Bushido Or The Way Of The Warrior

In school, they learned of the Kendo, which is fencing with bamboo sticks, the moral code of the samurai, and their religion, Zen Buddhism. Their code of conduct, the Bushido, demanded that a samurai must hold his loyalty, courage, honesty, compassion, and honor. According to The Way of the Samurai by Yamaga Soko, “Within his [samurai] heart he keeps to the ways of peace, but without he keeps his weapons ready for use.” As stated before, samurais have a much lighter armor. This is mainly due to They have an opening on their right arm in order for them to draw their bows faster and

The term ‘Bushido’ has over the years developed from the traditional translation of ‘the Way of the Warrior’ towards the more modern notion of a “national spirit of Japan, especially the military spirit.” This paper will analyse the impacts that various religious traditions such as Shintoism, Buddhism and Confucianism have had on shaping the classical ideals of the bushido code and the influences that the bushido code played on the actions of the kamikaze fighter pilots during World War II.

The samurai had an unwritten code of honor called the bushido. Bushido means “way of the warrior” (History of the Samurai 3). This provided them with a code to help show them how to live and conduct themselves at home and in battle. One of the most important duties of the samurai was their loyalty to their lord. The samurai would defend their lord until the death. Revenge was also central in the samurai’s

The role of tradition within religion in medieval Japanese society was of great significance. Shinto and Zen Buddhism were two of the major religions practiced in medieval Japan. Shinto was mainly concerned with daily life, while Zen Buddhism prepared the people for the life to come. The samurai also followed an important code called Bushido, a form of warrior philosophy. The ancient Japanese religions helped people understand the universe and also provided a connection between the physical world on earth and the spiritual world.

The samurai were a powerful warrior class in Japan, and were very skilled with a sword. Samurai used swords and were trained very well to do many things such as fire a bow while on horseback. The samurai practiced Buddhism, which is a religion that taught people to respect the world to reach enlightenment. When the samurai disobeyed The Bushido Code, they committed Seppuku, which is ritual suicide for the samurai. Japanese culture was influenced by the samurai warrior class.

The entire Japanese culture is based on honor. Honor extends to the nation, the family, and the individual. The samurai are no exception to a code of honor. The samurai follow the code of bushido. Bushido is closer to the western term of chivalry. Bushido places emphasis on courage, benevolence, justice, politeness, truthfulness, honor, loyalty, and most importantly is self-control. The samurai's primary religion is Zen. The samurai adapted Zen easily due to the philosophy that fits closely to Buddhism. Samurai may act in the extreme when it comes to honor. They will kill anyone who may dishonor them or their lord. Nothing is worse to a samurai than to have corrupt dealings. Some of the warriors believed, "Honor is the power of deciding upon certain course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering … to die when it is right to die, to strike when to strike is right." Other warriors believed that "Honor is the bone that gives firmness and stature. As without bones the head cannot rest on top of the spine, nor hands move, nor feet stand, so without honor neither talent nor learning can make of a human frame a

In, document D - The Way of the Samurai, 1600’s: it talks about the code of Bushido and Chivalry. It says (paragraph 1) “ Outwardly he stands in physical readiness for any call to service in inwardly he strives to fulfill the Way….” this shows just how honorable a samurai could be. In Europe it was just the same (paragraph 2) it states “give mercy in those who ask for it” These similarities are significant because loyalty between the two, shows how much they trust each other. Without this trust and loyalty , these countries would be

The Japanese samurai had a specific code to live by called the Bushido. To be a samurai you must have courage, be just, have mercy,and be polite. You must also have honesty, have a sense of honor, be loyal, and have self-control. In Europe knights also had a code to live by and it was called the Knights Code of Chivalry. Like the samurai the knights lived by the following guidelines: Faith, Charity, Justice, Sagacity, Prudence, Temperance, Resolution, Truth, Liberality, Diligence, Hope, and Valour. The knights were taught these characteristics and lived by these to be the best they could at there job.

The code of Bushido consist that the samurai must obey his master at all times. If someone goes against these moral principles the samurai has to punish them. A samurai puts his duty above all else and his association with friends. The code makes an unavoidably obligation between father and child, older and younger brother, husband and wife [Document E].

Throughout History, there have been many different groups or events that are still widely known today. Groups of people such as the Indians or Vikings are popular groups which are referenced constantly in today’s society. However, none of these groups is more known or referenced than the Japanese Samurai. Originating in 646 AD, these Japanese warriors developed from a loose organization of farmers to the dominant social class in Feudal Japan. Along with their dominant military and political standing, the samurai brought with them a unique code or moral belief that became the core of Samurai culture. Because of this, the Samurai and their principles still affect modern day Japanese society with social customs today

The bushido code also instructed followers in matters of grooming, raising children and appearance. There are seven virtues of the bushido code and they are: righteousness, loyalty, courage, honor, benevolence, sincerity, and respect. The samurai culture was influenced by not one but many philosophies including

To weave all eight virtues of the Bushido code into the narrative fabric of our lives is a difficult task. Our individual desires and conflicts manifest themselves, making certain virtues more difficult to adhere to. In my case, that elusive virtue is courage. My struggle with courage began at the age of seven during my first soccer practice when I quivered with fear behind my mom, while the other girls rushed to the field to play. On that day, I learned that my ongoing battle will be conquering my fears and self-doubt. My development was marked by inherent introversion and pusillanimity, and I often found myself playing the role of a peacemaker rather than a rebel rouser. I avoided confrontation and strove to find solutions. This peace-making

The Samurai Bushido, was the code of honor which these warriors lived and died by. Under the code of Bushido, Seppuku (Harakiri) was the manner by which a Samurai voluntarily committed a ritualistic suicide. If you have read or viewed “The Last Samurai” then you know that the context goes into explicit details of this ceremony. Essentially, when a Samurai is in danger of being taken by an enemy, has lost in battle and is shamed by defeat or any another immoral action which may warrant punishment the Samurai disembowels himself. Additionally, depending on the circumstances, the Samurai is engaging in Seppuku may be assisted by another. This assistance is only rendered after the disembowelment has occurred and ends with a beheading for a quick and honorable death. The Samurai, consider it a great honor to assist another in Seppuku, as they all seek out a perfect death.

Unlike our soldiers today, samurai were old warriors that looked, fought, and achieved goals differently. Samurai went by the ways of Bushido, Way of the Warrior, and either worked for their daimyo and the shogun, or worked for themselves, called Ronin. Samurai were mostly honorable, and Ronin were lost samurai or crooked criminals that worked only for their benefits and no one elses. Also, samurai went by a code of conduct, which specified how they would do their job. A samurai's life was one of honor, battle, and death. In honor and death, a samurai is most known for their ritualistic suicides called Seppuku. A samurai would perform this ritual if they saw no win in a battle, were cowards in battle, did something dishonest, or if they lost sponsorship from their daimyo.

When the samurai were about to engage in battle, most of them would state their rank, family name, and accomplishments. If the samurai was a high-ranked officer, the winner of the duel would have to send the head of the defeated to the capital city where the city officials and the people could see it (Clark 4). However, if the samurai was not killed by his opponent, he had to commit seppuku. Seppuku, also known as harakiri, is when a samurai must commit suicide by stabbing a knife into his abdomen and disemboweling himself. A kinsmen or friend would then cut off their heads. Seppuku was seen as more honorable than getting captured in battle or being forgiven from dishonor by an upper rank (Clark 5). It was also seen as more honorable to commit seppuku than dishonor the Bushido Code.