, it is obvious that Yamamoto Tsunetomo was truly a samurai in every aspect of his life. During Yamamoto's time, the prestige of the samurai was declining, due to a long period of peace in Japan. The samurai lived to die for his lord in battle, but how can one remain a noble samurai during times of peace? Yamamoto answers this and many other questions in Hagakure. He also points out that when one is focused on dying, he will not be afraid in the presence of death. As Yamamoto liked to say, "The way of the Samurai is found in death."