Miyamoto Mushashi is one of the most interesting historical figures. Having read about his life beforehand, then this was so interesting. Mushashi has a unique and first-hand account of swordsmanship, respect, and dignity that is still referenced today.

I loved the artwork within the book, it added a lot to the aesthetic.

I absolutely love Japanese woodblock prints (I even have a private Instagram account where I just follow woodblock artists and accounts that share traditional prints), so when I received the opportunity to review this illustrated edition of Miyamoto Musashi's Five Rings I was seriously excited.

Firstly, the book. The Five Rings is a famous classic written by Miyamoto Musashi in the mid-1640s. It's an instructional text that describes stratergies and principles related to kenjutsu (swordsmanship) as well as the marital arts in general based on the author's own experience and observations as a swordsman (alleged to have been undefeated).

It's an insight text and many of the principles and philosophies can be transferred and adapted to modern day life, much in the same way that Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' often is.

The text is set out in a clear and easy to read format.

What really makes this edition special, however, are the illustrations. They are absolutely gorgeous! The image quality of the prints is remarkable considering some of their ages. The colours are bright and vibrant and truly a feast for the eyes.

The artwork is so appealing to look at that this edition would make a perfect coffee table book. I honestly cannot imagine anyone picking it up and not being drawn in by the art.

If you are planning to read, or re-read, this classic than I highly recommend buying this edition. It really is lovely.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amber Books for giving me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I cannot wait to add the hardcopy version to my bookshelf!

Links to reviews will be updated the week of publication.