--- product_id: 194100324 title: "The Book of Five Rings" price: "£1.31" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/194100324-the-book-of-five-rings store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # The Book of Five Rings **Price:** £1.31 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Book of Five Rings - **How much does it cost?** £1.31 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/194100324-the-book-of-five-rings) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Book of Five Rings eBook : Musashi, Miyamoto: desertcart.co.uk: Kindle Store Review: "Consider yourself lightly; consider the world deeply...do not begrudge death" - William Scott Wilson's translation of Miyamoto Musashi's 17th-century classic work of personal philosophy is in every way excellent, and captures the spirit as well as the meaning of the text to perfection. This small (not quite pocket-size but close) hardcover edition is also a very pleasing artefact and a quality piece of work. Musashi's work focuses on practicing the `martial arts' - particularly swordsmanship - not from the perspective of learning technique but from internal spiritual development; the ascendancy of `mind' to which all technique must ultimately become subservient. The `five rings' are in fact five chapters themed: 1. Earth (the South) 2. Water (the East) 3. Fire (the West) 4. Wind (the North) 5. Emptiness (the Center: all action and response is most effective when preceded by emptiness - i.e. no internal noise, no preconceptions; "this must be learned") Each themed chapter incorporates short paragraphs explaining a specific aspect of how to win a contest or fight. For example, in the `Fire' ring, on `Imposing Fear:' "...the heart of fear is in the unexpected...you do not frighten your opponents with what is right before their eyes. People may be frightened by voices...or by making the small seem large...something coming suddenly from the side also induces fear. You can frighten an opponent with your body, with your sword or with your voice. It is essential to do this suddenly, when your opponent is not expecting it. Take advantage of his fear and gain the victory immediately." Musashi was allegedly self-taught, and learned everything through his own experience, introspection and native intelligence. The `Book of Five Rings' is not meant to be some kind of bible, but continuously exhorts the reader to "investigate this thoroughly" and do his own work, taking Musashi's guidelines as a starting point to guard against fatal errors. The power of Musashi's work is in its conciseness and its completeness. He is reported to have written this text in his final two years, around age 60, to summarise and condense the essence of a lifetime of success in the martial arts. It was considered vital in that age for a respected Samurai to be not just an accomplished fighter but a poet, artist, ceramicist and philosopher; learned and accomplished in many things. The book contains some of Musashi's best-known sketches and artworks, including one of his self-portraits and the very famous, powerfully minimalist 'Shrike on a withered branch'. Overall, if you want a good translation of this timeless classic, this edition can be unconditionally recommended as a fine choice. Review: Interesting and educational - This is a very good and stylised book which provides a great insight on Miyamoto Musashi and hes thought process and way of life. The translation from Japanese to English is done to a very precise level and anyone interested in modern day swordsmanship should most definitely have a read of the book. My only complaint would be that sometimes the structure of writing can sometimes come across as repetitive and the use of listing is used very often so it takes loads of patience to read this book , but definitely worth it! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B07NDLBGT2 | | Accessibility | Learn more | | Best Sellers Rank | 35,181 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) 3 in Martial Arts (Kindle Store) 4 in East Asian & Indian Philosophy eBooks 5 in Religious & Spiritual Eastern Philosophy | | Customer reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (4,763) | | Enhanced typesetting | Enabled | | File size | 1.0 MB | | ISBN-13 | 978-9897787911 | | Language | English | | Page Flip | Enabled | | Print length | 101 pages | | Publication date | 21 Jan. 2026 | | Publisher | KTHTK | | Screen Reader | Supported | | Word Wise | Enabled | | X-Ray | Not Enabled | ## Images ![The Book of Five Rings - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71LIVkd0TzL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Consider yourself lightly; consider the world deeply...do not begrudge death" *by A***R on 12 December 2011* William Scott Wilson's translation of Miyamoto Musashi's 17th-century classic work of personal philosophy is in every way excellent, and captures the spirit as well as the meaning of the text to perfection. This small (not quite pocket-size but close) hardcover edition is also a very pleasing artefact and a quality piece of work. Musashi's work focuses on practicing the `martial arts' - particularly swordsmanship - not from the perspective of learning technique but from internal spiritual development; the ascendancy of `mind' to which all technique must ultimately become subservient. The `five rings' are in fact five chapters themed: 1. Earth (the South) 2. Water (the East) 3. Fire (the West) 4. Wind (the North) 5. Emptiness (the Center: all action and response is most effective when preceded by emptiness - i.e. no internal noise, no preconceptions; "this must be learned") Each themed chapter incorporates short paragraphs explaining a specific aspect of how to win a contest or fight. For example, in the `Fire' ring, on `Imposing Fear:' "...the heart of fear is in the unexpected...you do not frighten your opponents with what is right before their eyes. People may be frightened by voices...or by making the small seem large...something coming suddenly from the side also induces fear. You can frighten an opponent with your body, with your sword or with your voice. It is essential to do this suddenly, when your opponent is not expecting it. Take advantage of his fear and gain the victory immediately." Musashi was allegedly self-taught, and learned everything through his own experience, introspection and native intelligence. The `Book of Five Rings' is not meant to be some kind of bible, but continuously exhorts the reader to "investigate this thoroughly" and do his own work, taking Musashi's guidelines as a starting point to guard against fatal errors. The power of Musashi's work is in its conciseness and its completeness. He is reported to have written this text in his final two years, around age 60, to summarise and condense the essence of a lifetime of success in the martial arts. It was considered vital in that age for a respected Samurai to be not just an accomplished fighter but a poet, artist, ceramicist and philosopher; learned and accomplished in many things. The book contains some of Musashi's best-known sketches and artworks, including one of his self-portraits and the very famous, powerfully minimalist 'Shrike on a withered branch'. Overall, if you want a good translation of this timeless classic, this edition can be unconditionally recommended as a fine choice. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Interesting and educational *by S***U on 16 April 2020* This is a very good and stylised book which provides a great insight on Miyamoto Musashi and hes thought process and way of life. The translation from Japanese to English is done to a very precise level and anyone interested in modern day swordsmanship should most definitely have a read of the book. My only complaint would be that sometimes the structure of writing can sometimes come across as repetitive and the use of listing is used very often so it takes loads of patience to read this book , but definitely worth it! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ not a must read but a you should definetly read this if you are cool enough kinda read. *by N***L on 1 September 2025* Better than lord of the rings and i like lord of the rings --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/194100324-the-book-of-five-rings](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/194100324-the-book-of-five-rings) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-05-26*