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About the Publication
Already many translations have been made and published of the Gorin no Sho scrolls. Why publish another one then? To quote Raymond Sosnowski: “The most famous bodies of literature were written in Biblical Hebrew, Classical Latin, Sanscrit, Classical Chinese, etc. Not in English. Due to this fact, translated works are open to varied interpretation based on experience”.
In the case of Gorin no Sho, translations up to now show a definite ‘lack’ of experience of the writer/interpreter. Gorin no Sho was written in Japanese Medieval times, when education was drawn from Confucian and Buddhist meanings. Musashi draws strongly on the virtues of Buddhist teaching, therefore it is a prerequisite for those studying his work in depth to also study Buddhism. The lack of accuracy in translations is always the result of inadequate background knowledge of a subject. Many translators substitute for this lack of knowledge by making translations that are made up for with ‘flowery words’. Many are without doubt excellent wordsmiths but have never actually practiced within the school. It not only teaches the practical fundamentals but also the philosophical outlook one needs to acquire along with the tests of spiritual and mental capability.
Why should one choose to favor this translation? Because Kim Taylor already had more than ample background knowledge of Musashi’s strategy and methods before he decided to do this work. Reading between the lines in interpretation is not necessary. Add the practice to the reading, commit a lifetime to its study and we have the whole picture.
This is the translation you will need to piece it all together and to identify with other schools methodology.
As Musashi himself said, “Flowers look nice but don’t bear fruit”.
This translation is the fruit you need to consume.
Product Details
Publisher: The Ran Network
Publication date: 12 June 2023
Language: English
Print length: 208 pages
ISBN-13: 979-8398058956
Item weight: 286 g
Dimensions: 15.24 x 1.19 x 22.86 cm
Part of series: The Budo Classics
Table of Contents
Introduction
Foreword
Chapter 1 – Chi no Maki
1.1 The Matter of the Logic of Hyoho
1.2 The Principals (Way) of Hyoho
1.3 I’m going to divide this book into five chapters
1.4 I Named This Style “Nito”
1.5 You Should Know the Meaning of These Two Words (hyoho)
1.6 To Know About the Benefit of Weapons is Hyoho
1.7 The Rhythm, (Tempo, Timing) (“Hyoshi”) of Hyoho
Chapter 2 – Water
2.1 The Preparation (Attitude, Intention or Mood) of Hyoho
2.2 The Appearance of Hyoho
2.3The ‘Me tsu ke’ of Hyoho
2.4 The Way to Hold Tachi
2.5 The Way of Using the Foot (How to Walk or Footwork)
2.6 Five direction “Kamae”
2.7 The Line of the Tachi
2.8 Five Official Skills
2.9 The First Official Skill
2.10 The Second Official Skill
2.11 TheThird Official Skill
2.12 The Fourth Official Skill
2.13 The Fifth Official Skill
2.14 The Lesson of “Kamae/no Kamae” (Stance/No Stance)
2.15 Hit the Opponent in One Rhythm
2.16 The Second Rhythm for Hip
2.17 The Hit with No Mind No Thought
2.18 The Hit Like Flowing Water
2.19The Hit at the Edge
2.20 The Hit Like Stone and Fire
2.21The Hit Like Autumn Leaves
2.22 To Have a Body Which Can Take Over a Sword
2.23 The Attack and the Incidental Hit
2.24 The Being Like “Shi U Ko U”
2.25 A Comparison of Height
2.26 Being Like ”Shi Kko”
2.27 To Stick With the Opponent
2.28 The Body Attack
2.29 The Three Receives
2.30 To Stab the Opponent’s Face
2.31 To Thrust (stab) the Heart
2.32 The “Katsu Totsu”
2.33 The “Hari Uke”
2.34 The Position Against Many Enemies
2.35 The Benefit of Sparring (practice)
2.36 The One Strike
2.37 The position of Direct Transmission
Chapter 3 – (Hi, Fire)
3.1 Dependent on the Situation (condition, location)
3.2 Three Ways of First (surprise) Attack
3.3 Hold the Pillow
3.4 Go Over the Ferry (dock)
3.5 To Know the Bloom (timing, conditions, cycle)
3.6 To Stamp on the Sword
3.7 To Know the Collapse
3.8 To Be the Opponent
3.9 To Release Four Hands
3.10 To Move a Shadow
3.11 To Hold a Shadow
3.12 To Infect Things
3.13 To Make Them Frustrated
3.14 To Threaten
3.15 To Mingle
3.16 To Touch the Corner
3.17 To Confound
3.18 The Three Calls
3.19 To Divert Yourself
3.20 To Crush Up
3.21 San (Mountain) Kai (Sea)
3.22 To Penetrate to the Bottom
3.23 To Renew
3.24 Mouse Head Cattle Neck
3.25 To Know How to Lead Soldiers
3.26 To Leave the Tsuka
3.27 Train Yourself Hard
Chapter 4 – Wind
4.1 Other Schools That Prefer to Use Large Swords
4.2 Other Schools That Use (swing) Tachi Strongly
4.3 Other Schools That Use Short Swords
4.4 Other Schools Which Have Many Uses of the Tachi
4.5 Other Schools Where Taking ‘Kamae’ of Tachi is Most Important
4.6 Other Schools Which Teach “Metsuke”
4.7 The School Where They Teach How to Use Footwork
4.8 Other Schools That Use Quickness
4.9 Other Schools Which have ‘Oku’ and ‘Omote’ Techniques
Chapter 5. 空 (Sora, ku, nothing)
Afterword
The Short Form of the Go Rin no Sho
About the Author
Kim Taylor (1956–2026) was a foundational pioneer and tireless builder of the Canadian Japanese sword and stick arts. Born in Port Stanley, Ontario, Taylor began his lifelong budo journey with Aikido in 1980, dedicating over four decades to training and teaching. In 1987, he founded the Sei Do Kai Iaido and Jodo Club in Guelph.Taylor eventually attained the prestigious ranks of 7-Dan Renshi in both Iaido and Jodo from the Canadian Kendo Federation. He established the renowned Guelph Spring Seminar, North America’s longest-running Iaido and Jodo gathering.
Importantly, Taylor was a recognized North American authority on Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, the famous two-sword style founded by Miyamoto Musashi. He first encountered the style under Haruna Matsuo Sensei at the Musashi Dojo in Ohara, Japan. Over a 30-year period, Taylor trained continuously with the school’s sequential soke (headmasters), eventually earning an instructor rank and publishing a specialist translation of Musashi’s text, the Go Rin no Sho. Beyond teaching, Taylor worked as a University of Guelph biochemistry technician, was a gifted photographer, and operated SDKsupplies to craft martial arts weapons.
