Samurai warriors scorned death , a constant threat during the feudal period, and held their personal honor in such high esteem that they would atone for errors by willingly committing ritual suicide by disembowelment (seppuku) rather than face possible disgrace. The sakura (cherry blossom), with its short lived beauty, came to epitomize the samurai’s glorious but brief …show more content…
The ethical elements, emphasizing political loyalty, obligation, and always adhering to the proper rules of etiquette, were thoroughly Confucian. Samurai were trained to suffer affliction with patience and self-control, and to never expose their emotions. They were expected to repudiate money and commercial transactions and to abhor underhanded dealings. Samurai labored for justice and strove to always show compassion and benevolence toward the oppressed. They were presumed to always speak the truth, to sustain an unblemished honor, and to avoid