[setsu nin to]

article on Bushido

BLACK PANTA
This term refers to the moral code principals that developed among the samurai (military) class of Japan, on a basis of national tradition influenced by Zen and Confucianism. The first use of the term apparently occured during the civil war period of the 16th century; its precise content varied historically as samurai standards evolved. Its one unchanging ideal was martial spirit, including athletic and military skills as well as fearless facing of the enemy in battle. Frugal living, kindness and honesty were also highly regarded. Like Confucianism, Bushido required filial piety; but, originating in the feudal system, it also held that supreme honour was to serve one's lord unto death. If these obligations conflicted, the samurai was bound by loyalty to his lord despite the suffering he might cause to his parents.
The final rationalization of Bushido thought occured during the Tokugawa period (17th century ff.), when Yamaga Soko (1622-85) equated the samurai with the Confucian "superior man" and taught that his essential function was to exemplify virtue to the lower classes. Without disregarding the basic Confucian virtue, benevolence, Soko enphasized the second virtue, righteousness, which he interpreted as "obligation" or "duty". This strict code of honour, affecting matters of life and death, demanded conscious choice and so fostered individual initiative while yet reasserting the obligations of loyalty and filial piety. Obedience to authority was stressed, but duty came first even if it entailed violation of statue law. In such an instance, the true samurai would prove his sincerity and expiate his crime against the government by subsequently taking his own life.

By mid-19th century, Bushido standards had become the general ideal, and the legal abolition of the samurai class in 1871 made Bushido even more the property of the entire nation. In the public educational system, with the emperor replacing the feudal lord as the object of loyalty and sacrifice, Bushido bacame the foundation of ethical training. As such, it contributed both to the rise of Japanese nationalism and to the strengthening of wartime civilian morale up to 1945
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RoninMMA
What happened during the period between Meiji and WW2? Was bushido still taught among a new modernized army? Is it still relevant in the Japanese army of today, even with what happened during WW2? Just wondering.
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setsu nin to
RoninMMA

Last variation of Bushido was military codex writted by grneral Todo in WWII. I dont know if there was written anything after that. Codex was preparing soldier for death, teach him how to die in honour way...

In Meiji perion bushido was still very popular. Many Ronins still followed idea of Bushido. Bushido wasnt just battlefiled codex, it had rules about every situation in Samurais/Ronins life. That Bushido wasnt "died" till these thays we may see on many examples on Japan.
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setsu nin to
sorry I wrong spell name of general Tojo in previous post.



BLACK PANTA

Roots of Bushido are much older than Bushido in 16th century. Rules existed before, they existed before Bushido as codex but they were in just gather in Bushido.

When we discouse about Bushido wha have to mention Hagakure. Hagakure ("hidden leaves" or "hidden by leaves") was written by Yamamoto Tsunetomo in 1716. Book is real good, and you may teach many things about Samurais and Japan of that time.

When we talk about Samurais we often talk about Zen and Confucianism. Its important to say that master was much more important to than than religion. So religion wasnt on first place to Samurais.
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BLACK PANTA
quote:

Originally posted by setsu nin to
sorry I wrong spell name of general Tojo in previous post.



BLACK PANTA

Roots of Bushido are much older than Bushido in 16th century. Rules existed before, they existed before Bushido as codex but they were in just gather in Bushido.

When we discouse about Bushido wha have to mention Hagakure. Hagakure ("hidden leaves" or "hidden by leaves") was written by Yamamoto Tsunetomo in 1716. Book is real good, and you may teach many things about Samurais and Japan of that time.

When we talk about Samurais we often talk about Zen and Confucianism. Its important to say that master was much more important to than than religion. So religion wasnt on first place to Samurais.



Setsu I am currently re-reading Hagakure so that I may be able to take in some of what I have missed. I am also reading Go rin no sho. Just though I would mention for it is a great read.
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setsu nin to
BLACK PANTA

Setsu I am currently re-reading Hagakure so that I may be able to take in some of what I have missed. I am also reading Go rin no sho. Just though I would mention for it is a great read.


Exelent books! I am realy happy becouse of it. I would like to recomande one more book if you didnt read it. Book is called Bushido and its written by Inazo Nitobe.

Just to say that I like your threads about Bushido and Seppuku. Exelent threads, congratulation!
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bamboo
Black Panta:

Go Rin No Sho is to me one of the best books to ever come out of that period. I mentioned long ago in one of first posts a book called "The Unfettered Mind" by the monk Takuan Soho. I think if you look at this one as well you will find some obvious links between the two as Takuan Soho was an early teacher of Musashi.

Ronin MMA: Another example of modern Bushido would have been the Kamikaze pilots of WW2 that gave their lives for the emperor. ANother example would be the "Red Brigade", an extremist group that in 1972 tortured to death 11 comrades for disloyalty. Strangely, this group captured the hearts of the Japanese public until the police stormed their stronghold and the remaining 5 cowered and put up no fight. Instead of being commended for going peacefully, the Japanese press lambasted them for not having the heart of a warrior and giving up.

-bamboo
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RoninMMA
Where is a good place to get some of these books that have been mentioned? Can I get them from Amazon.com, or are they hard to find? I am really interested in reading up on Bushido.
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setsu nin to
RoninMMA

There is not problem to buy that books, you may buy them where ever you whant. I think that Go Rini No Sho you may buy on these site, but I am not shure.
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BLACK PANTA
Chapters Indigo has great pricing and shipping costs are low. I got a hard binding book of Go Rin no sho for like 30 dollars CDN funds. Gotta be cheaper in the States. My Sifu actually gave me his book wich was given to him by our Master(M.H.R.I.P). I bought the hard binding copy for my Sifu as a gift for Eid UL Fitr.
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setsu nin to
Go Rini No Sho Book is realy exelent and its doesnt comst much. Everyone should read that book, its value is not just in sword are it in everyday life.
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bamboo
It might be helpful to give the english title for Gorin no sho- Book of Five Rings .

-bamboo
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setsu nin to
Unfortunatly Miyamoto Musashi make one big mistake when he wrotte Book of Five Rings. Hi didnt know that there is One Ring to rule them all
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Bushi
Another good book is Code of the Samurai , Amodern translation of the Bushido Shoshinsu by Thomas Cleary


This book shows the rules for life outside of Battle. It guides in Choosing friends, House Building, Big talk and criticism, How to travel etc.
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RoninMMA
Ahh yes I know of the Book of Five Rings. I read part of it, from someone who had it translated and copied it onto the internet. However its original title threw me off since I never saw it that way. But I still have the cd which it was copied onto. Yes I saw the Code of the Samurai, I am looking into buying it. Another book I saw was Bushido: The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe. Does anyone know about this book?
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Bushi
quote:

Originally posted by setsu nin to


Exelent books! I am realy happy becouse of it. I would like to recomande one more book if you didnt read it. Book is called Bushido and its written by Inazo Nitobe.

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bamboo
I have read some severe academic critisisms of mr. Nitobe book in that some believe that he made up a large portion of what he wrote and actually grew up in seclusion from most of Japan. He should be noted that he believed that he coined the term bushido and was suprised to learn of its use and existence prior to his own writing.

That being said, its also regarded by many as a good source and was a the representative of Japan in Canada and a noted professor at Tokyo University. I own and read it but as with all material, read it with a discerning eye.

-bamboo

(edited one time for clarity)
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setsu nin to
RoninMMA

When Japan opened its doors to the world and when Japanese culture become shown to the world many people from West were shocked with Bushido. They finde it unmoral, violent, barbarian...
In his book, Inazo Nitobe, tryed to explain that there is nothing unusual in Bushido. He tryed to explain to on many examples from Western couture, history, literature, religion...
These book will give you some new view on Bushido. Many people who read these book understand some thing about Bushido which they couldnt understood before.
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BLACK PANTA
Secular peoples see's every aspect of honour as Barbaric, outdated and useless. Bushido is to elaborate for their minds to comprehend.
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setsu nin to
Also its not just comparation about Japanese and Western culture, its more proof that we are not better than them. Also book have many historical examples, its explain much about Samurais, living in Japan, rules...
Is not just we do that and you did same, or Bushido - rule number one... ...example of it in Europe.
Book is exelent written so you may read it in few hours.
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bamboo
bushi mentioned:

quote:

Code of the Samurai , Amodern translation of the Bushido Shoshinsu



I believe I found a translation of the original by Daidoji Yuzan (if its the same book) The Code of the Samurai by Sadler. I think I mentioned it in another post but did not realize it was a translation of an actual manual given out to young samurai in the 16th century.

-bamboo
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