Gorin No Sho
By
Miyamoto Musashi
The Book of Five Rings
An exerpt from the Water Book
+THE WATER BOOK
The spirit of the Ni Ten Ichi school of strategy is
based
on water, and this Water Book explains methods of victory as the long-sword form of the Ichi school. Language
does not extend to explaining the Way in detail, but it can be grasped intuitively. Study this book; read a
word then
ponder on it. If you interpret the meaning loosely you will mistake
the Way.
The principles of strategy are written down here in terms of
single comba,t but you must think broadly so that you attain an
understanding for ten-thousand-a-side
battles.
Strategy is different from other things
in that if you mistake the Way even
a little you will become bewildered and fall into bad ways.
If you merely read this book you will not reach the Way of strategy. Absorb the things
written in this book. Do not just read, memorize or imitate, but, so that you realize the principle from within your own heart study hard to absurd these things into your body.
written in this book. Do not just read, memorize or imitate, but, so that you realize the principle from within your own heart study hard to absurd these things into your body.
The Flowing Water Cut
The "Flowing Water Cut" is used when you are struggling
blade to blade with the
enemy. When he breaks and quickly withdraws trying to spring with his long sword, expand your body and spirit and cut him as
slowly
as possible with your long sword, following
your body like stagnant
water. You can cut with certainty if you learn this. You must discern the enemy's grade.
Continuous
Cut
When you attack
and the enemy also attacks, and your swords
spring together, in
one action cut his head, hands and legs. When you cut several
places with one sweep of the long sword, it is the "Continuous Cut". You must practice this cut; it
is often used. With detailed practice you should be able to understand it.
The Fire and Stones Cut
The Fires and Stones Cut means
that when the enemy's
long sword and your long
sword clash together
you cut as strongly as
possible without raising the sword even a little. This means
cutting quickly with the
hands, body and legs - all three cutting
strongly. If you train well enough you will be able to strike strongly.
The Red Leaves Cut
The Red Leaves
Cut [allusion to falling, dying leaves.
- Slaegr] means knocking
down the enemy's long sword. The spirit should
be getting control
of his sword. When the enemy is in a long sword attitude
in front of you and intent on
cutting, hitting and parrying, you
strongly hit the enemy's
long sword with the Fire and Stones
Cut, perhaps in the spirit of the "No
Design,
No Conception" Cut. If you then beat down the point of his sword with a
sticky feeling, he will necessarily drop the sword. If you practise this cut it becomes easy to make the
enemy drop his sword.
You must train repetitively.
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