The Pocket Samurai [Paperback]

Selected writings from the most influential texts of the samurai era—in a pocket-size edition.

The samurai of Japan, who were the country's military elite from medieval times to the end of the nineteenth century, were synonmous with valor, honor, and martial arts prowess. Their strict adherence to the code of bushido ( the way of the warrior ), chivalry, and honor in fighting to the death continues to capture the imagination of people today, inspiring authors, filmmakers, and artists.The Pocket Samuraicontains the essential writings of the era by the most esteemed samurai and philosophers of the age, including the iconic Miyamoto Musashi, author ofThe Book of Five Rings; Yamamoto Tsunetomo, author ofHagakure, the best-known explication of the samurai code; Takuan Soho, the Zen priest and adviser to samurai; Yagyu Munenori, whoseThe Life-Giving Sworddescribes a deeply spiritual approach to sword fighting; and others.WILLIAM SCOTT WILSON is the foremost translator into English of traditional Japanese texts on samurai culture. He received BA degrees from Dartmouth College and the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies, and an MA in Japanese literary studies from the University of Washington. His best-selling translations includeHagakure, The Unfettered Mind, Taiko,andIdeals of the Samurai. He is also the author ofThe Lone Samurai, a biography of the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi.CA