Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)

Book Description

In eighteenth-century Japan, Tsunetomo Yamamoto created the Hagakure, a document that served as the basis for samurai warrior behavior. Its guiding principles greatly influenced the Japanese ruling class and shaped the underlying character of the Japanese psyche, from businessmen to soldiers.

Bushido is the first English translation of the Hagakure. This work provides a powerful message aimed at the mind and spirit of the samurai warrior. It offers beliefs that are difficult for the Western mind to embrace, yet fascinating in their pursuit of absolute service. With Bushido, one can better put into perspective Japan's historical path and gain greater insight into the Japan of today.

Customer Reviews:

Best Version on this Subject.......2007-07-22

I can't better the other review below except to say that this translation of the Bushido is far easier to read, understand, digest and put into daily practice than the hoards of other versions of "Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai by Tsunetomo Yamamoto" which this book is based upon.

Despite a totally different translation, nothing is lost when you put the two books side by side and compare them to each other.

By the way, the title "Bushi-do" does not mean "Hidden behind the Leaves", that is the translation of the "Hagakure". Any martial artist worth his salt will easily recognise the two parts of the word: Bushi (Warrior) & do (the way) - The Way of the Warrior (or Samurai).

Easy to Read - Difficult to Apply.......2007-07-19

Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics) is a superb little book that makes some important points. However, it is all too easy to take what it has to say out of context. The time and place to which it was literally relevant has long since passed. What it has to say about the values one should live by and how one should carry out their mission in life are, on the other hand, timeless.

The same can be said of another important Japanese classic: The Book of Five Rings. Both of these books are important from a philosophical point of view, but difficult to really understand for those who are not immersed in Japanese culture. Both spring from the philosophy of Zen and both do a good job of showing its application is a time of constant warfare and personal danger.

A good choice to put the advice of the Zen warriors into perspective is the book Bushido, the Soul of Japan which gives a broader look at the philosophy and its roots. What Zen is all about and how it may be applied in everyday life - how compatible it is with other philosophies and religions - is well presented.

All three of these books have been bound together into one book: The Samurai Series: The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure -The Way of the Samurai & Bushido - The Soul of Japan, which I can recommend without reservation. Together, these three books add up to much more than the sum of the parts. They are truly synergistic.

A Great Introduction to Bushido.......2007-03-14

If you want an easy to read book that gives you the basic precepts of Bushido, this will be the book for you.

idealized self aggrandisement that covers over ugly realities.......2007-03-13

This is one of those basic tracts that is given to those who move to Japan, as a view into how things are supposed to work. While it sounds very good when you read it - there are indeed wonderful codes to live by that are elegantly expressed - once you have lived there for a few months you see that it has less (and more) to do with everyday life than meets the eye.

Afterall, there are two levels when dealing with Japan: Tatemae, the syrupy feel-good version of things that saves everyone's "face", and Honne, which is the way people really feel about things; the former gets pounded into your head at the office, the latter you elicit slowly when you go to the bars after work and get drunk. However, Tatemae is a useful tool for bureaucracies, as it is the official way things are supposed to appear to function, complete with a code for the behavior that one should simulate, no matter how differently (or alienated) one feels underneath. The "Bushido" is the purest Tatemae, an instrument of control that is wielded but has little personal meaning beyond that. In my opinion - and I witnessed this often while living in Japan - all the talk of honor and value and loyalty is just that: mere words to mask brutal authoritarianism and mindless obedience to one's place in the hierarchy. As such, there are very interesting things to learn here about how people choose (or submit to a compulsion from without) to behave, but it will not teach the reader about how they feel inside.

Recommended, but don't take it at face value. I wish I could sound more inspired and interested about Japan, but having lived there, I know the ugliness underneath from experience.

Very Cool Stuff .......2007-01-14

The book is full of a collection of thoughs/ideas in the length of one to two paragraphs each. These ideas are passed on to us from some of the great Samurai containing their philosophy on life, death, honor etc.

The Samurai Series: The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure -The Way of the Samurai & Bushido - The Soul of Japan

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A Real Bargain!
Great Combination! - 3 Books in 1
This is my new favorite book!

The Samurai Series: The Book of Five Rings, Hagakure -The Way of the Samurai & Bushido - The Soul of Japan
Miyamoto Musashi , Yamamoto Tsunetomo , and Inazo Nitobe
Manufacturer: El Paso Norte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Zen Philosophy | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1934255017

Book Description

The Samurai Series brings together three of the most important books that deal with the Samurai path and philosophy into one volume. It contains:

The Book of Five Rings which was written by Miyamoto Musashi, a Samurai of legendary renown, about 1645 AD. It is a masterpiece of simple exposition written by a master swordsman, who, near the end of his spectacular life, tried earnestly to explain the essentials of individual combat and the essence of being a Samurai. His book is widely considered to a cornerstone of the philosophy of Bushido.

Hagakure - The Way of the Samurai, which means: "Hidden by Leaves", that was composed from dialogs by the famous Samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo, by a scribe, Tashiro Tsuramoto, about 1716 AD. It explains the major ideas and philosophy that are essential to the "way of the Samurai", by which is meant the "way of dying". It contains numerous tales of various Samurai and their deeds which illustrate their philosophy and practice.

Bushido - The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe which was first published 1899. It is an extremely literate presentation by a Japanese intellectual who wished to present Japan and its fundamental philosophy in a way that could be understood by Westerners. It describes how the Shinto Religion and Buddhism are the underpinnings of the essentially militaristic view of honor and life that are inherent in Bushido, the Samurai code.

Customer Reviews:

A Real Bargain!.......2007-07-11

Here you have 3 really good books in one cover:

"The Book of Five Rings"
"Hagakure - The Way of the Samurai"
and
"Bushido - The Soul of Japan"

The Japanese view of warfare, honor and beauty are intertwined with Zen Buddhism and forms the unique philosophy of Bushido. This assembly of three famous books does a great job of presenting the philosophy of Bushido in a much more complete manner that any one of them by itself. Each of these books is a classic, in and of itself, and is worth the price all by itself, but to get 3 for 1 - What a deal!

Great Combination! - 3 Books in 1.......2007-01-02

All three of the books contained in this one volume really should be in the collection of anyone interested in Japanese philosophy, religion or martial arts. It is not often that three really good books get bundled together into one volume but to have three classics together is really extraordinary.

The reflections of a master swordsman, the advice of a proper old Samurai and the explanations of a well-traveled scholar fit together synergistically; they add up to much more than the sum of the parts. Although the writers were separated from each other in time, they are united in a coherent view of what constitutes proper conduct and honor. There is enough difference in their styles of expression to illuminate points that might otherwise be obscure and at the same time provide some interesting juxtapositions.

Those who are already familiar with one or more of the books contained in this volume will find that having all three of them together is a real plus. Each, on its own, is an important little book; the three of them together form an important big book.

This is my new favorite book!.......2006-12-08

I was so happy for Amazon's fast shipping. I have been eye-balling The Book of Five Rings for quite some time. I've been on a personal quest to understand the history and philosophy of the Samurai, but I confess to not having a lot of time to read any more. Most of my reading ends up being in an airport waiting for a flight. Needless to say, the last thing I need is a bunch of hardcover books to haul around.

I saw this volume and had to do a little Snoopy Dance. Not only did I finally get to read "The Book of Five Rings", but I went on and read "Hagakure" and "Bushido". I feel like I have a real understanding, or at least as much as someone from the West can have about the Samurai's philosophy and way of life. Kudos to Amazon for finding this gem.

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Be a 20th Century Samurai
Women v. Hagakure

Way of the Samurai
Yukio Mishima , and Kathryn Sparling
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Japanese | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Ethics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0399509070

Customer Reviews:

Be a 20th Century Samurai.......2004-08-05

This is the only edition of the Hagakure to buy. it is filled with the commentary of Yukio Mishima, the last man to live the bushido life before committing suicide. The illustrations are spare and powerful, suffusing modern despair with ancient tragedy.

Women v. Hagakure.......2003-12-19

The proverbs are great, but since it is about old school Japan pricipals of the Samurai, it is more geared towards men. Women may find it interesting in a historical way, or if they plan to be domesticated by their husband. Overall goob book either way.

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Bushido: Way of the Samurai
Minoru Tanaka
Manufacturer: Sun Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 089540009X

Musashi Series: The Way of the Samurai, The Art of War, The Way of the Sword, The Bushido Code, The Way of Life and Death (Set of 5)

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Musashi Series: The Way of the Samurai, The Art of War, The Way of the Sword, The Bushido Code, The Way of Life and Death (Set of 5)
Eiji Yoshikawa
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000N9IOHE

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Bushido : Way of the Samurai

Manufacturer: Sun Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HW3SA0

Book Description

The Diné have been a pastoral people for as long as they can remember; but when livestock reductions in the New Deal era forced many into the labor market, some scholars felt that Navajo culture would inevitably decline. Although they lost a great deal with the waning of their sheep-centered economy, Colleen O'Neill argues that Navajo culture persisted.

O'Neill's book challenges the conventional notion that the intro-duction of market capitalism necessarily leads to the destruction of native cultural values. She shows instead that contact with new markets provided the Navajos with ways to diversify their household-based survival strategies. Navajos actually participated in the "reworking of modernity" in their region, weaving an alternate, culturally specific history of capitalist development.

O'Neill chronicles a history of Navajo labor that illuminates how cultural practices and values influenced what it meant to work for wages or to produce commodities for the marketplace. Through accounts of Navajo coal miners, weavers, and those who left the reservation in search of wage work, she explores the tension between making a living the Navajo way and "working elsewhere."

Focusing on the period between the 1930s and the early 1970s-a time when Navajos saw a dramatic transformation of their economy-O'Neill shows that Navajo cultural values were flexible enough to accommodate economic change. She also examines the development of a Navajo working class after 1950, when corporate development of Navajo mineral resources created new sources of wage work and allowed former migrant workers to remain on the reservation.

O'Neill shows how the Navajo home serves as a site of cultural negotiation and a source for affirming identity. Her depiction of weaving particularly demonstrates the role of women as cultural arbitrators, providing mothers with cultural power that kept them at the center of what constituted "Navajo-ness."

Ultimately, Working the Navajo Way shows the essential resilience of Navajo lifeways and argues for a more dynamic understanding of Native American culture overall.

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Working the Navajo way: labor and culture in the twentieth century.
Colleen O'Neill
Manufacturer: [Lawrence], UP of Kansas, [
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OUS8H8

Book Description

In about A.D. 400, a group of seafarers reached a small, isolated island in Polynesia and founded a new settlement. They developed a rich and complex culture that lasted more than a thousand years. The population eventually declined, and soon all that remained were a few inhabitants and hundreds of mysterious giant stone statues in varying stages of disrepair. Caroline Arnold explains how archeologists and other scientists and scholars have pieced together a history of Easter Island by studying its natural resources, listening to family stories and Polynesian legends, and examining the statues and other clues the people left behind. Photographs, taken by the author, provide a stunning visual accompaniment to this clear and concise account of one of the most remote--and fascinating--places on earth. GLOSSARY, BIBLIOGRAPHY, INDEX.

Customer Reviews:

Good Pix Boring Text.......2002-07-08

Easter Island is one of the most interesting places in the world, but you would never know it from this text that is so much like geography textbooks of old that you don't want to even turn the page. What does keep you turning the pages are the pictures which are quite beautiful and, in themselves, illuminating... A worthy effort, with solid information...

Outstanding book!.......2000-11-01

An excellent informational book about Easter Island and its mysterious past. Schort chapters break the book into easily managable sections. The vocabulary is appropriate for the intended age group. Factual information is clearly separated from theories. When applicable, multiple theories are presented. Crisp, clear photographs throughout the book serve to clarify the narration. A glossary, complete with pronounciation guide, is included along with an index.

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Moving and Truthful Storytelling

The Day the Stones Walked
T. A. Barron
Manufacturer: Philomel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0399242635
Release Date: 2007-05-10

Book Description

PicoÂ's father isnÂ't like the other fathers on Easter Island. Instead of building boats or hunting octopus, he sculpts the giant stone figures that he believes, in times of trouble, will rise and walk.

Impossible, thinks Pico, until the Great Wave crashes into the island and Pico experiences firsthand the wonder of the stones.

In this stunning tale of faith and the humbling power of nature, T. A. Barron and William Low envision life as it might have been on the mysterious Easter Island . . . before the stones became the islandÂ's only inhabitants.

Customer Reviews:

Moving and Truthful Storytelling.......2007-10-05

In an essential Note at the end of the book T. A. Barron writes that when he visited the great carved faces of Easter Island he "had no idea that the stones themselves would tell me a story." And it is a profoundly moving story that young and old will ponder and return to.

Young Pico is the child of one of the great carvers of Easter Island at the height of its former glory. Pico's father believes that the gigantic heads--the moai--can come to life and help people in time of trouble. Pico does not take this seriously until he is caught by a huge wave--larger than a mountain. Overwhelmed by the power of the ocean, Pico becomes aware of voices "deeper than the sea itself" while the wave displaces even the great carved stones. In this moment the boy discovers his spiritual connection to his people--and survives. But in many ways, his island is already declining, even without the "help" of the violent wave.

The tsunami is a matter of archeological record, one still remembered by present-day spirit-singers of Easter Island. But there is more to the story than this--at one time, Easter Island was covered with subtropical forest that supported a much more complex culture than it does nowadays. The people used the forest for everything, and in time it was exhausted, along with the plants and animals that lived there. Without the forests, the Easter Islanders and their achievements dwindled as well.

Barron rightly hopes that readers can learn from the experience of Easter Island. "Kids need to know the truth," he remarks. Indeed, this book makes the truth very compelling, although for me, the spiritual connection with the great carvings may be the most enduring impression. Of course, Barron's story was new to me, whereas I already was aware of the ecological disaster on Easter Island.

Wonders of the World - The Easter Island Statues (Wonders of the World)

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A Great Mystery
Experience One of the Wonders of the World
An appealing title packed with visual backup

Wonders of the World - The Easter Island Statues (Wonders of the World)
Deborah Underwood
Manufacturer: KidHaven Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Mystery & Wonders | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 073773065X

Book Description

Hundreds of enormous stone statues populate a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. Some of the figures gaze out over the landscape, while others lie half-finished in the crater of a volcano. The Easter Island Statues examines these mysterious monuments and the people who carved them centuries ago.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Mystery.......2006-06-25

People have wondered for centuries how and why the great
statues on Easter Island were constructed and how so many of them were destroyed or damaged after being made. This very appealing book lays out these mysteries and gives background information suitable for grades 3-5. My wife is a pediatrician and this book is a great hit in her waiting room.

Experience One of the Wonders of the World.......2005-06-03

Easter Island is one of those places in the world you'd most like to see; but probably never will. Fortunately Deborah Underwood has taken us there in this fascinating book. Her strong writing accompanied by great photographs and illustrations give us a sense of place and help us understand the history, environment, and oddity that is Easter Island.

An appealing title packed with visual backup.......2005-04-11

Adding to the 'Wonders of the World' series is a special focus on the mysterious Easter Island statues, a topic generally not given complete coverage for this grade group of 3-5. 48 pages discuss Easter Island history, the investigations into the statues, and theories about how the islanders moved them into place. An appealing title packed with visual backup.

Statues of Easter Island (Ancient Wonders of the World) (Ancient Wonders of the World)

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Statues of Easter Island (Ancient Wonders of the World) (Ancient Wonders of the World)
Lenore Franzen
Manufacturer: Creative Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Architecture | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Mystery & Wonders | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Curiosities & Wonders | Fun Facts | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1583413588

Death of a Moai: Easter Island statues : their nature, deterioration and conservation (Easter Island Foundation occasional paper)

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Death of a Moai: Easter Island statues : their nature, deterioration and conservation (Easter Island Foundation occasional paper)
A. Elena Charola
Manufacturer: Distributed by Easter Island Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1880636115

Easter Island: The heritage and its conservation (Future of the past)

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Easter Island: The heritage and its conservation (Future of the past)
A. Elena Charola
Manufacturer: World Monuments Fund
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0962793140

Notice of Easter Island, its inhabitants, antiquities, and colossal statues

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Notice of Easter Island, its inhabitants, antiquities, and colossal statues
C. M Dundas
Manufacturer: Printed for the Society by Neill and Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The prehistoric statues of Easter Island

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The prehistoric statues of Easter Island
W. Wynn Westcott
Manufacturer: Privately printed
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008ADK6S

Book Description

With the dramatic shift from foreign aid to private investment as the engine of growth in many developing countries, what are the environmental implications? Can private capital actually be used to put us on the path to sustainable development? These are the questions tackled in Private Capital Flows and the Environment.

Many different types of private investment are described and their impact on the environment analyzed, leading to the conclusion - surprising for many - that improved environmental performance can accompany foreign direct investment. The book, the first in-depth study of these important links, is built around a series of case studies of various industries in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica. The authors, a multi-national, multi-disciplinary team of experts, show how governments of developing countries can actually attract foreign investors by integrating environmental considerations into their investment promotion efforts. The book also identifies points of leverage for actions by governments, investors, environmental groups, and customers to increase even further the environmental benefits that can accompany private capital flows.

This book makes an important and timely contribution to the debate on foreign direct investment and sustainable development. It will be of great interest to scholars and students of environmental economics, development economics, international finance, law, and management as well as to policy makers, environmental advocates, and private investors.

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