William Scott Wilson

For other people named William Wilson, see William Wilson (disambiguation).

William Scott Wilson (born 1944, Nashville, Tennessee) is known for translating several works of Japanese literature, mostly those relating to the martial tradition of that country. Wilson has brought historical Chinese and Japanese thought, philosophy, and tactics to the West in his translations of famous East Asian literature.

William Scott Wilson
Born	1944 (age 79–80) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Translator

Awards

On November 3, 2015, Wilson was inducted into the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for "promoting understanding of Japan through the introduction of Japanese Literature in the United States."

Wilson received Japan's Foreign Minister's Commendation from the Consulate General of Japan in Miami, Masakazu Toshikage on November 15, 2005. According to the Consulate Press release: The award is "conferred upon individuals or groups that have rendered especially distinguished service in strengthening the relationship between Japan and other countries. Through his literary works and translations, Mr. Wilson has contributed greatly to increased cultural understanding and friendship between the US and Japan."

His first original work, The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi, was published in 2004. He has done extensive research on Japanese philosophy and Bushido, the way of the samurai."

Timeline

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Dartmouth College
• Bachelor of Arts, Japanese Language and Literature, Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies, Monterey, California, USA (Now Monterey Institute of International Studies, a graduate school of Middlebury College)
• Aichi Prefectural University, Nagoya, Japan (1975–1977) extensive Study of Edo period (1603–1868)
• Master's Degree in Japanese Language and Literature, University of Washington at Seattle. (1979)

Books

• The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi, Kodansha International (October, 2004) ISBN 4-7700-2942-X
• Walking the Kiso Road, Shambhala Publications, 2015 ISBN 9781611801255
• Oyama, Sumita. The Life and Zen Haiku Poetry of Santoka Taneda, translated by William Scott Wilson, Tuttle Publishing, 2021 ISBN 978-4-805316-55-9 [352 pp. 300 haiku and translator's introduction]

Translations

• Roots of Wisdom (Saikontan) (1984)
• Ideals of the Samurai: Writings of Japanese Warriors (October, 1982)
• Hagakure (Hidden by Leaves) by Yamamoto Tsunetomo (03/01/1983)
• Budoshinshu: The Warrior's Primer by Daidōji Yuzan (04/01/1984)
• The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Sōhō (12/01/1987)
• Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan by Eiji Yoshikawa (10/27/2000)
• Go Rin no Sho (The Book of Five Rings) by Miyamoto Musashi (01/18/2002)
• The Life-Giving Sword: Secret Teachings from the House of the Shogun (The Living Sword) by Yagyu Munenori (February, 2004)
• The Flowering Spirit: Classic Teachings on the Art of No by Zeami. Kodansha (release date: May 19, 2006) ISBN 4-7700-2499-1
• The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts by Issai Chozanshi. Kodansha International (release date: November, 2006) ISBN 4-7700-3018-5
• The 36 Secret Strategies of the Martial Arts by Hiroshi Moriya (March, 2008)
• Yojokun: Life Lessons from a Samurai (The Way of the Warrior Series) by Kaibara Ekiken (January 1, 2009) Kodansha International 224 pages ISBN 978-4-7700-3077-1
• The Unencumbered Spirit: Reflections of a Chinese Sage, 2010, Kodansha International ISBN 4-7700-3097-5
• Tao Te Ching: A New Translation by Lao Tzu, Shambhala Publications, 2012 ISBN 159030991X
• Afoot in Japan by Yasumi Roan, 2015 ISBN 9781535503297

External links

• Honored by the Consulate General of Japan, November, 2005
• Miami Herald Biography, November 20, 2005
• University of Washington
• Asia Times Book Review of "The 36 Secret Strategies of the Martial Arts" March 15, 2008
• Publishers Weekly Interview Revisits an Ancient Culture (6/12/2004)
• Sean Michael Wilson's homepage - includes manga/graphic novel versions of William Scott Wilson's books.