Yagyu Munenori

Translated and with original essays by the translator of Hagakure, The Book of Five Rings, and The Unfettered Mind

This is the long-awaited, authoritative, English-language verison of he classic text on the art of the No-Sword by seventeenth-century swordsman Yagyu Munenori.

Munenori's remarkable career began when he was just thirteen years old and culminated in his serving as sword instructor and political and military advisor to two successive shoguns. (The position of instructor to the shogun was one that his fellow swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, had coveted but was never able to obtain.) He also was appointed a feudal lord with a large domain by the shogun-the only swordsman in Japanese history ever to be granted this honor.

Despite his swordfighting ability and his proximity to the seat of national power, Munenori's life was spent immersed in teachings of Zen Buddhism. These teachings formed the framework for his own deeply spiritual approach to sword-fighting.

His central theme is the concept of the 'life-giving sword'-the idea of controlling an opponent by spiritual readiness to fight, rather than by actual fighting. His ideas are readily applicable not only to the martial arts but to business and human relations.

For Munenori, intense self-discipline and a deep understanding of the principles of Zen were the key to the study of any path in life, including that of the way of the Sword.

His concept of the No-Sword is crucial and refers to the idea that the mind must become completely free of everything-of any thought of winning, of even the sword itself. Skill comes almost as an afterthought, as a result of complete relinquishment (the No-Mind).

Some of the seeds of Munenori's ideas may have been planted by his friend, mentor, and confidant, the well-known Zen priest Takuan Soho. Readers may well want to read the present volume together with Takuan's philosophical text, The Unfettered Mind.

The Life-Giving Sword will be of interest to practitioners of the martial arts, enthusiasts of Eastern philosophy,and anyone interested in discovering true inner peace.

William Scott Wlilson was born in 1944 in Nashiville, Tennesssee, and grew up in Florida. He received B.A. degrees from Dartmouth College and the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies, and an M.A. in Japanese literary studies form the University of Washington. HIs long-seling translations of Hagakure, The Book of Five Rings, and The Unfettered MInd have become standards. He is currently at work on a biograpy of swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

Contents

Foreword
Introduction
The Life-giving sword
The death-dealing sword
The life-giving sword
Afterword
Illustrated catalog of the shinkage-ryu martial arts
Sources quoted in text
Bibliography
Notes… (plus d'informations)

The Way of the Living Sword is the final installment in D.E. Tarver's popular Warrior Series. It stands beside The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi as one of the greatest writings of the warrior mind.

In The Way of the Living Sword, Munenori gives an in-depth explanation of the connection between physical martial arts and the mental process of Zen. While Munenori and Musashi were both avid students of Zen, Munenori was more fascinated by the academc aspects of the philosophy.

Munenori stretches the consciousness of even the most enlightened martial artists. Martial arts devoteees will experience many flashes of revelation as Tarver explores the various aspects of Munenori''s approach.

Read and grow!

D.E. Tarver holds black belts ranging from second to seventh degre in seven different styles of Japanese and Filipino martial arts. He has taught martial arts and strategy for twenty years. Since his honorable discharge from the Marines, he has spent time in Japan and the United States.

Contents

Preface
Yagyu Munenori… (plus d'informations)