The Book of Samurai: The Fundamental Teachings

Since I am a huge fan of samurai movies, this review cannot hope to be impartial. This book however really fills an important void. Translations of day to day life of samurai are few and far between, and this book is an English translation of an original manuscript from the Natori-Ryo school of samurai.This book is a veritable how-to manual, a text book, on what it means to be a samurai and how the samurai are supposed to handle themselves. It is a code of conduct, invaluable. It is not simply because it describes the various protocols of what the samurai should do in specific situations and conduct themselves as a samurai.This text delves deep into what it means to be a samurai. Some of these qualities are easy. Loyalty and Honor top the list. But the text lists other qualitites that must be possessed by any samurai:TrustworthyReliableA sense of Self-SacrificeDevotionA sense of Justice, usually employed in situations where revenge is justified.Does not give into lust of greed.Is DiscreteIs cautiousAvoids being arrogant.Speaks the TruthDoesn’t spread rumorsKeeps promises.The text dives deeper in what it means to be a samurai. The way of the samurai was the warrior’s code. The text goes into great detail on when to confront the enemy, how the enemy is to be killed, when, under what circumstances, the weapons used, even to the point where the text explains when certain garments are put on, in what order, and who is to assist the samurai warrior. A good part of the text deals with war strategies. Who dies, when the enemy should be taken prisoner, and other topics.The text begins in the very beginning of the Daoist Way. Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita despairs because he cannot go into battle and has Krishna convince him that as a warrior this is dharma in which Arjuna must follow. The samurai is a warrior. The Samurai must always be conscious of his chi, the vital force inherent in all things and objects in the universe. Even though the way of life is incredibly bloody, the samurai’s chi is being a Warrior. That is his calling, that is his chi.An incredible text by any measure, it is highly recommended for any reader.

Up until recently samurai teachings in the words of the samurai themselves have been a rare commodity in the English language. The old staples (Go Rin No Sho, Hagakure, et. al.) have only offered the smallest glimpses into fragments of the samurai's world. That all changes with this book! This book is changing the way we understand the samurai by offering day to day practical advice from an actual samurai! This incredible tome is a 'no frills' translation which is clear, concise, and offers little personal opinion and/or interjection from the translating team. Commentary is kept to a minimum and (apart from a brief introduction which provides historically relevant information) annotations, footnotes, etc. are used only where necessary for clarity and relevance. The translation team has done a magnificent job of presenting a translation free from unnecessary distractions of personal opinion and interjection. This is a welcome and refreshing change of pace from the recent trend of translations devolving more into author/translator interpretations vs. accurate, faithful, and 'pure' or unmolested translations. The translation team leaves the interpretation to the reader, much as it would be for anyone reading the original document in it's original language. This maintains a sense of purity and fosters a deeper connection between the reader and the original words of Natori Masatake (the original samurai author). The translation team is to be commended for this.Despite the faithful and unadulterated presentation of the translation itself, the book is still formatted to allow for ease of study via the inclusion of a selected glossary and index. These additions do not detract at all from the translation, but better facilitate reference and in depth analysis and study of the text.Given the much deeper insights into the multilayered strata that make up the social, political, spiritual, military, and indeed all encompassing world of the samurai, this book provides far more intimate insights into more aspects of the samurai and their 'day to day' lives than previously available (and far more well known) translations of original samurai writings. It is with that in mind that I offer the humble opinion that this (and the subsequent forthcoming volumes in this series) may well be the most important documents in the study of samurai themes (and perhaps even early Japanese culture and history) to be released in the English language in the past decade or more! For anyone interested in developing a reality based understanding of the samurai, this book should be considered essential reading!-J. FarthingNovember 2016

This book is well written. And it's interesting to see what Natori thinks and his opinions from a Samuria. For me it was hard for me to keep reading. I have never been interested in Natori.But there are a few things people must keep in mind, especially Natori Ryu students. This book is NOT a martial art manual. As much as Antony likes to represent it as one. It is not one. It is a book on Samuria etiquette and what makes a good person a good person and advice for already trained Samuria. Using this book as a foundation to reopen a dead koryu is unwise. There's nothing in this book to bring back a dead school.The advice in this book is REALLY vauge and if you are not a historian it's hard to even to understand the content. Even Antony does not have the academic knowledge to really understand what Natori is saying. I would not attempt to reenact anything in this book. What you read in this book should just stay in the book.People must keep in mind that this school died, Natori is dead, none of his students are alive to correct you. Antony doesn't seem to keep in mind his own words. Natori was already trained as a Samuria when he had written this book.Antony is a fraud in the sense he wants people to think he is a train in some Japanese martial arts. He is not a martial artist, he doesn't know how to handle a sword. Even Natori says one should have proper training in a martial art school and have proper training in handling a sword. Antony sadly doesn't follow Natori's advance.This book is NOT a martial art book. Just appreciate for it's knowledge of a very commonsenical man.If Natori could come back he would not be pleased with what the author is doing to his school. TAKE CAUCTION.