Translator's Preface xi
Translator's Introduction xiii
Preface 3
The Earth Scroll 5
On the Science of Martial Arts 6
Likening the Science of Martial Arts to Carpentry 7
The Science of Martial Arts 8
On the Composition of This Book in Five Scrolls 9
On Naming This Individual School "Two Swords" 11
On Knowing the Principles of the Words Martial Arts 13
On Knowing the Advantages of Weapons in Martial Arts 15
On Rhythm in Martial Arts 15
The Water Scroll 17
State of Mind in Martial Arts 17
Physical Bearing in Martial Arts 18
Focus of the Eyes in Martial Arts 19
Gripping the Long Sword 19
On Footwork 20
Five Kinds of Guard 20
The Way of the Long Sword 21
Procedures of Five Formal Techniques 21
On the Teaching of Having a Position without a Position 23
Striking Down an Opponent in a Single Beat 24
The Rhythm of the Second Spring 24
Striking without Thought and without Form 25
The Flowing Water Stroke 25
The Chance Hit 25
The Spark Hit 25
The Crimson Foliage Hit 26
The Body Instead of the Sword 26
Striking and Hitting 26
The Body of the Short-Armed Monkey 27
The Sticky Body 27
Comparing Height 27
Gluing 27
The Body Blow 28
Three Parries 28
Stabbing the Face 29
Stabbing the Heart 29
The Cry 29
The Slapping Parry 30
A Stand Against Many Opponents 30
Advantage in Dueling 31
The Single Stroke 31
The State of Direct Penetration 31
Epilogue 31
The Fire Scroll 33
The Physical Situation 34
Three Preemptions 35
Holding Down the Pillow 36
Crossing a Ford 37
Knowing the State of Affairs 38
Stomping a Sword 38
Knowing Disintegration 39
Becoming the Opponent 40
Letting Go Four Hands 40
Moving Shadow 40
Arresting Shadows 41
Infection 41
Upset 42
Threat 42
Sticking Tight 43
Coming Up Against Corners 43
Flustering 44
Three Shouts 44
Mixing 44
Crushing 45
Mountain and Sea Changing 46
Knocking the Heart Out 46
Becoming New 46
Small and Large 47
A Commander Knowing Soldiers 47
Letting Go of the Hilt 47
Being Like a Rock Wall 48
Epilogue 48
The Wind Scroll 49
On Wielding Extra-Long Swords in Other Schools 50
Powerful Sword Blows in Other Schools 51
The Use of Shorter Long Swords in Other Schools 51
Numerous Sword Strokes in Other Schools 52
Positions of the Sword in Other Schools 53
The Focus of the Eyes in Other Schools 54
Footwork in Other Schools 55
The Use of Speed in Other Schools 56
The Esoteric and Exoteric in Other Schools 57
Epilogue 58
The Scroll of Emptiness 59
Notes 61
The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War
by Yagyu Munenori 63
The Killing Sword 65
Preface 65
The Great Learning 68
Mood and Will 70
Appearance and Intention 70
Beating the Grass to Scare the Snakes 71
The Vanguard of the Moment 71
Aggressive and Passive Modes 72
Logical Principles of Aggressive and Passive Attitudes of Body and Sword 72
Mental and Physical Aggressive and Passive Modes 72
Things to Learn When You Face an Aggressive Opponent 73
Things Learned for Facing Off in a Contest of Adversaries 73
The Mental Postures of Three Ways of Feinting 74
Addressing and Adapting to Changes of Mind 74
Double Looks 74
Hit and Be Hit At: The Sense of Winning by Letting Yourself Be
Hit At 75
Three Rhythms 75
A Small Rhythm to a Large Rhythm, a Large Rhythm to a Small
Rhythm 76
Noting the Tempo 77
Techniques I 77
Techniques II 78
Hearing the Sound of Wind and Water 78
Sickness 79
The Sense of Elementary and Advanced Levels of Removal of
Sickness 80
The Normal Mind 82
Like a Wooden Man Facing Flowers and Birds 83
The Free Mind 83
The Life-Giving Sword 86
Perceiving Abilities and Intentions 86
The Rhythm of Existence and Nonexistence 86
The Moon in the Water 88
The Quiescent Sword 88
Explanation of the Characters Used for "Quiescent" 88
Stride 89
The First Principle 90
The One-Foot Margin on Both Sides 91
"This Is the Ultimate"/The First Sword 91
Analysis of the Moon in the Water; the Quiescent Sword; Sickness; Body, Hands, and Feet 92
Moves 92
The Margin of Safety 92
Maneuvering 93
Seeing the Quiescent Sword: Distinction of Three Levels 93
"The Mind Is Like the Moon in Water, the Body Is Like an Image in a Mirror" 93
Hasty Attack 95
Bringing Back the Mind 95
The Sense of Total Removal, the Sense of the Void, the Sense of Presenting the Mind 96
True and False Mind 99
No Sword 101
Great Potential and Great Function 102
Mind and Objects 105
Martial Arts and Buddhism 106
Yes and No 106
Truth and Untruth 107
Notes 109
Bibliography 113
