Introduction
It is a fictionalized account of the life of Miyamoto Musashi, author of '' The Book of Five Rings'' and arguably the most renowned Japanese swordsman who ever lived. The novel has been translated into English by Charles S. Terry, with a foreword byTable of Contents (Abridged Edition)
Chapters per bookBook 1 — Earth
* The Little Bell * The Comb * The Flower Festival * The Dowager's Wrath * The Art of War * The Old Cryptomeria Tree * The Rock and the Tree * The Birth of MusashiBook 2 — Water
* The Yoshioka School * The Wheel of Fortune * Encounter and Retreat * The Water Sprite * A Spring Breeze * The Hōzōin * Hannya Plain * The Koyagyū Fief * The Peony * Jōtarō's Revenge * The NightingalesBook 3 — Fire
* Sasaki Kojirō * Reunion in Osaka * The Handsome Young Man * The Seashell of Forgetfulness * A Hero's Passing * The Drying Pole * Eagle Mountain * The Mayfly in Winter * The Pinwheel * The Flying Horse * The Butterfly in Winter * The Announcement * The Great Bridge at Gojō AvenueBook 4 — Wind
* The Withered Field * A Man of Parts * Too Many Kojirōs * The Younger Brother * A Mother's Love * The Urbane Craftsman * Reverberations in the Snow * The Elegant People * The Broken Lute * A Sickness of the Heart * The Scent of Aloeswood * The Gate * A Toast to the Morrow * The Death Trap * A Meeting in the Moonlight * Stray Geese * The Spreading Pine * An Offering for the Dead * A Drink of Milk * Entwining Branches * The Male and Female WaterfallsBook 5 — Sky
* The Abduction * The Warrior of Kiso * Poisonous Fangs * A Maternal Warning * A One-Night Love Affair * A Gift of Money * A Cleansing Fire * Playing with Fire * A Cricket in the Grass * The Pioneers * Slaughter by the Riverside * Shavings * The Owl * A Plate of Loaches * Like Teacher, Like Pupil * Mountain Devils * First Planting * The Flies * The Soul Polisher * The Fox * An Urgent Letter * Filial Piety * Spring Shower in Red * A Block of Wood * The Deserted Prophet * The Talk of the TownBook 6 — Sun and Moon
* A Chat with the Men * Buzzing Insects * The Eagle * Green Persimmons * Eyes * Four Sages with a Single Light * The Locust Tree * Tadaaki's Madness * The Poignancy of Things * Two Drumsticks * The Demon's Attendant * Brother Disciples * The Pomegranate * Land of Dreams * The Challenge * The Gateway to Glory * The Sound of HeavenBook 7 — The Perfect Light
* The Runaway Ox * Hemp Seed * Sweepers and Salesmen * A Pear Blossom * The Port * The Writing Teacher * The Circle * Shikama Blue * The Mercy of Kannon * The Tides of Life * The Evening Boat * A Falcon and a Woman * Before the Thirteenth Day * At Daybreak * The Marriage * The Soul of the DeepRelease details
* . * * . * .See also
* '' Samurai Trilogy'' — film adaptation of the novel * '' Vagabond'' — manga adaptation of the novelReferences
{{Samurai Trilogy 1935 novels Japanese serial novels Historical novels Novels first published in serial form Works originally published in Asahi Shimbun Novels set in Japan Japanese novels adapted into films Cultural depictions of Miyamoto Musashi