The Samurai are one of the most legendary warrior classes throughout history, among iconic warrior classes like the Spartans or the Vikings.
Samurai legend shows an honorable warrior class that followed the code of the Bushido, or “The Way”, which has different meanings and interpretations.
Musashi is a legendary samurai, born in 1584 and passing away in 1645 at the age of 61. He fought in numerous wars, later becoming a Rōnin, going undefeated in over 60 duels.
Musashi wrote The Book of Five Rings roughly a year before his death, which has now been made into a manga you can find below. The Book of Five Rings contains martial arts strategy and philosophy about life, aimed primarily towards younger samurai, but his wisdom is just as valuable today if not more.
Miyamoto Musashi Content:
- The multiple masteries of Miyamoto Musashi – The undefeated Samurai
- What Did The Legendary Samurai Miyamoto Musashi Think About Religion?
- Musashi’s 21 Precepts for life – Dokkōdō – Wisdom From The Greatest Swordsman to Ever Live
- Books About The Great Samurai Miyamoto Musashi
Musashi believed in the concept of The Way–the path to mastery–which is the same in all things. And, according to Musashi, once you know the way broadly, you will see it in all things.
Many historical books written by, or about samurai have been transformed into Manga, with beautiful visuals to accompany the same wisdom you find in the original texts. We’ve compiled some of the best Manga pertaining to Bushido, Samurai philosophy.
Manga originated in Japan around the 12th century in its earliest form. Modern Manga was born from emaki, which are scrolls that contained both word and images to tell a story. In The Edo period between 1603 – 1868, emaki evolved into the woodblock prints and paintings, known as Ukiyo-e, like the famous, “Great Wave Off Kanagawa” created by Katsushika Hokusai in 1831.
If you haven’t read Manga before, understand it isn’t just for “anime nerds”. You can read fantastic visual renditions of famous Japanese philosophy, like The Book of Five Rings Graphic novel.
The Best Fiction Manga About The Samurai
Vagabond (Graphic Series) by Takehiko Inoue
Vagabond is a fiction about the great samurai, Miyamoto Musashi that weaves in Musashi’s philosophy, as well as actual historical details from his life, written by Takehiko Inoue in 1998. Vagabond is based off of Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel “Musashi” which we included in The Best Fiction About The Samurai.
Vagabond is considered one of the greatest Manga ever made. Inoue also created the renown and loved series about basketball called “Slam Dunk” that is a worthwhile read, or watch, even if you aren’t a fan of basketball.
Blade of the Immortal by Hiroaki Samura
Blade of The Immortal was written by Hiroaki Samura, first published in June of 1993 in the magazine, Afternoon, where it was serialized. Blade of the immortal follows the Samurai, Manji, who is cursed–not gifted–with immortality. Manji must kill 1,000 evil men in order to repent for his past sins, so he may finally be allowed to die.
Blade of The Immortal is not stylized or read like manga, but instead reads like a western comic book with some western-style design. This isn’t a bad thing. Manga reads right to left and usually does not have words expressing actions(BAM! WHOOSH! BANG!), unlike western graphic storytelling.
The series was completed in 2012.
Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike
Lone Wolf & Cub is set in the Edo period of Japan and follows a Samurai Executioner named Ogami Ittō who is framed for murder, deciding to seek vengeance against those who framed him, instead of taking his own life. Ittō becomes a rōnin to survive, while being a father to his young son, protecting him, and raising him to be a warrior.
Lone Wolf & Cub was originally published in 1972, and finished in 1976.
Kazuo Koike wrote two series about Samurai Executioners, at the same time, with protagonists that have opposing philosophies. They are not connected, and the time periods are different.
Samurai Executioner by Kazuo Koike
Samurai Executioner is another manga about a samurai executioner, also a sword tester, also written by Kazuo Koike, between 1972 and 1976.
Samurai Executioner follows Asaemon “The Decapitator” Yamada, who is fundamentally different than the Samurai Executioner in Lone Wolf and Cub. In The Samurai Executioner, Yamada is not rōnin, nor is he seeking revenge for anyone. Instead, he’s a loyal servant of the state and loyal to his position, delivering judgement without emotion, even after hearing the stories of those who are sentenced to death.
Kazuo Koike wanted to display different philosophies from the same position as a samurai executoner, albeit with significantly different circumstances.
Rurouni Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki
Rurouni Kenshin was written in 1994 by Nobuhiro Watsuki, and finished in 1999. The story follows Himura Kenshin, who was a legendary assassin during the final years of the okugawa Shogunate, which he helped overthrow, then disappeared.
Ten years later, Kenshin wanders as a rōnin with a sword that cannot kill, but can only injure. Rurouni Kenshin explores a time period where the samurai class is outdated, being set in the Edo period.
The Best Non-Fiction Manga About The Samurai
Musashi (Graphic Novel) by Sean Michael Wilson
This graphic novel takes a more historical approach to Miyamoto Musashi’s life, as the source material for “Musashi” is based on William Scott Wilson’s biography of Musashi called “The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi” published in 2004.
Less drama, and more history when compared to Vagabond. Both are fantastic and should be read by the individual who is compelled by the life of Musashi.
The Book of Five Rings (Graphic Novel)
This edition of The Book of Five Rings, the distilled wisdom of Miyamoto Musashi, authored by the legend himself, comes in graphic novel format which presents an interesting and intriguing format to study the wisdom of Musashi.
You should read the original, “The Book of Five Rings” as well as the graphic novel.
Like the Musashi graphic novel above, The Book of Five Rings was also translated by Sean Michael Wilson.
Like reading about Samurai?