An anthology of the most influential writings on swordsmanship from the samurai era. There is perhaps no more potent symbol of the samurai era than the sword. By the seventeenth century in Japan, the art of swordsmanship had begun to take on an almost cult-like popularity. Swordsmanship was more than a mastery of technique; it was a path toward self-mastery. The Swordsman’s Handbook is the definitive collection of writings by men who saw the study of swordsmanship not only as essential to life and death, but as something that transcended life and death as well. Their teaching, that dealing with conflict is an art that requires grace and courage, speaks to us today with surprising immediacy and relevance. Included in this collection are writings by Kotada Yahei Toshitada, Takuan Soho, Yagyu Munenori, Miyamoto Musashi, Matsura Seizan, Issai Chozanshi, and Yamaoka Tesshu.

本書は単なる剣術の指南書ではなく、死線を超越しようとした者たちの哲学を凝縮した一冊です。ウィリアム・スコット・ウィルソンが編纂した名著群は、剣を振るう行為を「道」という自己研鑽の極致へ昇華させています。葛藤を優雅さと勇気で乗り越える教えは、現代を生きる私たちの精神を震わせる圧倒的な普遍性を備えています。 宮本武蔵や沢庵宗彭ら伝説的人物たちの言葉は、時を経てもなお、血の通った力強さで迫ります。技術の習得が精神の完成へと繋がるストイックな美学は文学的にも高潔で、読む者を静謐な覚悟へと誘います。生と死の狭間で磨き抜かれた究極の精神性は、あなたの魂を激しく揺さぶる至高の体験を約束してくれるでしょう。