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Miyamoto Musashi was an excellent Japanese soldier and an exceptional strategist at that. He lived in Japan from 1584 to 1645. His book "Go Rin No Sho", better known as the Book of the Five Rings, which he wrote in 1645, is still one of the military masterpieces and is a must-read for every soldier.
The first difficulty with this is that one would actually have to be able to master the Japanese language in order to be able to really understand it, and even then the reader will only be able to understand its teachings if he/she is at least in the stick fencing practices.
Because, as is usually the case and, as can be seen in the case of cookbooks, as an example, specialist books already require one or the other basic knowledge. They also don't save you from trying out the respective recipes again and again in order to finally come to a passable result. And this is exactly the case with Musashi's book.
I have studied this book myself for years and today I very much regret that I could never bring myself to learn the Japanese language first. So I was left with the various translations, although none of them was ultimately satisfactory for me.
Years ago, I modified an English translation that I already had and then tried again and again to better understand Musashi's strategy. Miyamoto Musashi himself gives this advice:
This is the way for men who want to learn my strategy:
1. Don't think dishonestly.
2. The way is in training.
3. Become acquainted with every art.
4. Know the ways of all professions.
5. Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters.
6. Develop intuitive judgment and understanding for everything.
7. Perceive those things which cannot be seen.
8. Pay attention even to trifles.
9. Do nothing which is of no use.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings
But the most important and absolutely fundamental statement made by Musashi for every soldier is the following:
Generally speaking, the way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death.
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings
who continue with Miyamoto Musashi want to deal with, he can here access the text I have adapted. Please note, however, that it may still happen today that I continue to change it.
And if you know a good translation of the book yourself, please let me know.
"Of course the void is nothingness. By knowing things that exist, you can know that which does not exist. That is the void."
Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings
