The Japanese Art of War: Understanding the Culture of Strategy (Shambhala Classics) [Paperback]

Thomas Cleary (Author)

Book Description

Series: Shambhala Classics | Publication Date: May 10, 2005

Military rule and the martial tradition of the samurai dominated Japanese culture for more than eight hundred years. According to Thomas Cleary—translator of more than thirty-five classics of Asian philosophy—the Japanese people have been so steeped in the way of the warrior that some of the manners and mentality of this outlook remain embedded in their individual and collective consciousness. Cleary shows how well-known attributes such as the reserve and mystery of formal Japanese behavior are deeply rooted in the ancient strategies of the traditional arts of war. Citing original Japanese sources that are popular among Japanese readers today, he reveals the hidden forces behind Japanese attitudes and conduct in political, business, social, and personal life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Japanese Art of War should be required reading for modern-day missionaries of Western business, politics, and culture."—San Francisco Chronicle

"'Set aside all the slogans you have learned and all the intellectual views that stick to your flesh.' Cleary quotes Chinese Zen master Yuanwu as saying. That's what this provocative book forces us to do. It raises the art of understanding of Japan's national and corporate psychology to new—and eminently accessible—heights of clarity. Cleary's is, in fact, the clearest voice explaining East-West cultural differences that I have encountered in a long time. An amazing achievement."—Alexander Besher, author of The Pacific Rim Almanac

About the Author

Thomas Cleary holds a PhD in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University and a JD from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. He is the translator of over fifty volumes of Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, and Islamic texts from Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese, Pali, and Arabic.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (May 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590302451
• ISBN-13: 978-1590302453
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #425,416 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Cleary is the preeminent translator of classic Eastern texts, including The Essential Tao, The Essential Confucius, The Secret of the Golden Flower, and the bestselling The Art of War.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting to the lover of Asian history., July 19, 2002

By 

Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Japanese Art of War (Paperback)

In history most nations are always taking ideas and beliefs from others, even when they don't know it. Japan is no different. Much of the Far East classes in American colleges spend much of their time teaching students about where Japan gets much of its culture, language and traditions.
The Art of War is like everything else that came to Japan. They took it, made it Japanese and used it in the way THEY felt was best. The Art of War soon spread into areas of business and philosophy. The ideas were soon adapted and proved to be useful rules for every walk of Japanese life. It could guide a warrior or help a baker do his best.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent basic guide to the Japanese philosophy of war., August 31, 2009

By 

Joseph J. Truncale "warriorwriter" (Vernon Hills, Il) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japanese Art of War (Paperback)

As a life-long student of the martial arts, most especially Japanese combat arts, I found this book to be an excellent basic guide to the heart and soul of the Japanese Bushi(Warrior-Samurai). The author is well-known for his expertise on asian culture. He is a Buddhist scholar and lived in Japan for six years. This volume covers the history of warfare in Japan, the role of Zen in the warrior philosophy, schemes of the samurai, the thirty strategies of war, bushido and christianty, and the Zen razor.

In conclusion, this is a book that will be of interest to serious students of Japanese martial arts, as well as for scholars of Asian history.

Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Wakizashi-Jutsu Official Manual--Bushi Satori Ryu).

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Robert Lane - Dayton Ohio, July 15, 2005

By 

Robert Lane (Springboro, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Japanese Art of War (Paperback)

7.15.05 - Clearly a secret weapon in business today. If you take time to study what the book is sharing the information can be applied to every aspect of business. The information is very old but timeless. What is remarkable is how applicable the information is to the American buying and sell process. Salesmen - put down your modivational books and start studying information that will make a difference in your customers lives.