Description
Book SynopsisThe comprehensive and accurate edition of the Hagakure is a must-have for serious martial artists or fans of samurai and the bushido code.The
Hagakure is one of the most influential of all Japanese texts—written nearly 300 years ago by Yamamoto Tsunetomo to summarize the very essence of the Japanese Samurai
bushido ("warrior") spirit. Its influence has been felt throughout the world, and yet its existence is scarcely known to many Westerners. This is the first translation to include the complete first two books of the
Hagakure and the most reliable and authentic passages contained within the third book; all other English translations published previously have been fragmentary and incomplete.
Alex Bennett's wholly new and highly readable translation of this essential work includes extensive footnotes that serve to fill in many cultural and historical gaps in the previous translations. This unique combination of readability and scholarship gives
Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai a distinct advantage over all previous English editions.
Trade Review"Alex Bennett has produced the first truly authoritative translation and analysis of
Hagakure--perhaps the most famous text ever written about samurai honor--to appear in any Western language. Simultaneously erudite and accessible, this volume belongs on the bookshelves of anyone--scholar or hobbyist alike--interested in samurai culture, or modern perceptions thereof." --
Dr. Karl F. Friday, author of Samurai, Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan and Japan Emerging: Premodern History to 1850"Dr. Bennett possesses a profound knowledge of, and deep insight into, the world of Japanese
bushido. This expertise has been enhanced by his extensive practical experience of the traditional martial arts of Japan, and his proficiency in this domain is highly acclaimed." --
Tetsuo Yamaori, former Director of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies"[Alex Bennett] is the very best writer on martial arts alive today and [his] work needs to be showcased to the general public." --
Don Warrener, President, Budo International
