|
Product Description
This collection of parables written by an eighteenth-century samurai is a classic of martial arts literature. The tales are concerned with themes such as perception of conflict, self-transformation, the cultivation of chi (life energy), and understanding yin and yang. Some of the parables seem light and fanciful, but they offer the reader valuable lessons on the fundamental principles of the martial arts; “The Mysterious Technique of the Cat” is iconic.The “demon” in the title story refers to the mythical tengu, who guard the secrets of swordsmanship. A swordsman travels to Mt. Kurama, famous for being inhabited by tengu, and in a series of conversations he learns about mushin (no-mind), strategy, the transformation of chi, and how the path of the sword leads to the understanding of life itself.
The author, Issai Chozanshi, had a deep understanding of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto, as well as insight into the central role of chi in the universe—points that are succinctly explained in William Scott Wilson’s fine introduction and extensive endnotes. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to truly understand the philosophical underpinnings of martial arts, and how these principles relate to our existence.
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
- The Swordsman's Handbook: Samurai Teachings on the Path of the Sword
- Fudochi Shin Myoroku: The Mysterious Record of Immovable Wisdom
- The Unfettered Mind: Writings from a Zen Master to a Master Swordsman
- The Life-Giving Sword: Secret Teachings from the House of the Shogun
- Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai
- The Book of Five Rings
- The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi
- Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai
- The Twelve Rules of the Sword
- Budoshoshinshu: Essential Teachings on the Way of the Warrior
*If this is not the "The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts: And Other Tales" product you were looking for, you can check the other results by clicking this link. Details were last updated on Nov 5, 2024 14:55 +08.