Best Samurai Philosophy Books 2024 - Working the Flame (2025)

The popularity of samurai and Japanese history is obvious as new books, tv shows, video games, and youtube content are continually introduced.

We are fascinated by samurai because of their bravery, ferocity, and contrast to Western historical figures. The armor, weapons, and fighting tactics of samurai are well documented across the web and people dedicate their free time to deeply studying these aspects of the samurai.

While the fighting tactics and battle history of the samurai are important elements of these historical figures, the philosophy that inspired and energized these warriors is just as essential to understanding them completely.

The philosophy and chivalry of the samurai is popularly referred to as “Bushido.” This code inspires individuals today as a philosophy to live by in our chaotic modern times.

Because so many myths surrounding Bushido are perpetuated online and in other forms of media, it is important to research samurai philosophy using reputable sources.

The following is our round-up of the most authoritative and highly rated books about Bushido and samurai philosophy available on Amazon.

1) Bushido Explained: The Japanese Samurai Code, A New Interpretation for Beginners

Recommended for: Samurai Newbies, History Buffs, Casual Readers

Bushido Explained: The Japanese Samurai Code, A New Interpretation for Beginnersis an upcoming book by Japanese history expert and martial artist Alexander Bennett. The book is releasing in the summer of 2024, but reviewers have already praised the book for being “wide-ranging”, “reader friendly”, and “appealing.”

Bennett uses his expertise as a professor of Japanese history (at Kansai University) to debunk myths surrounding the samurai code known as Bushido. He outlines the evolution of the code in an accessible and visually appealing book that is only 160 pages long.

Packed into this short and approachable book is a collection of over 300 diagrams and illustrations. This makes it perfect for casual perusal and display around the house.

Bennett’s book will be published by Tuttle, the world’s leading publisher of books about East Asia.

2) The Book of Bushido: The Complete Guide to Real Samurai Chivalry

Recommended for: History Enthusiasts, Samurai Fans, Serious Study

The Book of Bushido: The Complete Guide to Real Samurai Chivalryis a newer samurai book released in 2022 by Watkins Publishing. The book’s author is Antony Cummins, an expert of Japanese military arts.

Cummins makes important updates the the classic textBushido: The Soul of JapanandHagakure(both described below). While classics on Bushido, these books have biases that Cummins addresses in nearly 500 pages.

The truths and myths of the Bushido code are the main topics covered in Cummins’s book.

3) The Book of Samurai: The Fundamental Teachings

Recommended for: Samurai Enthusiasts, Serious Study

The Book of Samurai: The Fundamental Teachingsby Antony Cummins and Yoshie Minami takes a deep look at the teachings of the Natori-Ryu samurai school.

The authors discuss the lessons of the school that relate to peacetime and battle. At over 500 pages, this book is ideal for samurai and marital arts enthusiasts who want to learn the philosophical principles behind the physical fighting styles of the samurai.

4) Soul of the Samurai: Modern Translations of Three Classic Works of Zen and Bushido

Recommended for: Samurai Enthusiasts, Philosophy Fans, Serious Study

Soul of the Samuraiis just one of several books written and translated by Thomas Cleary. He published over 70 in his lifetime. This book in particular includes translations of Bushido and Zen-related texts by Yagyu Munenori and Takuan Soho.

Munenori was a swordsman who worked under the shogun and Soho was a Zen mentor to the emperor. Cleary includes notes on the culture of samurai to help readers understand the contexts of the works by these samurai and Zen experts.

At only 160 pages, this publication by Tuttle is a digestible read for more serious samurai and philosophy fans.

5) Samurai Wisdom: Lessons from Japan’s Warrior Culture, Five Classic Texts on Bushido

Recommended for: Samurai & Japan History Fans, Philosophy Enthusiasts

Samurai Wisdomis another book by translator Thomas Cleary. It is the first translation of Yamaga Soko’s writings on the samurai way of life.

The book covers the philosophy of an average samurai using five text examples. It comes in at 256 pages and is published by Tuttle.

6) Training the Samurai Mind: A Bushido Sourcebook

Recommended for: Samurai Enthusiasts, Philosophy and Psychology Fans, History Buffs

Training the Samurai Mind: A Bushido Sourcebookis yet another publication by Thomas Cleary. It includes 288 pages of writings spanning 400 years.

Readers are introduced to Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, all of which influenced samurai psychology, ethics, and training.

The collection of writings included in this book span the 15th to 19th centuries and include the different perspectives of warriors, scholars, educators, and politicians.

7) Code of the Samurai: A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke

Recommended for: Samurai Enthusiasts, Bushido Experts

Code of the Samurai by Oscar Ratti and Thomas Cleary is a 1999 publication by Tuttle. The book introduces readers to the Bushido Shoshinshu in its original form.

Oscar Ratti provides the illustrations of the book while Thomas Cleary translates. Although a translation of a historical text, the book has been praised for its easy and conversational language.

This book is a great addition to any personal samurai and Japanese history book collection.

8) Samurai Wisdom Stories: Tales from the Golden Age of Bushido

Recommended for: Samurai Enthusiasts, History Buffs, Literature Fans

Samurai Wisdom Storiesis a collection of Japanese tales that center on the Zen philosophy, marital arts, and virtues of the samurai.

Readers will enjoy the famous historical characters featured throughout the stories, including iconic samurai, ronin, monks and more. With only 170 pages, this collection is an approachable and enjoyable read for fans of samurai and Japanese history.

Author Pascal Pauliot is a martial artist and samurai scholar.

9) The Book of Five Rings: The Strategy of the Samurai

Recommended for: Samurai Fans, History Buffs

While newer books cover the latest discoveries and theories surrounding the samurai and their philosophy, it is also essential to read the classics.

The Book of Five Ringswas written by the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi in 1645 and covers the essential principles of martial arts in Japan at the time.

This text is extremely important to historians and history enthusiasts who want to understand martial arts philosophy of the early modern period.

This edition is translated by Victor Harris, an expert on Japanese swords and the head of the Japanese Department at the British Museum. He was the first to translateThe Book of Five Ringsinto English.

10) Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai

Recommended for: Samurai Fans, Philosophy Enthusiasts

Hagakureis a classic samurai philosophy text written by Yamamoto Tsunetomo. He was a samurai who wrote about the philosophy of his fellow warriors around 300 years ago.

This version by Tuttle Publishing was released in 2014 and is the first to include full translations of the first two sections of the Hagakureand excerpts of the third.

Translator and writer Alexander Bennett includes helpful footnotes for historical and cultural context. These footnotes allow readers who are new to samurai understand the historical context of their philosophy.

While older translations of theHagakurecan be found online, we think the Tuttle version by Alexander Bennett is a great one to grab if you want to read most of the original text in an approachable way.

11) Bushido: The Soul of Japan

Recommended for: Samurai Enthusiasts, History Fans

Rounding out our list is Bushido: The Soul of Japan. This is the classic book on the Bushido code written by Inazo Nitobe. While a classic, it has come under scrutiny in recent years for its biases.

When read alongside the other books on our list, Nitobe’s book can help readers understand the nuances of Bushido and the ways in which it has evolved over time and for Western readers.

This book was the first to introduce Western audiences to Bushido and samurai philosophy. It is definitely one to read if you are interested in how our understanding of Bushido has transformed over time.