Yagyu Munenori

The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War

The legendary seventeenth-century swordsman Yagyu Munenori was the sword instructor and military and political adviser to two shoguns—and was a rival to the great Miyamoto Musashi. Despite his martial ability and his political power, Munenori spent his life immersed in Zen teachings and practice. 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 essential reading for martial artists of all kinds and can be applied to business and human relations as well.

Secret Teachings from the House of the Shogun

The Life-Giving Sword

Uma reflexão sobre a Não Espada. Seu tema central é a arte de utilizar a espada muito mais como instrumento de vida do que de morte, ou seja, controlar o oponente por meio da preparação espiritual para lutar, muito mais do que pela luta propriamente dita. A filosofia de Munenori vai muito além da esgrima ou até mesmo das artes marciais. Suas ideias são aplicáveis em muitos aspectos da vida, como nos negócios e nas relações humanas, nos quais diversas vezes a maior vitória não é derrotar o oponente, mas torná-lo parceiro, evitando o conflito.

A Espada Que da Vida

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.

D. E. Tarver

The Way of the Living Sword is the final installment in D.E. Tarver's popular Warrior Series. It stands beside The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi as one of the greatest writings of the warrior mind. In The Way of the Living Sword, Munenori gives an in-depth explanation of the connection between physical martial arts and the mental process of Zen. While Munenori and Musashi were both avid students of Zen, Munenori was more fascinated by the academic aspects of the philosophy. Munenori stretches the consciousness of even the most enlightened martial artist. Martial arts devotees will experience many flashes of revelation as Tarver explores the various aspects of Munenori's approach. Read and grow!

Yagyu Munenori

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