
The Book of Ninja: The Bansenshukai
Japan's Premier Ninja Manual
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Narrated by:
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John Chancer
About this listen
The first abridged translation of the ultimate Ninja manual—a comprehensive guide to the arts of the ninja, including espionage, warfare, assassination, and more
In 1676, a ninja named Fujibayashi collected and combined information from the ninja clans of Iga—regarded to be the homeland of the ninja—and compiled it into an authoritative book. Known as The Bansenhukai, Fujibayashi's book has now been translated into English by the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team and is widely considered to be the "bible" of ninjutsu, the arts of the ninja.
The Book of Ninja begins with an in-depth introduction to the history of Fujibayashi's scripture. The teachings themselves, appealingly rendered in this translation, then take us into the secrets of guerrilla warfare and espionage. We learn how to become the ultimate spy, whether through a network of spies or by hiding in plain sight. Through the stealth and concealment tactics of night-time infiltration, through weapon and tool building skills, and through mission planning, we can learn much both about warfare and about adopting the right mindset for tackling our own inner and outer enemies. Adding to the mix for the spycraft lover, there are sections on capturing criminals, performing night raids, making secret codes and signs, and even techniques for predicting the weather, and using an esoteric Buddhist system of divination.
An exciting and engaging tome of lost knowledge, The Book of Ninja is the final say in the world of the ninja and the ultimate classic for samurai and ninja enthusiasts alike.
©2013 Antony Cummins (P)2023 Watkins PublishingListeners also enjoyed...
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For 700 years, Japan was ruled by military commanders who waged war against one another incessantly. Shogun tells the fascinating story of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who finally unified and brought lasting peace to the nation. He established a new central government which enabled his descendants to rule Japan for the next 260 years—a period in which Japanese culture as we know it today flourished.
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This is a boring reference book
- By Antone Ferreira on 05-25-24
By: A.L. Sadler, and others
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Code of the Samurai
- A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke
- By: Thomas Cleary
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 2 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Code of the Samurai is a 400-year-old explication of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido, the Japanese Way of the Warrior. With a bright, conversational narrative by Thomas Cleary, this book is indispensable to corporate executives, students of Asian culture, martial artists, or anyone sincerely interested in Japan and its people.
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Very enlightening.
- By Hansom’Ma Naman on 10-23-24
By: Thomas Cleary
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Inner Engineering
- A Yogi's Guide to Joy
- By: Jaggi Vasudev - Sadhguru
- Narrated by: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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The practice of what is commonly known as hatha yoga is but one of eight branches of the body of knowledge that is yoga. Yoga is a sophisticated system of self-empowerment that is capable of harnessing and activating inner energies in such a way that your body and mind function at their optimal capacity. It is a means to create inner situations exactly the way you want them, turning you into the architect of your own joy. A yogi lives life in this expansive state, and in this transformative book Sadhguru tells the story of his own awakening.
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A Profound Exploration of Life!!!
- By Joe on 02-02-18
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Musashi
- By: Eiji Yoshikawa, Charles S. Terry - translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 53 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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The classic samurai novel about the real exploits of the most famous swordsman. Miyamoto Musashi becomes a reluctant hero to a host of people whose lives he has touched and by whom he has been touched. Inevitably, he has to pit his skill against the naked blade of his greatest rival.
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Good Historical Novel
- By The Walking Dude on 08-11-19
By: Eiji Yoshikawa, and others
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Breathe
- A Life in Flow
- By: Rickson Gracie, Peter Maguire
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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From legendary Brazilian jujitsu and MMA master Rickson Gracie comes a riveting, insightful memoir that weaves together the story of Gracie’s stunning career with the larger history of the Gracie family dynasty and the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, showing how the connection between mind and body can be harnessed for success both inside and outside the ring.
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I really wanted to like this book but it’s just not there
- By Brent on 08-24-21
By: Rickson Gracie, and others
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The Complete Strategy Collection
- The Art of War, The Prince, The Book of Five Rings, On War and Arthashastra
- By: Sun Tzu, Niccolo Machiavelli, Miyamoto Musashi, and others
- Narrated by: Michael Bower, Tom Chandler
- Length: 52 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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The Complete Strategy Collection, a compilation of ancient and historical philosophies, will increase your knowledge of strategy, conflict, and adversity throughout the ages, giving you valuable insight into the past while opening a window to the future. Although each of the works can be considered a manual or diagram for war or engaging in physical combat, the life skills embodied in each can be adapted to everyday life in modern society. Listen and learn how you, too, can take advantage of the strategies of war.
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A nice surprise!
- By Sandy Cathcart on 04-09-24
By: Sun Tzu, and others
What listeners say about The Book of Ninja: The Bansenshukai
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- James
- 07-17-23
a great summary/overview
this abridged version of the Bansenshukai is great. very helpful for giving one a basic understanding of what the work contains and preparing one for the deeper study of the whole work.
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- RS
- 06-10-23
5 Stars: I’d read it again.
Some of the subjects spoken about in this book are dated and obviously intended to be helpful in conditions prior to the modern age. However there were other points written with which I found myself fascinated. The tenets of the philosophy (as such) promulgated by this book resonated with a profound sense of common sense and worthy of respect. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in purchasing a book about the ninja. But, between its descriptions, on how to read and interpret certain scenes in a wartime situation, to how to read the weather, sun, moon and stars (constellations), I immediately surmised that this was a collection of the wisdom of many people and distilled across time, who subscribed to an acutely focused set of beliefs. I was actually deeply impressed. As a result, I’ve decided to explore other such similar books. Just respect and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to read books of this nature. I also recently read a book about Confucius and an introductory book to Buddhism. I am profoundly touched by the sublime wisdom that I’ve had the honor to experience, and becoming acquainted with in some of these books. Five stars all the way across, and I would definitely read it again.
In fact, I probably will read it again.
Just as an aside, I shut the speaking speed down to .7, just to help me to focus on the presented principles word by word and to have just a little bit more time to ingest it. The book is most definitely not fake, although obviously written for a time in which it’s primary usefulness was prior to the modern era. Although, if I ever had the opportunity, I’d definitely submit to becoming a student of this teaching, so well was this material presented. I absolutely saw the value of it. Thank you to whoever wrote this. Something is worth reading when it expands your mindset, and this did that. It’s just unfortunate that I wouldn’t know where to even begin to look to find an actual teacher. This, like the life of a Shaolin monk, is something that if I could find a worthwhile teacher, I would dedicate the rest of my life to studying it. Wisdom is something sublime, and something is stirred in me each time I’ve read books of this genre, or about Zen Buddhism. Something of deep respect, akin to reverence, is awakened in me when I’ve immersed myself into these concepts. I hear the voices of many generations of men who’ve come and gone and peered, as though through a spiritual window across time, into the most personal aspects and beliefs of these men, from a different culture and yet, their sheer human-ness is ever present, tangible, almost enough to reach out and touch them. I’m a lifelong Catholic, (and a former US Marine, thus naturally drawn to teachings on warfare strategies and tactics), but most emphatically impressed upon when considering these teachings, that combine, through martial arts, a valuable unifying aspect of the mind, the body, and the spirit. My deepest respect to these men and their teachings.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-05-23
Fascinating historical espionage piece
I was a little surprised to find that while the technical information was quite out of date, the bulk of the principles in this book seem sound. Absolutely a must-read for adventure-thriller authors!
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