The violence of twelfth-century Japan explodes in this half-legendary, half-true story of a man who becomes a folk hero. Like the errant knights of Western chivalric romances, the Ronin, the masterless samurai of ancient Japan, live a life of adventure and follow a strict code of morality and honor. In this exciting tale, a Ronin slashes his way up from the gutter to a position of wealth, honor, and status.

Written in the 1960s, the author initially heard the ancient legend upon which this novel is based from Zen Master Nyogen Senzaki. Told with humor and irony, in the great tradition of realistic Zen mysticism, The Ronin is sure to shock, confound, and ultimately inspire readers.