Sources Behind Wisdom of the Shoguns

The ideas explored in Wisdom of the Shoguns are rooted in centuries of Japanese thought. Rather than relying on a single historical source, this book draws on military treatises, Zen texts, tea writings, historical chronicles, and classical Chinese philosophy. The following selection offers readers who wish to explore these traditions further.

 

Historical Chronicles and Traditional Sources

 

- Anonymous

    * The Kōyō Gunkan

    * The Tōshō-gū Goikun

    * The Tōshō-gū Jikki

    * The Meishō Genkōroku

    * The Meiryō Kōhan

    * The Buya Shokudan

    * The Ryōashōkō Ikai

    * The Taikōki

- Ōta Gyūichi

    * The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (Shinchō Kōki)

 

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Martial Philosophy

 

- Miyamoto Musashi

    * The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin no Sho)

    * The Thirty-Five Instructions on Strategy (Hyōhō Sanjūgo-kajō)

    * The Way of Walking Alone (Dokkōdō)

- Yagyū Munenori

    * The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War (Heihō Kadensho)

- Takuan Sōhō

    * The Unfettered Mind (Fudōchi Shinmyōroku)

- Yamamoto Tsunetomo

    * Hagakure

 

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Tea, Poetry, and Aesthetics

 

- Sen no Rikyū (traditionally attributed)

    * Nampōroku

- Yamanoue Sōji

    * The Yamanoue Sōjiki

- Zeami

    * The Transmission of the Flower (Fūshi Kaden)

- Hattori Dohō

    * Sanzōshi

- Mukai Kyorai

    * Kyoraishō

 

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Zen and Buddhist Texts

 

- Anonymous

    * The Platform Sutra

    * The Diamond Sutra

    * The Heart Sutra

    * The Gateless Gate (Mumonkan)

    * The Blue Cliff Record (Hekiganroku)

- Dōgen Zenji

    * Shōbōgenzō

 

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Classical Chinese Texts

 

- Sun Tzu

    * The Art of War

- Anonymous

    * The Six Secret Teachings (Liutao)

- Confucius

    * The Analects

- Laozi

    * Tao Te Ching

- Zhuangzi

    * Zhuangzi

- Anonymous

    * Zuo Zhuan

- Liu Xiang

    * Shuoyuan