The Book of Five Circles
Miyamoto Musashi
Translated by Thomas Cleary

Shambhala classics categorized The Book of Five Circles as Business/Martial Arts. Moreover, the back of the book asserts that it was written "not only for martial artists but for leaders in all professions." Obviously, these descriptions are exaggerations in an effort to market the book to the modern capitalist consumer ignorant of the traditions and nature of the samurai that was Musashi Miyamoto (In the same respect, businessman who proudly claim that "The Art of War" is their bible fail to understand what the book was really about).

The truth is The Book of Five Circles must be read plainly without any preconceived notions of what it is suppose to tell you about business or career. It must be read and understood as a whole the way Musashi Miyamoto had intended it to be -- as a treatise on the samurai way and the nature of engagements. Never mind that it "symbolizes processes of struggle and mastery in all concerns and walks of life. (xii)" The understanding that comes from reading the Book of Five Circles and Yagyu Munenori's The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War for every day life comes later. To fully appreciate these masterpieces it is best to read it as is and as Master Miyamoto keeps repeating "should be examined carefully." Readers who go through the text struggling to apply it in their jobs or occupation will find themselves wasting their time and failing to appreciate the intelligence and wisdom of Master Miyamoto and Yagyu Munenori.

Master Miyamoto's Book of Five Circles is so simple and straightforward in his approach to swordplay and warfare, it is difficult to deny that Miyamoto truly was a warrior in every sense of the word (an anachronism trained to kill and participate in battle without thought of wealth or victory but death). Master Miyamoto, like the latter ideas of the inimitable Bruce Lee, despised empty showmanship and the commercialization of martial arts. Miyamoto was obsessed with his chosen path and it shows in his writing -- he considers everything from the correct guard to footwork to choice of weaponry. Those uninterested in the specifics of fighting will most likely be bored with Miyamoto's minute descriptions and advice. The "modern martial artist" so common nowadays will look at this book with disdain. But even if the true reader disregards that Master Miyamoto lived in a different time, the true reader would realize much of the truths of Master Miyamoto's text --- moreover, the reader would understand why Miyamoto was a radical thinker and a unique being.

Cleary's translation is a little bit too modern and hopefully not too interpretative. He may have misunderstood some of the text and this is understandable because parts like the Fire Scroll and Water Scroll discusses technical aspects of fighting. A section on "Stomping a sword," for example, has a real application in fighting. Cleary interprets it as a metaphor of "getting the jump on everything (a phrase he uses over and over again in the book).

The Book of Five Rings is profound but again it should be read without the presumptions of contemporary thought (especially Western capitalist thought.) In the same respect, Yagyu Munenori's The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War should be read with an open mind. Those with an understanding of Asian philosophy and the chaos that is Western Philosophy would sneer and pick at Munenori's writings. His work on "The Killing Sword," "the Life-Giving Sword" and "No Sword" lacks the cold analysis of Miyamoto's scrolls but is no less insightful. In fact, due to Munenori's understanding of Zen, his thought is more fluid. His approach, though extremely different from Master Miyamoto's, ironically fills in the blanks of the Five Scrolls. Munenori speaks of "sickness" and "the normal mind" and "seriousness" -- elements of his thought that can be easily chalked up to Buddhism but again this is a presumption by the lazy reader. Like most of the book, Munenori's discourse can easily be misunderstood or taken for granted. It is sad that Munenori's book isn't even mentioned on the cover though it stands on its own and incomparable to any work.

The Book of Five Rings and The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War should be read and thought about repeatedly. Miyamoto's constant encouragement of reflection should be followed in order to appreciate the book. Understanding does not come without some effort. To that end, The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War and The Book of Five Rings is not a book for leisure nor is it a work to be used for grandstanding. It is for the patient and open-minded.

 

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August Issue