William Scott Wilson

William Scott Wilson
Wilson in 2018
Born1944 (age 8081)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
OccupationTranslator
Education
SubjectAncient Japanese literature
Notable awards Order of the Rising Sun

William Scott Wilson (born 1944) is an American translator, author and historian 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.

Wilson's most notable translations include Hidden Leaves by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, which was featured in the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa, and The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Sōhō.