The Life-Giving Sword: Secret Teachings from the House of the Shogun

A real-life samurai's Zen teachings on sword training as a spiritually transformative practice--essential reading for aspiring martial artists and strategic thinkers alike

The legendary seventeenth-century swordsman Yagyu Munenori was the sword instructor and military and political adviser to two shoguns--and a great rival to Miyamoto Musashi. Despite his martial ability and his political power, Munenori's life was spent immersed in Zen teachings. These teachings formed the framework for his deeply spiritual approach to sword fighting. Munenori saw in the practice of the sword a way to transform the student into a total human being.

The Life-Giving Sword is Munenori's manifesto on his approach. His central themes are the "life-giving sword"--the idea of controlling one's opponent by spiritual readiness to fight rather than by actual fighting--and "No Sword," which is the idea that the mind must be free of everything, even the sword itself, in order to get to the place of complete mastery. Munenori's ideas are applicable not only to martial arts but to business and human relations as well.

Author: William Scott Wilson, Yagyu Munenori
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 12/11/2012
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.48lbs
Size: 7.56h x 5.36w x 0.45d
ISBN13: 9781590309902
ISBN10: 1590309901
BISAC Categories:
- Philosophy | Eastern
- Sports & Recreation | Martial Arts | General
- Sports & Recreation | Fencing

About the Author
William Scott Wilson is the foremost translator into English of traditional Japanese texts on samurai culture. His best-selling translations include Hagakure and The Book of Five Rings.