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Bushido - The Code of the Samurai "Bushi" = warrior, "Do" = The Way => Bushido = The Way of the Warrior (Samurai). There were many forces acting on a Samurai - since they were "at the top of the pyramid" of Japanese society, they were required to live, breath and enforce all the laws of the country - written and unwritten. Their own lives were ones of complete service and they were subject to a very strict "code" of "Bushido". Until the Tokogawa period, most of the Code was not written down - but written or unwritten, it was followed - to the death. Some aspects of Bushido are represented by the virtues already discussed here, however, there was much more to it than that. Many people including many Westerners are today trying to understand and follow the Way of the Samurai because they represent reverred values that are rare in this modern age. Again, rather than try and embody our thoughts of Bushido here, we will point you towards the most popular sources that people access: The movie "The Last Samurai" is a modern and Western view of the Bushido. "The Hagakure", "Bushido: The Soul of Japan", "The Code of the Samurai" and other such texts are other often accessed sources to bring understanding - the centuries old writings are still very relevant today. |
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Hagakure - literally "Hidden Beneath the Leaves". Yamamoto Tsunetomo was a samurai in the early 1700s. Forbidden by law from committing tsuifuku (suicide of a retainer after his master's death), he retired to a monestary. Though he never fought in any battles, he nonetheless felt that the samurai of his time had become soft. A younger samurai that visited Yamamoto over the years wrote down his words in the Hagakure. It has been translated many times, including a translation by the famous Japanese author Mishima Yukio. |
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Written in 1905 by Inazo Nitobe. This book written by a native Japanese person who understood the Western World, gives probably the best insight for the westerner trying to understand the Japanese society and the Samurai ideals. The Hagakure and other texts written by Samurai or Samurai era Japanese were written for Japanese of the age, whereas this book is specifically written for Westerners by a native Japanese who understood both worlds. The language is "old" and as such is not the easiest to follow, but it is worth it. Bushido: The Soul of Japan - internet book |
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A modern translation of the Bushido Shoshinsu. Bushido Shoshinshu, means Bushido for
Beginners, was written for novice knights of the "new era". Its author, Taira Shigesuke,
a Confucian scholar and military scientist, was born in 1639, the year after implementation
of the national isolation policy, and died in 1730, having lived through the peak of Pax
Tokugawa prosperity. This handbook, written after five hundred years of military rule in Japan,
was composed to provide practical and moral instruction for warriors, correcting wayward
tendencies and outlining the personal, social, and professional standards of conduct
characteristic of Bushido, or the way of the warrior, the Japanese chivalric tradition. The book at Amazon.com (This is the only book, not yet in the public domain due to Copyright rules. For CAKC members, if you want to borrow the book - contact the Webmaster) |
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Bushido sites: Samurai Virtues Warrior Spirit Wikipedia Bushido virtues Bushido page Kendo World - Bushido Kendo World Bushido in pdf Interesting Bushido history ... ... continued with the 7 virtues Another Bushido page Chivalry (European Knightly values) Bushido vs Chivalry - article over 2 pages comparing European Knights to Samurai Bushido or Bull? A Mediaeval Historian’s Perspective on the Imperial Army and the Japanese Warrior Tradition by Karl Friday Death, Honor, and Loyalty: The Bushidó Ideal by "Cappy" Hurst SAMURAI ON WALL STREET: Miyamoto Musashi and the Search for Success by Hurst |