Product Description

Hagakure ("In the Shadow of Leaves"') is a manual for the samurai class, consisting of a series of short anecdotes and reflections that give both insight and instruction in the philosophy and code of behaviour that foster the true spirit of Bushido - the Way of the Warrior. The work represents an attitude far removed from our modern pragmatism and materialism, and possesses an intuitive rather than rational appeal in its assertion that Bushido is a Way of Dying, and that only a samurai retainer prepared and willing to die at any moment can be totally true to his lord. While Hagakure was for many years a secret text known only to the warrior vassals of the Hizen fief to which the author belonged, it later came to be recognized as a classic exposition of samurai thought and came to influence many subsequent generations, including Yukio Mishima. This translation offers 300 selections that constitute the core texts of the 1,300 present in the original. Hagakure was featured prominently in the film Ghost Dog by Jim Jarmusch.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14431 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-03
• Original language: Japanese
• Binding: Paperback
• 180 pages

Review
"Hagakure became a kind of magical discovery for me, and 'hidden under its leaves' were some important gifts." --Jim Jarmusch, Director of Ghost Dog

"A classic of Japanese thought Poetic, robust a feast of aphorisms and martial anecdotes." --New York Review of Books

"The most influential of all samurai treatises ever written." --Ivan Morris, author and teacher in the field of Japanese Studies

Prof. Ivan Morris
"The most influential of all samurai treatises ever written. "

From the Publisher

An invaluable guide to the discipline of thought and action required of those seeking to realise a focused and uncompromising life.