Miyamoto Musashi was a legendary figure of the Japanese warrior tradition, dedicated to the pursuit of enlightenment by way of strategy and the sword. A wandering samurai and master of strategy, he retired to the spiritual asceticism of a cave after a life of duelling and bloody battle to put his secrets down in writing. The result was Gorin no sho, his classic Five Rings Book.

Páll Thormod Morrisson examines Gorin no sho and its insights on strategy, kenjutsu, philosophy and mystical awareness, with reference to other works by the master, seeking to shed fresh light on Musashi's way of the warrior.