Samurai Mind: Lessons from Japan's Master Warriors

by Christopher Hellman (Translator)

Overview

The Samurai Mind is a collection of five seminal Japanese texts that convey the essence of traditional samurai philosophy and ethics from very different, but complementary points of view.

These texts range from the ferocious to the esoteric--with their common thread being the importance of mastering one's own mind as the key to overcoming opponents. They were written from the mid-18th to early 19th century, The authors were acknowledged master samurai warriors keen to address a broader audience beyond their circle of students and acolytes. Their aim was to explain their craft to the outside world, and they do so with great insight.

The classic Japanese texts are:

• The Mysterious Skills of the Old Cat
• Sword Theory
• A Treatise on the Sword
• Joseishi's Discussions on the Sword
• Ignorance in Swordsmanship

Four of the five texts presented here are translated into English for the first time making The Samurai Mind an important addition to the literature on Japanese martial arts and a valuable resource for all martial artists. This samurai philosophy book is an informative look at the samurai of Japan with particular emphasis on the warrior's relationship with his samurai sword--the most fabled weapon in history--and on his need to cultivate mental discipline to achieve his goals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462900725
Publisher:	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date:	06/28/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Christopher Hellman currently resides in Kyoto. He has studied and trained in Japanese swordsmanship for over two decades.

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

The Mysterious Skills of the Old Cat 17

Sword Theory 25

A Treatise on the Sword 31

Joseishi's Discussions on the Sword 46

Ignorance in Swordsmanship 100

Acknowledgments 127

Editorial Reviews

"for anyone looking to get into the historical Japanese mind or interested in swords in general, it can make for some great reading." —City Book Review

From the Publisher