ebooks The Five Rings: Miyamoto Musashi's Art of Strategy by Miyamoto Musashi in History

Description

By the 12th century; European literature was rich with tales of a procession carrying a group of objects closely tied to the Passion of Christ--the Holy Grail; the lance that pierced Christ's side; the sword used to behead John the Baptist; and a dish from the Last Supper. While legends of the quest for the Holy Grail continue to grip the popular imagination; the other relics; once closely associated with the Grail legends; receive little mention. Still; the overlooked Grail Hallows; as they are called; have a rich symbolic history; winding through the ages--and leading in some surprising directions. This exploration of the forgotten relics of the Grail Procession examines the body of evidence hinting at their authenticity; and traces their history as symbols; from the early days of Christianity; to Celtic mythology; to "the foggy wastelands inhabited by history's outcasts;" to the suits of the modern tarot. The oral histories and a possible sourcebook that informed the earliest known stories are discussed. Illustrations and photographs of relevant locations and objects; including the cards of the tarot; further illuminate the story. An appendix gives a timeline of the Hallows' history; and there is a bibliography and an index.