Dokkodo - A Kirigami Inspired Art Book: The Path I Walk I Mine Alone

Inspired by her partner’s more modern take of Miyamoto Musashi’s words and the astonishing creativity that can be achieved with little bits of digital paper, Illustrator Chris Bedrosian re-imagined his book into this celebration of Kirigami, the Japanese art of cutting and folding paper.<br/><br/>Dokkôdô is a short, almost poetic list of twenty-one simple rules that Musashi refined over his lifetime. These rules focus on his belief that an ascetic life could bring peace and fulfillment as well as offering a path for personal growth and self-mastery.<br/><br/>His ideals focus on the importance of self-reliance and he encouraged his students to take responsibility for their own actions and decisions. He encouraged individuals to cultivate their own skills, develop inner strength and rely on their own abilities rather than depending solely on external factors or circumstances.<br/><br/>During his life Musashi traveled extensively and had a great thirst for learning and experiencing the world through other professions. He was a rōnin and a great sword master but he was also an architect, a sculptor, a calligrapher and a painter.<br/><br/>Dokkôdô, as well as his other great work, “The Book of Five Rings” were given to his favorite student, Terao Magonojō who took them to heart and shared them with others.<br/><br/>The simplicity of his Twenty-One Precepts facilitates a true clarity of purpose and allows individuals to channel their energy and efforts effectively, which I imagine explains my and our continued fascination with them, all these years later.<br/><br/>The stunning original illustrations, inspired by the life of Musashi and the world of feudal Japan are a fascinating peek behind the curtain of time into the ancient age of the Samurai.<br/><br/>AUTHOR NOTE: Musashi’s written words were ambiguous (even for his time) and there are many different and conflicting ideas about how best to translate his works into English. This interpretation is a more modern take on the original translations with concise explanations and the added bonus of 46 full-color illustrations that will immerse the reader into the world of feudal Japan.