A Book of Five Rings
A Book of Five Rings (Gorin no sho) is a treatise on strategy and swordsmanship that Miyamoto Musashi finished in 1645 while living in the Reigando cave in Kumamoto. Its five books are Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Void. Victor Harris's English translation appeared in 1974.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First UK edition
- Allison & Busby, 1974
A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi was first published in 1645. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Overlook Press1974 Hardback I own A Book of Five Rings, Overlook Press 1974 Log in to want this
- Allison & Busby1974 Hardback I own A Book of Five Rings, Allison & Busby 1974 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 237 on Open Library, 142 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 30 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
Pictures of the book
Freely licensed pictures of the work. They are not necessarily the edition you hold: check the points on each edition's page.
More by Miyamoto Musashi
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of A Book of Five Rings are there?
We track 2 editions of A Book of Five Rings. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
When was A Book of Five Rings first published?
A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi was first published in 1645.
Where these facts come from
- The Book of Five Rings, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Miyamoto Musashi, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.