Miyamoto Musashi's revered manual of strategy The Book of Five Rings is one of the most renowned texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to ever emerge from Asia--second only to Sun Tzu's Art of War. Composed by Musashi in 1643 CE after years of warfare and battlefield contemplation, it analyzes the processes of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlie every level of human interaction. Not merely a book of swordplay, Musashi's insights yield boundless rewards to all who seek to apply these timeless principles to their life. Thomas Cleary's eminent and long-beloved translation is immediately accessible and includes an introduction to the philosophical background of the warrior tradition. One of the most insightful texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to emerge from Asian culture, The Book of Five Rings analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction. Written by the renowned Japanese warrior Miyamoto Musashi in 1643, its principles for achieving success in combat have long been lauded not only for their applicability to the martial arts but to all aspects of life. This acclaimed translation from Thomas Cleary is immediately accessible, with an introduction that presents the spiritual background of the warrior tradition. Along with Musashi's text, Cleary also translates another revered Japanese classic on leadership and strategy, The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yagyu Munenori, which highlights the ethical and spiritual insights of Taoism and Zen as they apply to the way of the warrior. 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 compactformat that is collectible, reader-friendly, andapplicable to everyday life.