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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 181
EAN num: 9784770029478
ISBN number: 4770029470
Label: Kodansha International
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 142
Printing Date: January 17, 2003
Publishing house: Kodansha International
Sale Popularity Level: 36702
Studio: Kodansha International
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
In a life-and-death situation of being sword-tip to sword-tip with the enemy, where should the swordsman put his mind?
This is the very first question posed in the very first of three essays written by a Zen master for the guidance of samurai swordsmen. Among the other questions that arise are the difference between the right mind and the confused mind, what makes life precious, the nature of right-mindedness, the Buddhist paradigm of form and consciousness, and what distinguishes the True Mind. So succinct are the author's insights that these writings have outlasted the dissolution of the samurai class to come down to the present as sources of guidance and inspiration for captains of business and industry, as well as those devoted to the practice of the martial arts in their modern forms.
The history of the sword in Japan goes back to antiquity. Zen and its meditative practices also have a long history, but it was not until the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns, beginning in the early 1600s, that the techniques of swordsmanship fused with the spirit of Zen. And if one man can be said to have been the prime mover in this phenomenon, it was none other than Takuan Soho, confidant and religious instructor to an emperor, to a great sword master, and to the heads of the most important sword schools of the time.
Takuan's meditations on the sword in the essays presented here are classics of Zen thinking.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I enjoyed reading this book although I can't really say what I got out of it. The philosophies were difficult for me to grasp and I really did not come away understanding more about Eastern Philosophy.
I am going to try a few others.
Rated by buyers 
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This is it; skip all the rest; "the unfettered mind" tells the master
swordsman, right off the bat, how to stay cool enough to survive. Do I have to say more?
Rated by buyers 
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You might be someone who's down to earth, just like, figuring out how in someone's name some Japanese sword fighter is going to help you out in your daily life. Well, he isn't going to.
What this book does teaches you is to seek within yourself and return to your own core. As I'm not someone who meditates or does much spiritual enlightment, this book still taught me a lot. As for the time of reading it, it takes you back into time and makes you think of certain things you might not have thought about all your life. So, if that's enlightment, count me in.
With only 92 real pages to read, this book still gives much value for its price. Most sentences are compressed with knowledge and sometimes make you read them twice. Hey, that's 184 pages already then!
Are you interested in gaining some spiritual thoughts and maybe some habits as well? Then read this book.
Rated by buyers -
This is a legacy of Takuan Soho, a Zen monk from medieval Japan who live in the same period with Minamoto Mushasi, author of The Book of Five Rings. In this book Takuan Soho was trying to explain the concept of Zen to other sword master, Yagyu Munemori, and of course from the perspective of Buddhism. "A" gook book actualy but it takes a great amount of time to read and understand it.
Rated by buyers -
I would suggest this book for Kendo and Kenjutsu practitioners for spiritual reasons.
Soho was the spiritual teacher of a famous Swordsman Yagyu Munenori. In Yagyu¡¦s books his strong Zen background is evident. Soho was not an excellent swordsman himself. However he pioneered the spiritual aspects of chopping someone¡¦s head off. He was more of a cook than swordsman. As is evident by his now famous pickle.
So buy a jar of Soho pickles to munch on before reading this book. º
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