The Pocket Hagakure

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This definitive translation of a seminal treatise on the samurai code explores the essence of living and dying with bravery and honor. Written by eighteenth-century samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo, the text comprises over 1,300 short passages that illuminate the Japanese concept of bushido (the Way of the Warrior), outlining the expected conduct and values of samurai. Acclaimed translator William Scott Wilson has curated and translated three hundred of these texts, offering an accessible distillation that serves as a profound insight into the samurai's captivating world. This edition features an introduction that examines the Zen concept of muga, or the “death” of the ego, providing a rich historical and philosophical context for a metaphorical interpretation of Tsunetomo’s reference to bushido as “the Way of death.” This perspective adds a fresh and nuanced appeal to the classic, which has intrigued readers over the years. Previously published under a different title, this work is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series, a collection of short teachings from notable figures across various traditions. The series, featuring covers by Colorado artist Robert Spellman, distills decades of wisdom from Shambhala Publications into a compact, collectible format that is both reader-friendly and applicable to everyday life.