Dokkodo: The path I walk is mine alone

Book Synopsis: This illustrated modern interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi’s “Dokkôdô” includes:
New Japanese to English translation from Musashi’s original text
Quotes attributed to Miyamoto Musashi
Forty-Six Full-Color Illustrations that feature photo real images from the Japanese Edo Period

Dokkôdô is a set of Precepts (rules for how to live), that were written in 1645 by the renowned Japanese samurai and sword master, Miyamoto Musashi.
Dokkôdô is a short, almost poetic list of twenty-one simple rules that he refined over his lifetime. These rules focus on his belief that an ascetic life could bring peace and fulfillment as well as offering a path for personal growth and self-mastery.
His ideals focus on the importance of self-reliance and he encouraged his students to take responsibility for their own actions and decisions. He encouraged individuals to cultivate their own skills, develop inner strength and rely on their own abilities rather than depending solely on external factors or circumstances.
During his life Musashi traveled extensively and had a great thirst for learning and experiencing the world through other professions. He was a rōnin and a great sword master but he was also an architect, a sculptor, a calligrapher, and a painter.
Dokkôdô, as well as his other great work, “The Book of Five Rings” were given to his favorite student, Terao Magonojō who took them to heart and shared them with others.
The simplicity of his Twenty-One Precepts facilitates a true clarity of purpose and allows individuals to channel their energy and efforts effectively, which I imagine explains my and our continued fascination with them, all these years later.
The stunning original illustrations, inspired by the life of Musashi and the world of feudal Japan are a fascinating peek behind the curtain of time into the ancient age of the Samurai.

AUTHOR NOTE: Musashi’s written words were ambiguous (even for his time) and there are many different and conflicting ideas about how best to translate his works into English. This interpretation is a more modern take on the original translations with concise explanations and the added bonus of 46 full-color illustrations that will immerse the reader into the world of feudal Japan.