Bushido Religion
Bushido: The Way of the Warrior
Bushido is known as the code of the samurai, but it is much more than that. Bushido is a way of life. Bushido is an ancient code of conduct for the samurai of feudal Japan. Bushido is one of the few things that has not changed threw the years. Bushido first appears in 712AD in one of the oldest books of Japan. Bushido has been compared by many to the English Knights’ Chivalry. Even though they have some of the same principles, they have little in common. Bushido was only truly formed in the twelfth century. It developed under the Tokugawa’s rule of Japan. As I have said Bushido is the Samurai’s code so before I can describe Bushido I must explain the Samurai. The teachings of Bushido set down strict rules that revolve over seven virtues which I will explain the most importance of all the teachings and virtues of Bushido. I will also examine the affect of Bushido on the Japanese social system from its first development to modern times. During the thirteenth threw seventeenth centuries Bushido changed slowly, and almost un-noticeably, so I will explain Bushido in the 1700s to the present day. The final part of Bushido I will examine is its effect on popular culture.
The Samurai were some of the most honorable warriors of all time. “Do not forget preparedness for battle” (French 206). As the warriors of Japan the Samurai were each adapt at fighting, and warfare. Some of the weapons the Samurai employed included: the katana, bow and arrows, spears, bo staffs, kamas. In Japanese Samurai literally means to serve, and as such the Samurai served their lords. The Samurai also were very loyal, if they believed they disobeyed or dishonored their lords they would ask for the chance to commit seppuku (seppuku is a ritual suicide). The Samurai’s were divided into family based clans. As clans gathered manpower and resources and struck alliances with each other. When the clans would come together they would pick a leader to rule them. The
Bushido is known as the code of the samurai, but it is much more than that. Bushido is a way of life. Bushido is an ancient code of conduct for the samurai of feudal Japan. Bushido is one of the few things that has not changed threw the years. Bushido first appears in 712AD in one of the oldest books of Japan. Bushido has been compared by many to the English Knights’ Chivalry. Even though they have some of the same principles, they have little in common. Bushido was only truly formed in the twelfth century. It developed under the Tokugawa’s rule of Japan. As I have said Bushido is the Samurai’s code so before I can describe Bushido I must explain the Samurai. The teachings of Bushido set down strict rules that revolve over seven virtues which I will explain the most importance of all the teachings and virtues of Bushido. I will also examine the affect of Bushido on the Japanese social system from its first development to modern times. During the thirteenth threw seventeenth centuries Bushido changed slowly, and almost un-noticeably, so I will explain Bushido in the 1700s to the present day. The final part of Bushido I will examine is its effect on popular culture.
The Samurai were some of the most honorable warriors of all time. “Do not forget preparedness for battle” (French 206). As the warriors of Japan the Samurai were each adapt at fighting, and warfare. Some of the weapons the Samurai employed included: the katana, bow and arrows, spears, bo staffs, kamas. In Japanese Samurai literally means to serve, and as such the Samurai served their lords. The Samurai also were very loyal, if they believed they disobeyed or dishonored their lords they would ask for the chance to commit seppuku (seppuku is a ritual suicide). The Samurai’s were divided into family based clans. As clans gathered manpower and resources and struck alliances with each other. When the clans would come together they would pick a leader to rule them. The
Cited: French, Shanon “The Code of the Warrior: Exploring the Values of Past and Present” Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield Publishing 1999. 205-208. Tanaka, Minoru “Bushido The Way of the Samurai” Garden City Park, NY: Square One Publishing 2006. 28-29