Musashi's Book of Five Rings: The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy [Paperback]

Stephen F. Kaufman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2004

Often used to explain Japanese business competition, Musashi's Book of Five Rings is more properly a definitive treatise on mortal combat from one of Japan's most formidable warriors - the martial arts luminary Miyamoto Musashi. Famed martial artist Stephen Kaufman has translated this classic without the usual commercial bias, driving straight to the heart of Musashi's incisive martial arts stratagems. The result is an enthralling combination of powerful technical wisdom and the philosophical elucidation offered to martial artists by Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism, and Taoism. From the metaphor of the Four Elements and fundamentals of physical practice and strategy to an offering of Zen wisdom on the "way" of nature, Musashi's Book of Five Rings is as profound and important a book on martial arts as you will find.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen F. Kaufman, Hanshi 10th Dan, holder of the highest rank attainable in the martial arts, is an acknowledged 'Founding Father of American Karate.' A motivational speaker, self-defense expert, and author, Hanshi Kaufman has studied Eastern philosophy for over forty years. He is the founder of the widely recognized Dojo No Hebi (School of the Snake) and is the author of Living Tao, The Shogun Scrolls, and The Art of War. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 2 edition (January 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804835209
• ISBN-13: 978-0804835206
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Fanciful Interpretation of Musashi's Work, May 26, 2006

By 

C. J. Hardman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Musashi's Book of Five Rings: The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy (Paperback)

I have no doubt about the author's sincerity in offering this personal interpretation of Musashi's original work, "Book of 5 Spheres" (or "The Book of 5 Rings"). The problem I have with what Stephen F. Kaufman has done to Musashi's book deals more with his implied suggestion that this edition is the result of an actual ~translation~ which he was responsible for (see pages xi-xii, "Translator's Note"). In fact, when asked Mr. Kaufman has admitted that this volume (and some others he has written) are not translations at all, but rather his own personal interpretations of English translations done by other authors--something he DOESN'T bother to communicate to his readers. The title of this volume, at odds with the "translator's note" on pgs xi -xii, is actually "...The Definitive _Interpretation_ of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy". I fail to understand why Kaufman confuses his readers by mixing and matching interpretation with translation. It should be noted that Mr Kaufman himself does NOT speak or read Japanese, and in fact innocently named his own martial arts school "Dojo no Hebi" ("Place of Practice's Snake"), when he was trying for "Dojo of the Snake" (which in Japanese would have been "Hebi no Dojo", meaning "The Snake's Place of Practice"). Innocent mistakes yes, but one would expect a Black belt of the 10th Dan (degree grade) and a proclaimed "Hanshi" (master practitioner) to at least check his spelling with someone who _could_ speak the language he was borrowing.

Kaufman doesn't bother to provide a bibliography of which English translations he used, nor does he include notes explaining _how_ he drew his conclusions from the texts he studied. I am bothered by the fact that many of Musashi's original words have been heavily edited, re-arranged, or deleted altogether by this author until they have been removed entirely from their original context. In doing this, Mr. Kaufman has actually ALTERED the _meaning_ of Musashi's work! What remains appears to be little more than a new age self-help guide for modern martial artists which has retained a smidgeon of flavor from Musashi's original work.

A brief example illustrating Kaufman's tendancy to put his own words in Musashi's mouth is in the fourth paragraph on page 6 of Kaufman's book. Kaufman reworks Musashi's words regarding Merchants as a class to read, "Merchants are a ridiculed class because they produce nothing except profit from the work of others." Two other men who have actually translated Musashi's work from the original Japanese suggest nothing sinister in Musashi's original work concerning the merchant class.

Victor Harris in his translation of "A Book of Five Rings" offers: "The way of the merchant is always to live by taking profit" (page 41, 1974). Translator Thomas Cleary offers the same sentence as: "Whatever the business, merchants make a living from the profits they earn acording to their particular status" (page 7, 1993).

This is a minor demonstration of the differences between Kaufman's work and those offered by actual QUALIFIED translators--the translators make an effort to convey to the reader the actual meaning of Musashi's words in English, while Kaufman crafts a new meaning which never existed in Musashi's original work. Suffice to say, Kaufman's interpretation seems heavily influenced by his modern view of martial arts and his concept of what he feels samurai may have been like four centuries ago. It bears little resemblance to competent translations of Musashi's writings. Or perhaps it is Kaufman's guilt over his own attempt to exploit the expertise and writings of a respected master.

I recommend two excellent translations of Musashi's work which stay true to the original Japanese. The first is "A Book of Five Rings" translated by Victor Harris, a mechanical engineer and technical interpreter of Japanese language who not only practiced kendo (Japanese fencing), but studied this art in Japan for 3 years under Ito Kyoitsu at the Seijudo Dojo. A second recommendation is "The Book of Five Rings" by Thomas Cleary, another professional translator. Unlike Kaufman, I did not find translations by these men to be "intellectual exercises in translating Japanese to English" (pg xi). I found legitimate translations by competent translators who were clear and direct...I suspect most scholarly people, whether students of martial arts or not, will draw a similar conclusions upon comparing Kaufman's book to any actual translation.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Overly simple, July 8, 2005

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Reader (Bozeman, MT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Musashi's Book of Five Rings: The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy (Paperback)

This is the first translation of The Book of Five Rings that I read. I wasn't terribly impressed with it. After reading the translation by William Scott Wilson, I am even less impressed with Kaufman's translation. While Wilson's may be a bit harder to comprehend on the first read, much is lost in Kaufman's translation in terms of language and metaphor. Kaufman's translation may be better for someone looking for a more simple explanation of technique. However, Wilson's translation offers much more for a reader to wrap his/her mind around. Since I have never read the original text, I can in no way claim to know whose translation is is closer to the original. However for those looking for a more cerebral experience, I would suggest Wilson's translation.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clarity of Purpose, April 6, 2011

By 

Haydn Ellis "Dinks" (Aus) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Musashi's Book of Five Rings: The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy (Paperback)

I have enjoyed reading the reviews of Kaufman's interpretation. They have been insightful and in many cases extremely witty and thought provoking. The intelligence behind some of the comments verges on genius. Well done.

I have given this book 5 stars for one reason only. I am a full time sports coach and coach professional athletes at a world class level. Kaufman's interpretation is the only translation / interpretation that I have been able to use 'in the field' specifically to enhance the 'frame of mind' of the athletes I coach before the ultimate testing ground; competition. As a tool for learning and applying strategy as well as improving 'frame of mind' in the realm of professional sport I have found it invaluable. Since I am not an academic I really couldn't care less about who's translation / intrepretation is the most accurate. I only use what works.

As an aside, I am also a martial artist and martial arts instructor. I have recently published a book about my martial arts Master. It is entitled 'Raoul Kent: A Life of Mastery' and will be available at Amazon soon. Master Raoul is a true master of Japanese karate, ju jitsu and judo. He has been bodyguard to the rich and famous as well as the criminal underworld. He went undefeated in martial art competitions of all forms for 7 years straight. Master Raoul also values Kaufman's interpretation and since he is truly the most battle tested warrior I have ever known I value his opinion. Intellectuals may be great wordsmiths and ardent critics but at the end of the day they remain just that. No brilliant intellectual will ever help you win a fight or conquer the battlefield of professional sport.

I suggest purchasing and reading all versions of Book of Five Rings and making up your own mind. The litmus test ultimately will be whether or not the book fulfilled the purpose for which you bought it.