The Art of the Samurai

300 years ago, the former samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo wrote Hagakure, a masterpiece on the art and values of these much-revered Japanese fighters; ever since, warrior chiefs have preserved it as a moral and practical treatise for themselves and their samurai retainers. Once closely guarded and shown to just a chosen few, it is now available to us all in this visually breathtaking new version. Whereas Machiavelli’s The Prince shows how to succeed amid treacherous political intrigues and Sun Tzu’s The Art of War reveals battle strategies for bloodless victory, Hagakure offers fascinating insight into Japanese “warrior-ness”—a mindset steeped in Zen-Confucian philosophy. Yamamoto Tsunetomo tells his readers how to foster courage, serve selflessly, become a skilled master of your own destiny, and infuse life in the here and now with beauty—while still acknowledging its transience. His timeless wisdom and profound aphorisms reflect important principles that still apply to life today. This illustrated edition of the classic text is an essential and stunning addition to any home library.