The Life-Giving Sword
Secret Teachings from the House of the Shogun
A real-life samurai’s Zen teachings on sword training as a spiritually transformative practice—essential reading for aspiring martial artists and strategic thinkers alike
The legendary seventeenth-century swordsman Yagyu Munenori was the sword instructor and military and political adviser to two shoguns—and a great rival to Miyamoto Musashi. Despite his martial ability and his political power, Munenori’s life was spent immersed in Zen teachings. These teachings formed the framework for his deeply spiritual approach to sword fighting. Munenori saw in the practice of the sword a way to transform the student into a total human being.
The Life-Giving Sword is Munenori’s manifesto on his approach. His central themes are the “life-giving sword”—the idea of controlling one’s opponent by spiritual readiness…