A visually thrilling graphic novel adaptation of classic martial arts parables on swordsmanship and strategy—written by a real-life samurai
The Demon’s Sermon on the Martial Arts is a classic collection of martial arts tales, written by the eighteenth-century samurai Issai Chozanshi. Featuring demons, insects, birds, cats, and numerous other creatures, the stories here may seem whimsical, but they contain essential teachings that offer insight into the fundamental principles of the martial arts. This graphic novel version based on Chozanshi’s text brings these tales alive in a captivating and immediately accessible way.
Infused with Chozanshi’s deep understanding of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto, the tales elucidate the nature of conflict, the importance of following one’s own nature, yin and yang, the cultivation and transformation of ch’i (life energy), and the attainment of mushin (no-mind). Ultimately, the reader learns in a visually exciting way that the path of the sword is a path of self-knowledge and leads to an understanding of life itself.
“This poetic book immediately stands out as the best of Sean Michael Wilson's three graphic novel adaptations of classical works of Japanese philosophy. As a book of philosophy, it’s fascinating; a dreamlike exploration of consciousness, life, and death. Michiru Morikawa's artwork is the perfect match for the text, her eerie, detailed illustrations—especially the lovely renderings of various animals—perfectly fitting the poetic feel. Recommended.” —Jason Thompson, Otaku USA magazine
“Wilson and Morikawa capture all the wisdom and beauty of these original texts and enhance them with the visual vitality and playful charms of modern manga. Their faithful retellings of these allegorical fables and philosophical reflections prove how timeless and rewarding they truly are.” —Paul Gravett, editor of 1001 Comics You Must Read before You Die
Issai Chozanshi is the pen name of Niwa Jurozaemon Tadaaki, an eighteenth-century swordsman and intellectual. His writings weave together ideas drawn from Buddhism, Confucianism, Shinto, and Taoism, and his treatises on the way of the sword and the martial arts demonstrate a remarkable synthesis of these philosophical traditions.
Sean Michael Wilson is a Harvey- and Eisner-award-nominated comic book writer from Scotland, who lives in Japan. He has had more than a dozen books published by a variety of US, UK, and Japanese publishers, and he often works with Japanese and Chinese artists on manga-style books, such as Hagakure and Yakuza Moon.
A visually thrilling graphic novel adaptation of classic martial arts parables on swordsmanship and strategy—written by a real-life samurai
The Demon’s Sermon on the Martial Arts is a classic collection of martial arts tales, written by the eighteenth-century samurai Issai Chozanshi. Featuring demons, insects, birds, cats, and numerous other creatures, the stories here may seem whimsical, but they contain essential teachings that offer insight into the fundamental principles of the martial arts. This graphic novel version based on Chozanshi’s text brings these tales alive in a captivating and immediately accessible way.
Infused with Chozanshi’s deep understanding of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto, the tales elucidate the nature of conflict, the importance of following one’s own nature, yin and yang, the cultivation and transformation of ch’i (life energy), and the attainment of mushin (no-mind). Ultimately, the reader learns in a visually exciting way that the path of the sword is a path of self-knowledge and leads to an understanding of life itself.
Reviews
“This poetic book immediately stands out as the best of Sean Michael Wilson's three graphic novel adaptations of classical works of Japanese philosophy. As a book of philosophy, it’s fascinating; a dreamlike exploration of consciousness, life, and death. Michiru Morikawa's artwork is the perfect match for the text, her eerie, detailed illustrations—especially the lovely renderings of various animals—perfectly fitting the poetic feel. Recommended.” —Jason Thompson, Otaku USA magazine
“Wilson and Morikawa capture all the wisdom and beauty of these original texts and enhance them with the visual vitality and playful charms of modern manga. Their faithful retellings of these allegorical fables and philosophical reflections prove how timeless and rewarding they truly are.” —Paul Gravett, editor of 1001 Comics You Must Read before You Die
Author
Issai Chozanshi is the pen name of Niwa Jurozaemon Tadaaki, an eighteenth-century swordsman and intellectual. His writings weave together ideas drawn from Buddhism, Confucianism, Shinto, and Taoism, and his treatises on the way of the sword and the martial arts demonstrate a remarkable synthesis of these philosophical traditions.
Sean Michael Wilson is a Harvey- and Eisner-award-nominated comic book writer from Scotland, who lives in Japan. He has had more than a dozen books published by a variety of US, UK, and Japanese publishers, and he often works with Japanese and Chinese artists on manga-style books, such as Hagakure and Yakuza Moon.
