Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)
Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)
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Tsunetomo Yamamoto
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Product Details
  • Author: Tsunetomo Yamamoto
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  • Binding: Paperback
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  • Dewey Decimal Number: 170.4409520903
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  • EAN: 9780757000263
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  • ISBN: 0757000266
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  • Label: Square One Publishers
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  • Language: English
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  • Manufacturer: Square One Publishers
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  • Number of Items: 1
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  • Number of Pages: 109
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  • Product Group: Book
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  • Publication Date: 2001-10
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  • Publisher: Square One Publishers
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  • Studio: Square One Publishers
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  • Title: Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)
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  • UPC: 780597000262
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Avg Customer Rating: 4 stars

Product Description: In eighteenth-century Japan, Tsunetomo Yamamoto created the Hagakure, a document that served as the basis for samurai warrior behavior. Its guiding principles greatly influenced the Japanese ruling class and shaped the underlying character of the Japanese psyche, from businessmen to soldiers.

Bushido is the first English translation of the Hagakure. This work provides a powerful message aimed at the mind and spirit of the samurai warrior. It offers beliefs that are difficult for the Western mind to embrace, yet fascinating in their pursuit of absolute service. With Bushido, one can better put into perspective Japan's historical path and gain greater insight into the Japan of today.
Customer Reviews

4 stars Is this about Tom Cruise?
Maybe you've seen the movie 'The Last Samurai' starring Tom Cruise. I think this movie is a very good resemblance of samurai culture and beliefs, even though it's in a Hollywood production.

So what can I do with sword-knowledge on my laptop? Wait, I'm not even going to try think this way.

Being samurai is much more about living a certain way than it is about fighting. Even nowadays we cannot think the earth is without war but even a hundred years back it was part of live. When you had to choose in that age, I'd prefer taking up the sword instead of making money as well.

Bushido's writings are fascinating to read. You have to do the translation of converting the knowledge to this age yourself, but if this is not the first book you read about Japanese culture it shouldn't be too hard.

With only 96 pages of real text anyone can at least read it and form his own judgement. If you find it is not for you, then at least you didn't had to read long before you figured that out!


5 stars Bushido
It's a good read, plus the way fo the samurai can be applied to your personal life.


1 stars Bushido or Hagakure???
Hagakure: The Way of the SamuraiBushido: The Soul of Japan (Dodo Press)

This book (Bushido: The Way of the Samurai) really needs to have a different title. At first glance I thought it was the classic Bushido, especially as it is the first book to pop up when one searches Bushido on Amazon. This book is NOT the classic Bushido; it is a translation of the Hagakure.

The Japanese martial philosophy book, Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai, by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, is NOT the same book as the equally classic Japanese martial philosophy book, Bushido: The Soul of Japan, by Inazo Nitobé. Indeed, Bushido was written nearly 200 years after Hagakure.

Just a heads up for anyone that is looking for the real Bushido.


3 stars Did not live up to expectations
Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)
Nothing to stir the soul here.


5 stars Best Version on this Subject
I can't better the other review below except to say that this translation of the Bushido is far easier to read, understand, digest and put into daily practice than the hoards of other versions of "Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai by Tsunetomo Yamamoto" which this book is based upon.

Despite a totally different translation, nothing is lost when you put the two books side by side and compare them to each other.

By the way, the title "Bushi-do" does not mean "Hidden behind the Leaves", that is the translation of the "Hagakure". Any martial artist worth his salt will easily recognise the two parts of the word: Bushi (Warrior) & do (the way) - The Way of the Warrior (or Samurai).