this may help
a very good website dealing with Art of War
Blimey!!! Didnt realise this would get such a big responce.
Thanks for all ur views and opinions. Some pretty good points made. Thanks gangstarfist, will order that book asap. I think i should try looking at the book more deeply and maybe then i’ll understand.
I haven’t read the whole thread yet, but out of curiosity, what are you looking to get out of the book? Reading it will not give you a sudden awakening into how to become a great fighter. I read this and “A Book of Five Rings” around the time that I was a freshman in high school, and that was the expectation that I had. At first, I was like “wtf is this?” - especially about five rings.
Thank you PT-Kali.
Therefore, I have heard of military campaigns that were clumsy but swift, but I have never seen military campaigns that were skilled but protracted.
Maybe someone should send a copy of this to G.W.
KC & MK - i had that joke yesterday… but i had to let it go… too easy… 
…
go rin no sho
Of course I’ve read Book of Five Rings. In fact, I even wrote my thesis on it for my provost master at arms degree. I was very into Musashi for a period - my Kendo/Iaido/Battojitsu days. Funny you should mention it because I just recently dusted off my Kendo Bogu for show ans tell at my kid’s pre-school. Her classmates are all into swords, which makes me sort of a god to them. It’s cute. Have you tuned into the Musashi TV show? It’s a series out of Japan - I’ve been enjoying it when I catch them. Not much swrod play though, more of a melodrama.
Anyway, back to understanding the Art of War… I think that on need to examine any great text on four levels:
First is literal and that is the lowest. You can think of fundamentalist Christians and their interpretations of the Bible. Most martial artists probably only get this far with strategy books sadly. This is why I recommend 36 strategies, because it works quite well ont he literal level. Since AoW is mostly speaking about moving armies, unless you are a leader, like the captain of a football team or a manager.
Second is ethical. Think of Aesop’s fables. Are you fixated on the idea of a tortoise and hare raced or do you perceive the lesson of persistance. Here is where AoW begins to show its compassion, which is unusual for your typical ruthless strategy books (like the Macheivelli’s Prince).
Third is allegorical. This is a bit more abstract. Think of the Prodigal son. In AoW, this is where the commentaries become really interesting, since the various commentators over the centuries are working out the allegories for you, except of course, in some cases, they come to completely different conclusions.
Last, and highest, would be inspirational. Does it inspire you? For me, AoW didn’t inspire me for a long time. It was required reading for my field of research, and perhaps the reason why I have so many translations was that it wasn’t satisfactory at first, while so many great strategists really venerated it. I felt I was missing something in translation. It wasn’t so much the translation, it was its elegance that eventually won me over. Now, I can’t even open it without getting quickly absorbed, not just for martial arts, but as a way of life.
BTW, I used to have a book tape of AoW, I think it was Cleary’s Shamballa version. The narration was a little hammy in a stodgy British way, but it was great for commuting.
sorry off topic here:
Gene-
They have a Musashi series in Japan? That sounds neat. Can you give me any more details? Perhaps an internet link or something…
Also, did you see that they are remaking Zatoichi the Blindswordsman (and it looks really awesome)?
Sorry to interupt topic.