Everything about what it means to be a warrior can be found within the pages of this book, and it s just as relevant today as the day it was written. Words like sacrifice, integrity, and honor are more then just words to us; they are a mantra that sends shivers down our spines. It is this spirit of heart and calling that makes some rush to enlist during times of trouble while others burn draft cards and run for the border.

The comprehensive and accurate edition of the Hagakure is a must-have for serious martial artists or fans of samurai and the bushido code. The Hagakure is one of the most influential of all Japanese texts--written nearly 300 years ago by Yamamoto Tsunetomo to summarize the very essence of the Japanese Samurai bushido ("warrior") spirit. Its influence has been felt throughout the world, and yet its existence is scarcely known to many Westerners. This is the first translation to include the complete first two books of the Hagakure and the most reliable and authentic passages contained within the third book; all other English translations published previously have been fragmentary and incomplete. Alex Bennett's wholly new and highly readable translation of this essential work includes extensive footnotes that serve to fill in many cultural and historical gaps in the previous translations. This unique combination of readability and scholarship gives Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai a distinct advantage over all previous English editions.

The definitive translation of the seminal treatise on the code of the samurai.

Living and dying with bravery and honor is at the heart of Hagakure, a series of over 1,300 short texts written by eighteenth-century samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo. These texts illuminate the classic Japanese concept of bushido (the Way of the Warrior), which dictated how samurai were expected to behave, conduct themselves, live, and die. Acclaimed translator William Scott Wilson has selected and translated here three hundred of those texts to create an accessible distillation of this guide, making it one of the most thorough and astonishing windows into the captivating world of the samurai available.

This edition includes an introduction that delves into the Zen concept of muga, or "death" of the ego, giving an in-depth historical and philosophical background for the more metaphorical reading of Hagakure that is based on Tsunetomo's reference to bushido as "the Way of death." Through this lens, which has held a morbid fascination for readers through the years, the classic takes on a fresh and nuanced appeal.

This book was previously published under the title Hagakure.

This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series.

The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.

The Samurai Series brings together three of the most important books dealing with the Samurai path and philosophy into one deluxe, illustrated hardcover volume.
"The Book of Five Rings" was written by Miyamoto Musashi, a Samurai of legendary renown, about 1645. 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," 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 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.
Excerpt from The Book of Five Rings. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The Gaze in Strategy
The gaze should be large and broad. This is the twofold gaze, "Perception and Sight." Perception is strong and sight, weak.
In strategy, it is important to see distant things as if they were close, and to take a distanced view of close things. It is important in strategy to know the enemy's sword, yet not be distracted by insignificant movements of his sword. You must study this. The gaze is the same for single combat and for large-scale strategy.
It is necessary in strategy to be able to look to both sides without moving the eyeballs. You cannot master this ability quickly. Learn what is written here; use this gaze in everyday life and do not vary it...

Everything about what it means to be a warrior can be found within the pages of this book, and it s just as relevant today as the day it was written. Words like sacrifice, integrity, and honor are more then just words to us; they are a mantra that sends shivers down our spines. It is this spirit of heart and calling that makes some rush to enlist during times of trouble while others burn draft cards and run for the border.

'Hagakure' is a treatise on the samurai code written by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, an 18th century samurai. It's a guide, organized as a loose collection of thoughts, on how samurai should behave and conduct themselves.