Sword of Zen

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Takuan Sōho's two works on Zen and swordsmanship present some of the most engaging insights into Zen philosophy, gaining popularity in both premodern and modern Japan. While focused on swordsmanship, "Record of Immovable Wisdom" and "On the Sword Taie" serve as essential guides to Zen, illustrating how to embody Zen principles not just in martial arts but in daily life. This book features translations of both works, likely composed for shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu and his fencing master, Yagyū Munenori. It includes an introduction to Takuan's unique Zen approach, supplemented by excerpts from his other writings, and provides a context for the role of the sword during a tumultuous period of civil warfare and the eventual unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shoguns. Takuan, a prominent Zen priest, played a crucial role in bridging late medieval and early modern Zen, with his biographical section offering insights into this transitional phase. His teachings on mental freedom resonate deeply with modern readers, whether they practice Zen or martial arts. Scholars will appreciate this new annotated translation, which sheds light on an obscure yet significant period in the history of Zen in Japan.