Go Rin No Sho

[Aradyon]

Hello all.

I have just read a book that I thought I should share with everyone.It was written by a Samurai called Miyamoto Musashi who was a duelist in the 15th century.

He is one of the best duelists that has ever been. He fought over sixty duels with prominant masters of the arts and beat all of them. Not only did he beat them but he fought most of his duels with two calved wooden swords while they were wielding real Samurai swords. He also fought in three wars and was a very skilled artisan.

The book is relivent to us because, at the age of 54, he retreated into a cave a wrote down all that he had learnt concerning the understanding and application of strategy. The book is so full of meaning, not a word is unrelated to the subject. It pays reading it several times as it is quite short, this is not hard. Here is a link to the book.

http://www.samurai.com/5rings/

The book of 5 rings or Go Rin No Sho describes the application of strategy in all things by discribing its use in both single and full scale engagements. Quite rightly, he says that though he expresses strategy through war, strategy, if understood can be used in everything.

For those who like to play for the strategy of the battle game, this book is a must.

Enjoy.

[Suetonius Paullinus]

Suddenly I got the urge to buy some Perry Samurais..

Thanks for sharing this.

Cheers

S.P.

[Little Odo]

I have always been interested in the Samurai but never got round to collecting an army - any chance of plastic ones there Paul?

[Gibby]

I think the capacity to produce some stunning Japanese historicals, as well as some ancient China - Three Kingdoms sort of stuff is always there. It'd be fun to make scenery for that sort of setting.

[Marcus Flatulas]

I have read and re read this book many times and can highly recommend it to all. As well as wargaming, I also practice Kendo and to many Kendoka (people who practice Kendo) Musashi is considered to be one of - if not the all time greatest Samurai to have ever lived. Musashi became so proficient at Kendo (or the way of the sword) that in his later years, he only used a wooden training sword or Bokken to defeat his biggest rivials. If you are after some more reading on this amazing man, look for “Musashi” by Eiji Yoshikawa (this has sold over 120 million copies in Japan !!). It is a stirring saga that follows Musashi's long journey of self improvement and martial discovery from a young hotheaded fugitive who evolves into into a true Samurai who finds that in the art of war he percieves the way of peaceful and prosperous governence.

If you enjoyed the 5 Rings, another excellent book is ” The Sword & the Mind” by Hiroaki Sato. This is a translation of a pivitol 16th Cent how to guide for the Swordsman and is also a penertrating philosophical and psychological treatise on strategy. It contains the tactical and strategic wisdom of 3 of Japan's greatest swordsman (next to Musashi that is…) Kamiizumi Hidetsuna, Yagu Muneyoshi & his son Munenori Muneyoshi.

And yes, some plastic Samurai would be pretty awesome!

[Aradyon]

I still find it hard to comprehend how the samurai, who were so effective in single combat and had such martial skill and dicipline, were so poor in war where mutual support is more important than individual ability.

[Little Odo]

Adaptability I guess? Warfare changed but they didn't keep up or adapt to the change well enough. A classic Darwinian dichotomy.

[Aradyon]

My interpretation was that they failed to give mutual support. I would hate to think what the romans would have done to them, great though a samurai sword is, that shields wall would pose a bit of an issue. From the accounts of japanese battles that I have read, it seems they are too busy fighting to actually help each other and so are uncoordinated.

Some say that Go Rin No Sho was written to educate the Japanese about the faults in their own strategy and incompatability.