The Samurai book Series by A. R. Berg

Samurai history and Philosophy BOOKS


The Samurai book series is an extensive study of bushido; the books describe the historical evolution and philosophy of the Japanese Warrior in great detail.
You can take a look at the book series reviews & send us yours!

There are four books in the series:
1. Samurai: Ascension | English PDF available
2. Samurai: Spirit of the Warrior | English PDF available
3. Samurai: Legend | English PDF available
4. Samurai: Sakura Blossoms | WIP

  • Samurai: Ascension (Volume I)

    samurai ascension book ebook on bushido

    The image of the samurai, those stoic warriors, is shrouded in mystery. Their tracks can easily vanish in the past or become obscured in the future, but stay firmly rooted in our minds and in reality as they fearlessly follow the Way of the Warrior beyond time and space.

    The samurai spirit is still burning. Thousands of years from today the samurai might still contemplate the Beauty of Eternity during tea ceremony or open their eyes wide and smile in their Zero fighters enveloped in flames. Are they ghosts of the past or messengers of the future? Who were these worshipers of beauty? These creators of an aesthete-murderer culture who lived on a razor’s edge and reveled in the taste of blood? Who were these valiant and virtuous warrior-philosophers who achieved ultimate freedom by rising above life and death?

    Let us try to reassemble this mosaic to uncover their Way and the manner in which they created a heroic, vivid, and distinct model of existence that not only seems alien to us, but is antagonistic to our current reality.

    Table of Contents | 38 chapters

    1. Land of Yamato
    2. The Way of Gods
    3. Penetration of Buddhism and Confucianism in Japan. Amalgamation of Religions
    4. The Emperor and His Court
    5. Origin and Development of The Samurai
    6. Turmoil and The Samurai Rise to Power
    7. The Great War Between the Taira and Minamoto Clans
    8. Come and Take Him!
    9. The Fate of Yoshitsune Minamoto (1159-1189)
    10. The First Shogun
    11. The Mystical and Religious Worlds of the Samurai
    12. Samurai Views on Life and Death
    13. Harakiri
    14. The Sword
    15. Giri
    16. The Way of the Sword: The Samurai Spiritual and Psychological Training System
    17. Ronin
    18. The Burden of Heaven
    19. Samurai Society. The Samurai and Family
    20. Sword and Kin
    21. Mongol Invasion
    22. The Ordeal
    23. Fall of The Kamakura Shogunate
    24. The Emperor Endeavors to Retrieve Power. Confrontation of the The New Dynasty of Shoguns
    25. Golden Age of The Samurai. The Onin War. Provincial Wars
    26. Feudal Wars. First Contact with Europeans. National Integration
    27. Toyotomi Hideyoshi
    28. The Great Dictator
    29. Sparrows Can’t Think Like Eagles
    30. Peace and Isolation
    31. Musashi
    32. Victory by Calmness
    33. The Forty-Seven Ronin
    34. The Black Ships
    35. A New Age. The Abolishment of the Samurai Class
    36. The Yasukuni Shrine
    37. The Ideal Is a Guiding Star
    38. Epochs
    - Japanese Characters (Kanji)
    - Family Emblems (Mon)
    - Timeline
    - Gallery

  • Samurai: Spirit of the Warrior (Volume II)

    samurai spirit of the warrior book ebook on bushido

    Initially released in 2004, Spirit of the Warrior has become the handbook of admirers of the bushido Wisdom. It is popular among those who practice martial arts as well as those who have an interest in medieval studies or our life from a spiritual point of view.

    For what did the great warriors of Japan live and die? What is the sacred mission of a samurai? What is truly essential not only for a medieval Japanese knight, but also for every true man of any epoch? You will find the answers to these questions in the new book, Spirit of the Warrior: The Philosophy of Will by A. R. Berg.

    Spirit of the Warrior is a creative research on the legacy of samurai. It contains numerous aphorisms and sayings of Japanese warriors, stories and philosophical reflections. The focus of the book is the concept of Will―the basis of bushido. The book casts light on several aspects of the esoteric Samurai Doctrine which cannot be missed if you truly seek to comprehend bushido...

    Table of Contents | 55 chapters

    1. Being a warrior is your religion
    2. A look into the past?
    A look into the future!
    3. Why study bushido today?
    4.Where there is will,
    there is the Way.
    The philosophy of will.
    5. A mystery bird
    6. Way
    7. Сomprehending your immortality...
    8. A gulp of air
    9. Keystone
    10. The beauty of a flower
    11. Philosophy of life and
    death transcendence
    12. Silence reveals the truth
    13. Cold water
    14. Emptiness
    15. Take each moment as it comes!
    16. “At that time” is “right now”
    17. A sophisticated image of force
    18. Combat
    19. Teacher
    20. Destiny
    21. Hell and heaven
    22. Lengthen your way
    23. Sword
    24. The great creed and the minor creed
    25. Social medium
    26. ImperialCult
    27. Friendship
    28. Family
    29. The basics of samurai training
    30. The cult of ancestors
    31. Samurai and old age
    32. One life
    33. Miyamoto Musashi
    34. Distinct morals
    35. Samurai must be the color of cherry blossoms
    36. To a military commander
    37. Patience is the supreme courage!
    38. Sword and chrysanthemum
    39. Purity
    40. The source
    41. The legend of the ascension and purity of the samurai's spirit
    42. The symbol of wisdom
    43. Master
    44. State of mind
    45. Flash of lightning
    46. Spirit and body
    47. Steadfastness
    48. Worrying changes nothing
    49. State of the warrior
    50. The way of force
    51. Total determination
    52. Masculine philosophy
    53. Willpower and onrush
    54. We must take fire from history, not ashes!
    55. Shoulder to shoulder
    - Historical figures
    - Terms
    - Japanese characters
    - Gallery

  • Samurai: LEGEND (Volume III)

    samurai ascension book ebook on bushido

    A very special breed has always existed within humankind: warriors who rise to daunting challenges, act, struggle and persevere. They are a distinguished breed forming the heart of the human race.
    Throughout the ages, their distinctive colour has been red and their element fire. Warriors have always rallied around a single creed, tradition and heroic faith. Indeed, heroism is a phenomenon of a higher order which is fundamentally linked to being human and most distinguishes us from other creatures.

    This book asserts that Bushido exemplifies the concept of heroic living and logically defines and explains phenomena that have existed in our minds for thousands of years. Since the heroic concept of living is truly universal and immense, this book will transcend the boundaries of Bushido awareness. It will plunge into the past to anchor the present, as well as imagine the future prospects of heroic philosophy and mythology. Heroic consciousness is the key, eternal and true religion of elevated humans from all times. Heroism is a key to the Gates of Eternity inscribed with the flaming sign of the Warrior.
    Be a Samurai –
    Be relentless!
    Smelling the chrysanthemums,
    Be ready to draw your last breath the following moment.
    Then and only then
    You are worthy of being a Warrior,
    Of being a Samurai!
     -A.B.

    Table of Contents | 98 chapters

    1. The Heroism Phenomenon
    2. Seeing Through The Centuries
    3. The Pedestal For The Hero
    4. The Hero Archetype: Spirit is Destiny!
    5. The Cult of Heroic Creed
    6. Aspects
    7. Altering Reality With The Will
    8. A Battle Of Wills
    9. Kshatriya’s Sayings
    10. The Clang of Swords
    11. Horsemen Rushing Into Eternity
    12. Warrior Sayings
    13. Living Like A Sakura In Bloom
    14. We All Face That Enemy
    15. I Am Of Brahman
    16. Alive Among The Dead
    17. A Way To Be Truthful
    18. The Legend Of Buddha
    19. The Blow Of A Sword Creates Life
    20. The Sayings Of Gautama Buddha
    21. A Swastika On The Heart
    22. The Spirit Is Indestructible
    23. The Teachings of The Sakura: Heroes Become Gods
    24. A Hero’s Mind Is A Sharp Sword
    25. Never Look Back
    26. Everything Happens Much Faster
    27. There Is No Descending That Summit
    28. To Go At The Right Moment
    29. Do You Really Love Life All That Much?
    30. A Cluster Of Flames
    31. An Absolute Determination To Go All The Way
    32. The Story Of The Challenge And Response. Existential Aspects Of The Chapter “A Determination To Go All The Way”
    33. Buddha In An Ocean Of Blood
    34. Mutual Death
    35. These Are Not Your Battles Anymore
    36. Two Legends
    37. Become Weaker…
    38. The Way Of The Loner
    39. The Preacher’s Words
    40. Sri Aurobindo’s Sayings
    41. The Way Of The Warrior And The Teaching Of Karma
    42. The Sword Of Karma
    43. The Birth Of A Hero
    44. The Faith Inspiring Great Deeds
    45. Hagakure (Hidden By The Leaves)
    46. Narrow Gates: A Practice Of The Right Life And The Right Death
    47. A Little Death
    48. The Absolute Calm
    49. Bodhidharma’s Eyelids
    50. Sincerity
    51. Might Be…
    52. Samurai And His Sword
    53. Higher In The Mountains
    54. They Are Testing You…
    55. Treasure Most Of All
    56. Divine Protection
    57. Invincibility
    58. Asceticism Is The Way To Power
    59. Dharma Should Be Imprinted On Our Hearts
    60. Truth Is The Source Of Courage. The Ideal Warrior Is A Buddha Warrior
    61. The Stages Of The Way
    62. A Man Of The Way
    63. The Vessel Of Energy
    64. The Sentinel At The Gate
    65. Following Your True Character Means Recreating Yourself
    66. The Essence And Certain Aspects Of Martial Arts
    67. Happiness Is A Special Kind Of Wisdom
    68. Wisdom Expressed In Words
    69. Awareness
    70. A Cup Filled To The Brim
    71. The Awakening
    72. On The March
    73. Kamikaze
    74. A Special Kind Of Patience
    75. Letting Out The Bad Blood
    76. Sri Aurobindo’s Sayings
    77. A Warrior And A Monk
    78. The Samurai And The Dao
    79. The Five Sages
    80. A Bad Man
    81. The Two Wars
    82. The Sacred War
    83. A Love That Is Higher Than The Mountains And The Sky
    84. Relationship With Nature
    85. A Gaze Into The Distance
    86. The Warrior With A Flower In His Hand
    87. Dojo
    88. A Great Teacher
    89. The Tree Of Life
    90. The Power Of Thought
    91. A Goal Gives Rise To Action
    92. God Is Action
    93. A Tranquil Heart
    94. Renunciation
    95. The Impossibility Of Betrayal
    96. Rules Of Bushido
    97. Knowledge Is Like Tea
    98. Characters (Kanji)

"Bushi-Do is indeed a mighty source of strength. Those who comprehend it acquire consistency of spirit, as well as an uncluttered, active, and tranquil mind. If this is what you seek, this book is for you. There are numerous books about the samurai, most of which simply regurgitate facts. The worthier books are analytical. The most valuable ones let readers draw their own conclusions.
I have spent years reviewing every word in this book in an effort to bring it to the level where it not only exists but is alive, generating energy. While writing, I called upon the Spirit of the Samurai and felt joyful when I felt its fire kindle in my mind. This book is the fruit of deep reflection and purification. My friends say the book ‘works’ for them. I hope my modest efforts will make a difference in your life too."
―A. R. Berg about Samurai: Spirit of the Warrior