William Scott Wilson · 2002
William Scott Wilson's translation is the one I'd start with — the most readable, direct and alive, like hearing Musashi himself, while staying faithful to the 17th-century Japanese. This is where I'd start.
Miyamoto Musashi
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Thomas Cleary · 1993
Thomas Cleary's translation goes deeper on the philosophy, rendering the esoteric strategy in more comprehensible terms, and his Shambhala edition pairs it with Yagyū Munenori's companion text. The choice if you want the ideas unpacked.
Victor Harris · 1974
Victor Harris — a British Museum curator and authority on Japanese swords — wrote the first widely-read English version (1974), strong on historical context and biography. It can feel a little stiff, but it situates Musashi well.
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