Samurai and Bushido - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com Samurai and Bushido A+E Networks Introduction The samurai, members of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan, began as provincial warriors before rising to power in the 12th century with the beginning of the country’s first military dictatorship, known as the shogunate. As servants of the daimyos, or great lords, the samurai backed up the authority of the shogun and gave him power over the mikado (emperor). The samurai would dominate Japanese government and society until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to the abolition of the feudal system. Despite being deprived of their traditional privileges, many of the samurai would enter the elite ranks of politics and industry in modern Japan. More importantly, the traditional samurai code of honor, discipline and morality known as bushido–or “the way of the warrior”–was revived and made the basic code of conduct for much of Japanese society.

Google Early Samurai During the Heian Period (794-1185), the samurai were the armed supporters of wealthy landowners–many of whom left the imperial court to seek their own fortunes after being shut out of power by the powerful Fujiwara clan. The word “samurai” roughly translates to “those who serve.” (Another, more general word for a warrior is “bushi,” from which bushido is derived; this word lacks the connotations of service to a master.) Did You Know? The wealth of a samurai in feudal Japan was measured in terms of koku; one koku, supposed to be the amount of rice it took to feed one man for a year, was equivalent to around 180 liters. Beginning in the mid-12th century, real political power in Japan shifted gradually away from the emperor and his nobles in Kyoto to the heads of the clans on their large estates in the country. The Gempei War (1180-1185) pitted two of these great clans–the dominant Taira and the Minamoto–against each other in a struggle for control of the Japanese state.

The war ended when one of the most famous samurai heroes in Japanese history, Minamoto Yoshitsune, led his clan to victory against the Taira near the village of Dan-no-ura. Rise of the Samurai & Kamakura Period The triumphant leader Minamoto Yoritomo–half-brother of Yoshitsune, whom he drove into exile–established the center of government at Kamakura. The establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, a hereditary military dictatorship, shifted all real political power in Japan to the samurai. As Yoritomo’s authority depended on their strength, he went to great lengths to establish and define the samurai’s privileged status; no one could call himself a samurai without Yoritomo’s permission. Zen Buddhism, introduced into Japan from China around this time, held a great appeal for many samurai. Its austere and simple rituals, as well as the belief that salvation would come from within, provided an ideal philosophical background for the samurai’s own code of behavior. Also during the Kamakura period, the sword came to have a great significance in samurai culture.

A man’s honor was said to reside in his sword, and the craftsmanship of swords–including carefully hammered blades, gold and silver inlay and sharkskin handgrips–became an art in itself. Japan in Chaos: the Ashikaga Shogunate The strain of defeating two Mongol invasions at the end of the 13th century weakened the Kamakura Shogunate, which fell to a rebellion led by Ashikaga Takauji. The Ashikaga Shogunate, centered in Kyoto, began around 1336. For the next two centuries, Japan was in a near-constant state of conflict between its feuding territorial clans. After the particularly divisive Onin War of 1467-77, the Ashikaga shoguns ceased to be effective, and feudal Japan lacked a strong central authority; local lords and their samurai stepped in to a greater extent to maintain law and order. Despite the political unrest, this period–known as the Muromachi after the district of that name in Kyoto–saw considerable economic expansion in Japan. It was also a golden age for Japanese art, as the samurai culture came under the growing influence of Zen Buddhism.

In addition to such now-famous Japanese art forms as the tea ceremony, rock gardens and flower arranging, theater and painting also flourished during the Muromachi period. Samurai under the Tokugawa Shogunate The Sengoku-Jidai, or Period of the Country at War finally ended in 1615 with the unification of Japan under Tokugawa Ieyasu . This period ushered in a 250-year-long stretch of peace and prosperity in Japan, and for the first time the samurai took on the responsibility of governing through civil means rather than through military force. Ieyasu issued the “ordinances for the Military Houses,” by which samurai were told to train equally in arms and “polite” learning according to the principles of Confucianism. This relatively conservative faith, with its emphasis on loyalty and duty, eclipsed Buddhism during the Tokugawa period as the dominant religion of the samurai. It was during this period that the principles of bushido emerged as a general code of conduct for Japanese people in general. Though bushido varied under the influences of Buddhist and Confucian thought, its warrior spirit remained constant, including an emphasis on military skills and fearlessness in the face of an enemy.

Bushido also emphasized frugality, kindness, honesty and care for one’s family members, particularly one’s elders. In a peaceful Japan, many samurai were forced to become bureaucrats or take up some type of trade, even as they preserved their conception of themselves as fighting men. In 1588, the right to carry swords was restricted only to samurai, which created an even greater separation between them and the farmer-peasant class. The samurai during this period became the “two-sword man,” wearing both a short and a long sword as a mark of his privilege. The material well-being of many samurai actually declined during the Tokugawa Shogunate, however. Samurai had traditionally made their living on a fixed stipend from landowners; as these stipends declined, many lower-level samurai were frustrated by their inability to improve their situation. Meiji Restoration & the End of Feudalism In the mid-19th century, the stability of the Tokugawa regime was undermined by a combination of factors, including peasant unrest due to famine and poverty. The incursion of Western powers into Japan–and especially the arrival in 1853 of Commodore Matthew C. Perry of the U.S.

Navy, on a mission to get Japan to open its doors to international trade–proved to be the final straw. In 1858, Japan signed a commercial treaty with the United States, followed by similar ones with Russia, Britain, France and Holland. The controversial decision to open the country to Western commerce and investment helped encourage resistance to the shogunate among conservative forces in Japan, including many samurai, who began calling for a restoration of the power of the emperor. The powerful clans of Choshu and Satsuma combined efforts to topple the Tokugawa Shogunate and announce an “imperial restoration” named for Emperor Meiji in early 1868. Feudalism was officially abolished in 1871; five years later, the wearing of swords was forbidden to anyone except members of the national armed forces, and all samurai stipends were converted into government bonds, often at significant financial loss.

The new Japanese national army quashed several samurai rebellions during the 1870s, while some disgruntled samurai joined secret, ultra-nationalist societies, among them the notorious Black Dragon Society, whose object was to incite trouble in China so that the Japanese army would have an excuse to invade and preserve order. Ironically–given the loss of their privileged status–the Meiji Restoration was actually engineered by members of the samurai class itself. Three of the most influential leaders of the new Japan–Inoue Kaoru, Ito Hirobumi and Yamagata Aritomo–had studied with the famous samurai Yoshida Shouin, who was executed after a failed attempt to kill a Tokugawa official in 1859. It was former samurai who put Japan on the road to what it would become, and many would become leaders in all areas of modern Japanese society. Bushido in Modern Japan In the wake of the Meiji Restoration, Shinto was made the state religion of Japan (unlike Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity, it was wholly Japanese) and bushido was adopted as its ruling moral code.

By 1912, Japan had succeeded in building up its military strength–it signed an alliance with Britain in 1902 and defeated the Russians in Manchuria two years later–as well as its economy. By the end of World War I , the country was recognized as one of the “Big Five” powers alongside Britain, the U.S., France and Italy at the Versailles peace conference. The liberal, cosmopolitan 1920s gave way to a revival of Japan’s military traditions in the 1930s, leading directly to imperial aggression and Japan’s entrance into World War II . During that conflict, Japanese soldiers brought antique samurai swords into battle and made suicidal “banzai” attacks according to the bushido principle of death before dishonor or defeat. At war’s end, Japan again drew on its strong sense of honor, discipline and devotion to a common cause–not the daimyos or shoguns of the past, but the emperor and the country–in order to rebuild itself and reemerge as one of the world’s greatest economic and industrial powers in the latter 20th century.

Tags The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai | The Art of Manliness The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Tim Clark . “So, boy. You wish to serve me?” Silhouetted against the blue-black sky, the horse-mounted samurai with the horned helmet towered over me like a demon as I knelt in the dirt before him. I could not see his face but there was no mistaking the authority in his growling tone, nor the hint of mockery in his question. I tried to speak and managed only a faint croak. My mouth had gone dry, as parched as a man dying of thirst. But I had to respond. My fate-and though I didn’t know it then, the fate of all of Japan-rested on my answer. Raising my head just enough to brave a glance at the demonic figure, I saw him staring at me, like a hawk poised to seize a mouse in its talons. When I managed to speak, my voice was clear and steady, and I drew courage with each syllable. “That’s correct, Lord Nobunaga,” I said.

“I do.” It was a time of carnage and darkness: the Age of Wars, when the land was torn by bloodshed and the only law was the law of the sword. A peasant wandered the countryside alone, seeking his fortune, without a coin in his pocket. He longed to become the epitome of refined manhood — a samurai — but nothing in the demeanor of this five-foot-tall, one-hundred-ten-pound boy could possibly have foretold the astounding destiny awaiting him. His name was Hideyoshi, and on that fateful spring evening in the year 1553, the brash young warlord Nobunaga hired him as a sandal-bearer. Driven by a relentless desire to transcend his peasant roots, Hideyoshi went on to become Nobunaga’s loyal protégé and right-hand man. Ultimately he became the supreme ruler of all Japan — the first peasant ever to rise to the absolute height of power — and unified a nation torn apart by more than a hundred years of civil strife. Hideyoshi’s true story has inspired countless novels, plays, movies — even video games — for more than four centuries.

Born the weakling son of a poor farmer at a time when martial prowess or entry to the priesthood were the only ways for an ambitious commoner to escape a life of backbreaking farm toil, he rose from poverty to rule a mighty nation and command hundreds of thousands of samurai warriors. For generations of men, Hideyoshi became the ultimate underdog hero: a symbol of the possibility of reinventing oneself as a man and rising, Horatio Alger fashion, from rags to riches. Hideyoshi was driven by a burning desire to succeed as a samurai. But he differed from his contemporaries in seeking to overcome his adversaries peaceably, through negotiation and alliance building rather than through brute force. Lacking physical strength and fighting skills, he naturally chose to rely on wits rather than weapons, on strategy over swords. An unlikely samurai, indeed. Or was he? A Brief History of the Samurai The word samurai originally meant “one who serves,” and referred to men of noble birth assigned to guard members of the Imperial Court. This service ethic spawned the roots of samurai nobility, both social and spiritual.

Over time, the nobility had trouble maintaining centralized control of the nation, and began “outsourcing” military, administrative, and tax collecting duties to former rivals who acted like regional governors. As the Imperial Court grew weaker, local governors grew more powerful. Eventually some evolved into daimyo, or feudal lords who ruled specific territories independently of the central government. In 1185 Minamoto no Yoritomo, a warlord of the eastern provinces who traced his lineage back to the imperial family, established the nation’s first military government and Japan entered its feudal period (1185-1867). The country was essentially under military rule for nearly 700 years. But the initial stability Minamoto achieved failed to bring lasting peace. Other regimes came and went, and in 1467 the national military government collapsed, plunging Japan into turmoil. Thus began the infamous Age of Wars, a bloody century of strife when local warlords fought to protect their domains and schemed to conquer rivals.

By the time Japan plunged into the turbulent Age of Wars, the term samurai had come to signify armed government officials, peacekeeping officers, and professional soldiers: in short, almost anyone who carried a sword and was ready and able to exercise deadly force. The worst of these medieval Japanese warriors were little better than street thugs; the best were fiercely loyal to their masters and true to the unwritten code of chivalrous behavior known today as Bushido (usually translated as “Precepts of Knighthood” or “Way of the Warrior”). Virtuous or villainous, the samurai emerged as the colorful central figures of Japanese history: a romantic archetype akin to Europe’s medieval knights or the American cowboy of the Wild West. But the samurai changed dramatically after Hideyoshi pacified Japan. With civil society at peace, their role as professional fighters disappeared, and they became less preoccupied with martial training and more concerned with spiritual development, teaching, and the arts. By 1867, when the public wearing of swords was outlawed and the warrior class was abolished, they had evolved into what Hideyoshi had envisioned nearly three centuries earlier: swordless samurai.

The Bushido Code Just a few decades after Japan’s warrior class was abolished, U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt raved about a newly released book entitled Bushido : The Soul of Japan . He bought five dozen copies for family and friends. In the slim volume, which went on to become an international bestseller, author Nitobe Inazo interprets the samurai code of behavior: how chivalrous men should act in their personal and professional lives. Nitobe Inazo Though some scholars have criticized Nitobe’s work as romanticized yearning for a non-existent age of chivalry, there’s no question that his work builds on extraordinary thousand-year-old precepts of manhood that originated in chivalrous behavior on the part of some, though certainly not all, samurai. What today’s readers may find most enlightening about Bushido is the emphasis on compassion, benevolence, and the other non-martial qualities of true manliness. Here are Bushido’s Eight Virtues as explicated by Nitobe: I. Rectitude or Justice Bushido refers not only to martial rectitude, but to personal rectitude: Rectitude or Justice, is the strongest virtue of Bushido.

A well-known samurai defines it this way: ‘Rectitude is one’s power to decide upon a course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering; to die when to die is right, to strike when to strike is right.’ Another speaks of it in the following terms: ‘Rectitude is the bone that gives firmness and stature. Without bones the head cannot rest on top of the spine, nor hands move nor feet stand. So without Rectitude neither talent nor learning can make the human frame into a samurai.’ II. Courage Bushido distinguishes between bravery and courage: Courage is worthy of being counted among virtues only if it’s exercised in the cause of Righteousness and Rectitude. In his Analects, Confucius says: ‘Perceiving what is right and doing it not reveals a lack of Courage.’ In short, ‘Courage is doing what is right.’ III. Benevolence or Mercy A man invested with the power to command and the power to kill was expected to demonstrate equally extraordinary powers of benevolence and mercy: Love, magnanimity, affection for others, sympathy and pity, are traits of Benevolence, the highest attribute of the human soul.

Both Confucius and Mencius often said the highest requirement of a ruler of men is Benevolence. IV. Politeness Discerning the difference between obsequiousness and politeness can be difficult for casual visitors to Japan, but for a true man, courtesy is rooted in benevolence: Courtesy and good manners have been noticed by every foreign tourist as distinctive Japanese traits. But Politeness should be the expression of a benevolent regard for the feelings of others; it’s a poor virtue if it’s motivated only by a fear of offending good taste. In its highest form Politeness approaches love. V. Honesty and Sincerity True samurai, according to author Nitobe, disdained money, believing that “men must grudge money, for riches hinder wisdom.” Thus children of high-ranking samurai were raised to believe that talking about money showed poor taste, and that ignorance of the value of different coins showed good breeding: Bushido encouraged thrift, not for economical reasons so much as for the exercise of abstinence. Luxury was thought the greatest menace to manhood, and severe simplicity was required of the warrior class … the counting machine and abacus were abhorred. VI.

Honor Though Bushido deals with the profession of soldiering, it is equally concerned with non-martial behavior: The sense of Honor, a vivid consciousness of personal dignity and worth, characterized the samurai. He was born and bred to value the duties and privileges of his profession. Fear of disgrace hung like a sword over the head of every samurai … To take offense at slight provocation was ridiculed as ‘short-tempered.’ As the popular adage put it: ‘True patience means bearing the unbearable.’ VII. Loyalty Economic reality has dealt a blow to organizational loyalty around the world. Nonetheless, true men remain loyal to those to whom they are indebted: Loyalty to a superior was the most distinctive virtue of the feudal era. Personal fidelity exists among all sorts of men: a gang of pickpockets swears allegiance to its leader. But only in the code of chivalrous Honor does Loyalty assume paramount importance. VIII. Character and Self-Control Bushido teaches that men should behave according to an absolute moral standard, one that transcends logic. What’s right is right, and what’s wrong is wrong.

The difference between good and bad and between right and wrong are givens, not arguments subject to discussion or justification, and a man should know the difference. Finally, it is a man’s obligation to teach his children moral standards through the model of his own behavior: The first objective of samurai education was to build up Character. The subtler faculties of prudence, intelligence, and dialectics were less important. Intellectual superiority was esteemed, but a samurai was essentially a man of action. No historian would argue that Hideyoshi personified the Eight Virtues of Bushido throughout his life. Like many great men, deep faults paralleled his towering gifts. Yet by choosing compassion over confrontation, and benevolence over belligerence, he demonstrated ageless qualities of manliness. Today his lessons could not be more timely. ________________________________ Tim Clark blogs at Soul Shelter with novelist Mark Cunningham and is the author of The Swordless Samurai .

Last updated: September 22, 2015 The Samurai, Life in Feudal Japan, Medieval and early modern societies - Japan, History Year 8, NSW | Online Education Home Schooling Skwirk Australia 1 Exams Introduction Japanese samurai were warriors of the shogun rulers during feudal times. While their origins are unknown, what is known is that they were fearsome in combat and were fast on horseback. In the 8th century, Japan's government sent warriors to subdue barbarians in northern Honshu. The government relied heavily on these warriors, and the term samurai ('those who serve') came into use in this period. Samurai were also hired by wealthy landowners, who feared for their safety while local clans fought over land and power. In exchange for protection and loyalty, the samurai were given land and rights. By this time samurai began to adopt the first signs of samurai tradition, including leather and metal armour and curved blades. After samurai Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1198) won control of most of Japan from the emperor, following five years of fighting, the samurai became more powerful.

Yoritomo was made 'Sei-i Tai Shogun' (Great General Subduing the Barbarians). The shogun issued power by giving orders to other samurai, and until they were abolished in the Meiji Restoration (1868), the samurai remained the most influential class. Refer Image 1 Way of the warrior Samurai were extremely disciplined and followed a strict code of honour, called bushido (way of the warrior). Bushido was so strict that the samurai were prepared to kill themselves if they broke its rules. When a samurai killed himself it was a form of suicide called harakiri which involved his slitting himself open with his own sword. As defenders, they could be relied upon to fight to the death for the protection of their lords and property. They trained for both armed and unarmed combat. When they were not fighting, the samurai lived on their own lands. Arms and armour Samurai wore armour made of metal plates and leather, held together by colourful cords. These were elaborate suits that included a protective headpiece. The weapons used by samurai were the lance, bow and sword; and were carried by the samurai as they rode into battle on horseback.

Samurai were the only class in Japan who had the right to carry a sword. Samurai carried two types of sword, the katana and wakizashi, which hung on the samurai's left side as symbols of power. They wore their hair tied back at the top of their head in a knot. The brow and crown, at the top of the head, were shaved bare. Refer Image 2 Position of the samurai Samurai were the only people in Japan who could ride horses, carry swords and even have a last name. As such, they had great rights and responsibilities, and occupied a high position in society. Samurai were expected to be fearless, loyal servants of the samurai lords, the daimyo, while leading a plain and simple life. These warriors made up a very small portion of the Japanese population, while the rest of the population were farmers, merchants, priests, monks and artisans. Samurai answered only to their lords, who hired them to fight their wars and protect their land. The position of a samurai was inherited from father to son. Samurai were expected to be kind to the poor, but also had the right to kill if insulted by a person of a lower social rank.

Refer Image 3 Ronin Ronin is a term used to describe a samurai who no longer had a lord, either through his lord's downfall, or through the loss of his lord's favour. Many ronin emerged during the relatively peaceful period of the Edo shoguns (1600-1868), and worked as writers, Confucian scholars or teachers, instructors of martial arts or bodyguards. The ronin were forbidden to work as farmers or merchants, roles which were restricted to the lower classes. Many ronin were consequently on fixed incomes and became poor and unhappy.

Other Chapters Bushido: The Way of the Samurai Warrior Applying the Power of Now Principles II The Austin Study met on Friday, January 21, 2004 .ï¿½ The theme of that meeting was ï¿½Becoming a Warrior in the Modern World.ï¿½ï¿½ If the best state of mind is obtained when we are in the ï¿½NOW,ï¿½ then, how do we maintain this state?ï¿½ We have explored several ways of obtaining the ï¿½NOWï¿½ in previous sessions, such as, (1) finding your center, (2) emotional release through recapitulation, (3) energy balancing, and (4) playing ï¿½Win-Win.ï¿½ï¿½ We shall explore in this session, eastern warrior concepts that stimulate maintenance of the ï¿½NOW.ï¿½ï¿½ One of the better warrior programs is the Bushido Warrior Program.ï¿½ To better understand the Bushido Warrior concepts, I have downloaded an article from the internet and summarized the best points as follows: Excerpts from the BUSHIDO: WARRIOR CODE OF CONDUCT by Cheryl Matrasko The life

 of the Samurai not only became one of discipline and military education, but a rich cultivation of the spirit and mind through the arts of writing, painting, calligraphy, philosophy, etc.

It was as if a Renaissance was being experienced within their social sect. Zen provided the warrior class with personal enlightenment, polish, and refinement. The unwritten Samurai code of conduct, known as Bushido, held that the true warrior must hold loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honor as important, above all else. An appreciation and respect of life was also imperative, as it added balance to the warrior character of the Samurai. He was often very stoic with a deep and strong philosophical passion. He could be deadly in combat and yet so gentle and compassionate with children and the weak. Zen Buddhism influenced them greatly giving them enlightenment for good judgment, personal growth, and self-awareness. Their exposure and immersion into philosophy and the arts expanded their perspectives and lifted them beyond the limits of their own feudal rule and culture. This is where Bushido, the Samurai Code of Conduct has its origins. Bushido is the unwritten code of conduct of the Samurai. Literally, Bushido means "warrior - samurai - ways". Bushi is a term for warrior, but directly infers a more prestigious or higher class warrior.

The "ways" or "way" is a term used by most "do-martial arts" (such as: Judo, Kendo, Aikido, and Iaido), which means "the way toï¿½. Influencing Bushido, Zen Buddhism lent to the Samurai a very Stoic disposition. This Stoicism was realized out of a genuine respect for life and also for death. Death, an inevitable eventuality of our own lives, is as much a part of nature as is life. It gives us an added level of thought and meaning to our existence. With the advent of death, there is the introduction of life. There are strong human emotions of anger, remorse, and detachment, etc., that are associated with death that complicate its understanding. However we are gifted by these very same feelings, that allow us to appreciate life and the things we enjoy and love. We most notably appreciate the things we take for granted once they are gone forever. The Samurai trust and faith in nature was because of the great admiration and respect for both life and death. In tune with this level of consciousness, Shinotism also influenced the Bushido of the Samurai.

To seek honor by first looking inside the soul and confront the intimate fears that we hide from ourselves, and that plague our psyche in everyday life. This is the purification of oneï¿½s soul --- " . . . to know thyself ". In addition, Shinotism brought a sense of filial piety and loyalty to the family and homeland. When you " . . . know yourself, you know your weaknesses and strengths, and most of all - you know where you belong." This sense of belonging has been attributed to the patriotic and nationalistic culture of Japan even to this day. Another factor in the backbone of the code of Bushido was Confucianism. It bonded community and family relationships. These relationships had several different moral priorities or qualities to them. In feudal Japan , the samurai served various different lords and their loyalty was given to them. This association was that of servant and master. The samurai himself was the head of his family. The safety and well-being depended upon him. His role was that of head of the house, husband, father, brother, or son.

Application of the Warrior Concepts to Everyday Life And so, how do these ideas relate to the modern person like you or I?ï¿½ We are not at war with anyone or any individual.ï¿½ However, we have interactions with individuals in our day-to-day operations that rob or attempt to rob us of energy.ï¿½ We live in a win-lose world where in every interaction according to that system, someone must lose.ï¿½ Since at the same time, we are not taught to get energy on our own (i.e., connecting with ourselves, others, and our environment), we must get energy from somewhere.ï¿½ Therefore, we play games where we are constantly winning or losing depending on the power we can generate to play the games.

These games can be identified in several ways.ï¿½ Two or three comes to mind in particular, (1) insights four to eight (4-8) from the book, ï¿½The Celestine Prophecyï¿½ by James Redfield; (2) ï¿½Return of the Warriorsï¿½ from the Toltec Teachings by Theun Mares; and (3) ï¿½The Master of Life Manualï¿½ by Dick Sutphen. Most of us are trapped in these games, just as the peasants of feudal Japan were trapped in their way of life.ï¿½ The Samuraiï¿½s life was a way out, using their disciplined lifestyle to avoid this trap.ï¿½ The information provided in the first two pages of this paper gives you an insight in the philosophy, teachings, and practice of the Samurai.ï¿½ Each Samurai warrior practiced a discipline that allowed him or her to stay focused and ready as seen in the motto: Expect Nothing; Be prepared for anything!!!

We can use these principles in our daily life as well.ï¿½ The problem is to devise a discipline to practice this system.ï¿½ I propose that we use at least three procedures as the basis of a system; (1) The Master of Life Manual; (2) ï¿½The Power of Now Material; and (3) The Connection Exercises from the Holistic Warriorï¿½s Manual. In order to generate a problem registry, list the major issues in your life, along with the major players you have the most difficult problems or situations. One of the problems we face each day is a one-to-one struggle with someone else.ï¿½ It may be as simple as, trying to pass a slow moving car (in the passing lane) on the highway, or someone who breaks in line ahead of you, or interactions with your boss or fellow employee, or with a family member.ï¿½ Most of these interactions are minor; however occasionally something happens that really upsets you.

Another problem may arise because of a project you are working on, trying to create a report, solve some difficult situation in your life, or you are just trying to find some thing that got lost or misplaced.ï¿½ Sometimes, something has been weighing heavily on your mind because of a health situation, financial difficulty, or something you want real bad but for some reason or another you canï¿½t find a way to get it, achieve, or get it to go your way. Problems may arise because someone you care about doesnï¿½t act the way you want them to or think they should, such as, a teenager rebelling, a child not doing well in school, or a significant other doesnï¿½t seem to care about something the way you do.ï¿½ You can go nuts, trying to deal with these issues.ï¿½ It can cause stress, i.e., health problems, accidents, arguments, or any number of difficult situations.

So, the question you might ask yourself at any time is, ï¿½What would the warrior do?ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½How would the warrior behave in this situation?ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½How would the warrior resolve this situation?ï¿½ï¿½ Or, you might ask, ï¿½How would the warrior remain calm in this situation?ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½How would the warrior keep from losing his or her cool in spite of whatï¿½s happens around you?ï¿½ The above conditions or problems are a small set of the many difficulties we may face at any given time.ï¿½ They represent the conditions that constantly drain our energy, use up our resources, and make it difficult to make good decisions or at least decisions that work in our best interest at any given time.ï¿½ They also can be collectively described as the battles, large, medium, or small we have faced, face at this time, or will face in the future.

The poem ï¿½Invictusï¿½ by William Ernest Henley is as follows: Invictus OUT of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

This is a great poem and sums up the mind set we need to have to deal with any condition in life.ï¿½ The problem is, ï¿½How do we do it?ï¿½ï¿½ We get all kind of advice about what we shoulda, oughta, coulda, woulda, do; however, we are not usually taught how we go about doing what we need to do.ï¿½ We first need a philosophical base to work with.ï¿½ We can get this base from the article on ï¿½Bushido: Warrior Code of Conductï¿½ described at the beginning of this paper.ï¿½ It can be further condensed as follows: The Samurai Warrior, ï¿½ holds loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honor as important, above all else ï¿½ has an appreciation and respect of life ï¿½ is deadly in combat and yet so gentle and compassionate with children and the weak ï¿½ strives for enlightenment for good judgment, personal growth, and self-awareness ï¿½ practices some type of martial art skill or something that helps him or her develop physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually ï¿½ uses Death as his or her advisor

 not his or her enemy ï¿½ seeks to understand the phrase, ï¿½Know thyself!ï¿½ ï¿½ seeks communal and family relationships and understanding the role of the servant and the master Bushido has been further described as a uniquely eastern practice that has often been compared to the code of chivalry followed by the European knights.ï¿½ The following are eight principles of bushido: Jin - to develop a sympathetic understanding of people Gi - to preserve the correct ethics Chu - to show loyalty to one's master Ko - to respect and to care for one's parents Rei - to show respect for others Chi - to enhance wisdom by broadening one's knowledge Shin - to be truthful at all times Tei - to care for the aged and those of a humble station The practice of the warrior can be taken from the following manuals and books, Sutphenï¿½s ï¿½Master of Life Manual, Tolleï¿½s ï¿½The Power of Nowï¿½, Castanedaï¿½s ï¿½Journey to Ixtlan,ï¿½ and the ï¿½Holistic Warriorï¿½s Manual.ï¿½ A condensed version of Sut

phenï¿½s and Castanedaï¿½s can be obtained from the Holistic Warriorï¿½s Manual.ï¿½ It can be found on the Website, .ï¿½ The Power of Now can be described as the ability to focus your attention in the present.ï¿½ Most of us are preoccupied with either issues or events that have happened in the past or that might happen in the future.ï¿½ At any rate, there is nothing we can do to change the past except gleam whatever understanding we can get from those issues and events and move on.ï¿½ One of the ways we can move on is through a process of recapitulation.ï¿½ Recapitulation is a process of fully experiencing the emotions generated by these issues or event to remove the power they have over us.ï¿½ This process can only happen in the present.

Issues and events that may happen in future rarely happen the way we think they shoulda, oughta, coulda, woulda.ï¿½ Therefore, when we do what we need to do in the present moment, the future will take care of itself.ï¿½ Again, we can repeat the motto, ï¿½Expect Nothing, Be Prepared for Anything.ï¿½ In other words, the only way we can take care of, create, or make things happen is in the present moment.ï¿½ Our ability to stay in the moment is also dependent on our ability to stay in shape physically, mentally, and spiritually.ï¿½ More about staying shape will be offered at a later date. Seven Virtues of Bushido - The Code of the Samurai Seven Virtues of Bushido We'll build you a quality custom Bushido wall scroll for you at a discount price! Start your special Bushido project by clicking on the buttons next to your favorite Bushido-related titles below... Don't want to wait? Check: In-Stock Ready-to-Ship Bushido Artwork . Quick links to words on this page...

Bushido / The Way of the Samurai wǔ shì dào 武士道 is the title for, "The Code of the Samurai." Sometimes called "The Seven Virtues of the Samurai," "The Bushido Code," or "The Samurai Code of Chivalry." This would be read in Chinese characters, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja as "The Way of the Warrior," "The Warrior's Way," or "The Warrior's Code." It's a set of virtues that the Samurai of Japan and ancient warriors of China and Korea had to live and die by. However, while known throughout Asia, this title is mostly used in Japan, and thought of as being of Japanese origin. The seven commonly-accepted tenets or virtues of Bushido are: Benevolence 仁, Courage 勇, Honesty 誠, Honour 名誉, Loyalty 忠実, Respect 礼(禮), and Rectitude 義. These tenets were part of an oral history for generations, thus, you will see variations in the list Bushido tenets depending on who you talk to.

Also means: honor loyalty morality righteousness yì 義 is about doing the right thing or making the right decision, not because it's easy but because it's ethically and morally correct. No matter the outcome or result, one does not lose face if tempering proper justice. This character can also be defined as righteousness, justice, morality, honor, or "right conduct." In more a more expanded definition, it can mean loyalty to friends, loyalty to the public good, or patriotism. This idea of loyalty and friendship comes from the fact that you will treat those you are loyal to with morality and justice. This is also one of the five tenets of Confucius doctrine. There's also an alternate version of this character sometimes seen in Bushido or Korean Taekwondo tenets. It's just the addition of a radical on the left side of the character. If you want this version, click on the image to the right instead of the button above. 勇 can be translated as bravery, courage, valor, or fearless in Chinese, Japanese and Korean. This is the simplest form to express courage or bravery, as there is also a two character form which starts with this same character.

This character can also be translated as brave, daring, fearless, plucky or heroic. 인 Beyond "benevolence" this character can be also be defined as "charity" or "mercy" depending on context. The deeper meaning suggests that one should pay alms to the poor, care for those in trouble, and take care of his fellow man (or woman). This is one of the five tenets of Confucius. In fact, it is a subject in which Confucius spent a great deal of time explaining to his disciples. I have also seen this benevolent-related word translated as perfect virtue, selflessness, love for humanity, humaneness, goodness, good will, or simply "love" in the non-romantic form. This word is so important to me that I named my second daughter with this character. Her name is "Renni" which means "Benevolent Girl." -Gary. Can also be a sign of gratitude lǐ We show respect by speaking and acting with courtesy. We treat others with dignity and honor the rules of our family, school and nation. Respect yourself, and others will respect you. This is also one of the five tenets of Confucius.

This character can also be translated as propriety, good manners, politeness, rite, worship or an expression of gratitude. Please note that Japanese use a simplified version of the character for respect - it also happens to be the same simplification used in mainland China. Click on the character to the right if you want the Traditional Chinese version. 성 誠 means truth, faith, fidelity, sincerity, trust and/or confidence. As a single-character wall scroll, this suggests that you believe "honesty is the best policy," as your personal philosophy. 명예 This version of honor is about having or earning the respect of others and about your reputation. It is the status of being worthy of honor (not to be confused with doing honorable things or specific actions - see our other "honor" listing for that). Both modern Japanese and modern mainland Chinese use the same simplified version of the second character of honor. You can make a special request for the traditional second character as shown to the right (just click on that character to the right of you want to order that version). Before WWII, both Japan and China used the traditional form but modern Japanese and Chinese use this simplified form.

Koreans still use the traditional form when they are not writing in their modern Hangul glyphs. Loyalty / Faithful / Devoted 충실 忠實 is a Japanese way to write "Loyalty" - it also contains the ideas of being faithful, devoted, true, and obedient. The second character is a modified form only used in the Japanese lexicon, however, Chinese speakers can easily guess the meaning. Filial Piety This character represents filial piety. Some will define this in more common English as "respect for your parents and ancestors." This is a subject deeply emphasized by the ancient philosophy and teachings of Confucius. Some have included this in the list for the Bushido, although generally not considered part of the 7 core virtues of the warrior. Note: This character is not the best of meanings when seen along as a single character. Some will read the single character form to mean "missing my dead ancestors." However, when written at part of Confucian tenets, or in the two-character word that means filial piety, the meaning is better or read differently (context is important for this character). We suggest one of our other two-character filial piety entries instead of this one.

信 is another character that expresses the idea of honesty. It can also mean truth, faith, believe in, fidelity, sincerity, trust and/or confidence. Some have included this in the list for the Bushido, although "makoto" is probably more common/popular. Note: In some context, this character can mean letter; news or envoy. However, alone, it will generally be read with the honesty-meaning. 지 智 is the simplest way to write wisdom in Chinese, Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji. Being a single character, the wisdom meaning is open to interpretation, and can also mean intellect, knowledge or reason, resourcefulness, or wit. 智 is also one of the five tenets of Confucius. 智 is sometimes included in the Bushido code but usually not considered part of the seven key concepts of the code. Search for Bushido in my Japanese & Chinese Dictionary During the 9th and 12th centuries in Japan the warrior class were known as Samurai, also called Bushi ("Bushi" means "warrior", "Do" is "Way", hence Bushido = Way of the Warrior).

They emerged from the provinces of Japan to become the ruling class until their decline and later total abolition in 1876 during the Meiji Era. These warriors were men who lived by Bushido; it was their way of life. The Samurai's loyalty to the emperor and his overlord or daimyo were unsurpassed. They were trustworthy and honest. They lived frugal lives with no interest in riches and material things, but rather in honor and pride. They were men of true valor. Samurai had no fear of death. They would enter any battle no matter the odds. To die in battle would only bring honor to one's family and one's lord. The actual code was passed on verbally to each generation of Samurai, but over time, seven chief virtues emerged, and became the written form of Bushido. Please note that variations exist, as some people use different Kanji or have 8 or 9 tenets. Of course, credit is generally given that a Chinese man (known in the west as "Confucius") is the father of these values in China. Therefore, you'll find these concepts belong not only to the Japanese samurai, but have spread throughout Asia.

Variations of these soldierly and moral values can be seen in China, Korea, Vietnam, and elsewhere. This in-stock artwork might be what you are looking for, and ships right away... zhì / zhi4 / zhi chih In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size" single-character wall scroll. We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size. Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days. Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up. There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form of art alive. Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.

The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat. Samurai - Japanese Warriors Samurai Samurai Armour The samurai (or bushi) were the warriors of premodern Japan. They later made up the ruling military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo Period (1603-1867). Samurai employed a range of weapons such as bows and arrows, spears and guns, but their main weapon and symbol was the sword. Samurai were supposed to lead their lives according to the ethic code of bushido ("the way of the warrior"). Strongly Confucian in nature, bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior. Many samurai were also drawn to the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism . History The samurai trace their origins to the Heian Period campaigns to subdue the native Emishi people in the Tohoku Region .

Around the same time, warriors were increasingly hired by wealthy landowners that had grown independent of the central government and built armies for their own protection. The two most powerful of these landowning clans, the Minamoto and Taira , eventually challenged the central government and battled each other for supremacy over the entire country. Minamoto Yoritomo emerged victorious and set up a new military government in 1192, led by the shogun or supreme military commander. The samurai would rule over Japan for most of the next 700 years. During the chaotic era of warring states in the 15th and 16th centuries, Japan splintered into dozens of independent states constantly at war with one another. Consequently, warriors were in high demand. It was also the era when ninja , warriors specialized in unconventional warfare, were most active. Many of the famous samurai movies by Kurosawa are set during this time. The country was eventually reunited in the late 1500s, and a rigid social caste system was established during the Edo Period that placed the samurai at the top, followed by the farmers, artisans and merchants respectively.

During this time, the samurai were forced to live in castle towns , were the only ones allowed to own and carry swords and were paid in rice by their daimyo or feudal lords. Masterless samurai were called ronin and caused minor troubles during the 1600s. Relative peace prevailed during the roughly 250 years of the Edo Period . As a result, the importance of martial skills declined, and many samurai became bureaucrats, teachers or artists. Japan's feudal era eventually came to an end in 1868 , and the samurai class was abolished a few years afterwards. Samurai march in the Jidai Matsuri Parade in Kyoto How to appreciate the samurai today Samurai related attractions can be found across Japan in form of castles, historic residences, museums, historically themed amusement parks and dress up tours. The following are some of the many ways tourists can learn about and experience samurai culture and lifestyle today: Castles Castles developed over the centuries from small defensive forts built high up on mountains into massive complexes at the heart of cities, where they served as the status symbol, administrative center and residence of the local lord.

The lord's samurai vassals resided in the town surrounding the castle: the higher their rank, the closer they were allowed to reside to the castle. Over a hundred castles exist in Japan today, including twelve original castles (that survived the post-feudal years intact) and many modern reconstructions. Most of the castles contain exhibits or entire museums that display samurai artifacts and lifestyle. See our castle page for more information. Men in samurai outfits at Kumamoto Castle (left) and Aizu's Tsuruga Castle (right) Samurai Districts and Mansions In order to separate the social castes, samurai were forced to reside in designated districts of the castle towns during the Edo Period . Today, a few of these samurai districts remain preserved with their historic atmosphere of narrow lanes, earthen walls, entrance gates and residences, and allow tourists to get a glimpse into the samurai lifestyle. In other cases, single samurai mansions have been preserved and opened to the public. Below is a list of some of the better of these districts and residences: This residence on the rural Noto Peninsula served as the home of the Kita family who administered local villages on behalf of the feudal lord.

It includes a spacious main residence, a unique entrance gate and a museum. Museums While most history museums in Japan display at least a few samurai swords or armors, there are a few specialized museums that exclusively feature relics of the samurai. Some of these include the Sword Museum in Tokyo , which displays one of the largest public sword collections in the country; the Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya , which exhibits armor, swords, tea utensils, artwork and household items; and the Maeda and Honda Museums in Kanazawa , which display relics of the two most prominent samurai families in the region. An exhibition room in the Aoyagi House in the Kakunodate Samurai District Theme Parks There are a few history based theme parks around Japan that feature recreated towns from the feudal era. The parks typically offer a variety of attractions, live shows, museums, shops and restaurants and are usually staffed by a whole host of "townspeople" in period costumes, making them a fun way to experience the culture and history of samurai.

Closed: December 29 to January 1 Admission: 756 yen Locate in Iga Ueno , home to one of the leading ninja schools during Japan's feudal era, this small but excellent ninja museum consists of a ninja residence with revolving walls, trap doors, hidden compartments and exhibition halls displaying tools and weapons of the trade. Live shows and ninja demonstrations are held daily at the museum. Dress up Tours Several travel companies offer tour packages that allow participants to put on a samurai armor or ninja costume, learn about the various weapons and techniques, and in some cases mock battle (chambara). One of these companies, Japanican , offers several samurai and ninja tours . Advertisement Bushido Code of the Samurai Warrior self sacrifice honor to the death Under this code, if a samurai warrior failed to uphold his honor he could regain it by performing seppuku (ritual suicide). The samurai warrior code is an internally-consistent ethical code, grounded in the spiritual approach of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. In its purest form, it demands of its practitioners that they look effectively backward at the present from the moment of their own death, as if they were already, in effect, dead.

The Samurai warrior training consisted mostly of these martial arts weapons: The Katana - A curved single edged sword The Yumi - A long bow and bamboo arrows The Yari - A long thin spear The Bushido of the Samurai was also a spiritual basis for those who committed kamikaze attacks during World War II. For this reason many of the martial arts that are rooted in Japanese Bushido were banned by the occupying Americans during the post-war occupation. Bushido is still practiced today (in modified forms) and in many of today's modern martial arts. The most common forms of bushido martial arts, still practiced in Japan today, are: Judo Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire . Samurai | PBS Samurai warriors were at the top of the social order Samurai warriors emerged as an elite force in Japan's provinces during the early 10th century. Recruited by local chieftains, these fighting forces were maintained long enough to wage a specific war, after which the soldiers would return to their lands to till the soil. With Japan's emperor living in the ancient capital of Kyoto and unable to maintain control of the provinces, the samurai clans established themselves as viable political entities.

By the late 12th century, samurai lords ruled both the provinces and central Japan. They maintained their influence until the mid-1870's when the samurai class was outlawed and their privileged status was dissolved. The rigorous training of a samurai warrior began in childhood. Samurai school was a unique combination of physical training, Chinese studies, poetry and spiritual discipline. The young warriors studied Kendo ("the Way of the Sword"), the moral code of the samurai, and Zen Buddhism. Samurai were expected to live according to Bushido ("The Way of the Warrior"), a strict ethical code influenced by Confucianism that stressed loyalty to one's master, respect for one's superior, ethical behavior in all aspects of life and complete self-discipline. Girls also received martial arts training. Although most samurai women did not fight on the battlefield, they were prepared to defend their homes against invaders. The samurai attached great importance to the circumstances of their own death. If a samurai died of his own accord, it was considered a valiant end. Rather than suffer defeat or humiliation at the hands of an enemy, samurai warriors often chose ritual suicide (seppuku).

After Tokugawa Ieyasu united Japan, samurai military services were rarely needed. Though they continued to train daily, samurai gradually transformed from warriors to bureaucrats. As townspeople acquired new wealth, the samurai, barred from engaging in commerce, found themselves in dire circumstances. For many samurai, peace led to dispair. WARDROBE AND HAIR Samurai warriors took great care styling their hair, which they pulled back into a topknot called a "chomage." For battle, samurai warriors shaved the tops of their heads, which reduced the heat under their heavy helmets, and wore their hair straight on the sides. When not wearing helmets, they pulled the side and back hair into a topknot. A samurai's clothing style was very important and indicative of status. Outlandish, colorful patterns were considered immodest and conceited. Though samurai children dressed flamboyantly, they became more subdued in appearance after their coming-of-age ceremony. The samurai's everyday wear was a kimono, usually consisting of an outer and inner layer. Normally made of silk, the quality of the kimono depended on the samurai's income and status. Beneath the kimono, the warrior wore a loincloth.

The samurai's swords were normally thrust through an "obi," a belt wrapped around the waist, and were always worn on the left side. When indoors, the samurai would remove his long sword, but he was always armed with some form of weaponry. Outside the home, the samurai wore a two-piece costume called a "kamishimo" over the kimono. The upper piece was a sleeveless jacket with exaggerated shoulders. On the lower part of their body, samurai wore wide flowing trousers called "hakama." When traveling, they would wear a long-sleeved coat over the kimono. A samurai going to town for pleasure would often hide his face with a hat (often one shaped like a basket) to avoid being recognized just in case he was disobeying any rules.

IMAGE CREDITS The Seven Virtues Of Bushido Come Alive In Seven Original Kanji Calligraphies Martial Arts Prints The Seven Virtues Of Bushido, Their Kanji And Spirit Highlighted The seven virtues of bushido come alive in this calligraphy of the bushido code: gi, yuuki, jin, rei, makoto, meiyo and chuugi, the seven virtues of bushido, are brushed in dynamic Japanese kanji. Japanese calligraphy in standard script Read from top to bottom, and from right to left Japanese Calligraphy and Bushido As a Japanese calligraphy artist my attention was drawn upon bushido by Yamaoka Tesshu, the great swordsman of the 19th century Japan, who still inspires many martial artists, both in Japan and the West. Apart from being a Master of the Way of the Sword and Zen, he was also a supreme calligrapher, a Master of the Way of the Brush. I admire his calligraphy, full of life and strength, and trying to find out what forged the spirit of this strong personality I find two decisive factors: On the one hand his Zen training and enlightenment and on the other hand bushido.

As he says: As a samurai, I must strengthen my character; As a human being, I must perfect my spirit. From The Sword of No-Sword, Life of the Master Warrior Tesshu. John Stevens What are the seven virtues of bushido To understand truly what bushido and its education, the seven virtues of bushido, meant for a samurai of the feudal Japan one needs some help. I have found the reading of Inazo Nitobe’s book Bushido, The Soul of Japan most enlightening and I strongly recommend this book to every martial artist who wants to understand the true bushido code. In feudal Japan bushido was the code of moral principles followed by the samurai, an ethical code of conduct that permeated life, from childhood to elderhood, often not even written, but carved in the heart of the samurai. As Inazo Nitobe defines it: Bushido means literally the military-knight ways – the ways which fighting nobles should observe in their daily life as well as in their vocation; in a word, the precepts of knighthood.

What characterized these samurai and supported their action and knowledge of right and wrong is what we now popularly call the bushido code or the seven virtues of bushido. Some of the virtues such as benevolence, politeness and truthfulness are inspired by the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. In his chapter on the Sources of Bushido Inazo Nitobe mentions that the writings of these Chinese philosophers were the principal text-books for the youth and the highest authority of discussion among the old. The kanji of the seven virtues and their spirit The kanji you find here may differ from the characters seen in other websites. I present the bushido code as discussed by Inazo Nitobe, and have found the following kanji the most appropriate to represent its spirit. The seven virtues follow each other in a very specific sequence, as each complements the other. 1. GI – Right Action, Duty Gi has two parts: the upper part represents a sheep, which was the symbol of beauty in ancient China and the lower part is the character for I, with a strong slanting stroke on the left which represents a halberd. The character could be explained as understanding (sheep) after conflict (halberd).

Gi is to do the right thing. 2. YUUKI – Courage Yuuki has two kanji. The first is yuu, which means courageous, with the important component of chikara, the symbol for strength. The second kanji is ki or energy. Yuuki means brave, courageous energy. 3. JIN – Benevolence Jin has two parts: on the left side stands the character for human, and on the right there are two horizontal strokes which represent the number two. Jin is one of the most fundamental virtues of Confucianism, which could be defined as to treat each other with tenderness, to love each other. Jin is the benevolence that unites each human being to the other. 4. REI – Politeness or Morality The kanji for rei is a modern abbreviated form, which does not reveal very much of the ancient character. The ancient symbol shows a sacrificing vessel that evokes the rites and ceremonies conducted for worshipping and offerings. The character actually means rite or ceremony but in a broader sense it means respect.

Rei too is essential to Confucianism: In society rei governs your actions towards others, a fundamental politeness, very much related to jin. It is often translated with morality, but as morality has other connotations I suggest politeness. Rei is politeness, respect shown in social behavior. 5. MAKOTO – Truthfulness The kanji for makoto is composed of two parts: at the left stands the character for to speak, a mouth that produces words. At the right stands the character sei, which means to accomplish, to succeed. Makoto means truth in word and action, to follow truly the Law of the Universe. 6. MEIYO – Honor Meiyo has two kanji. The first is mei, which means reputation, with the symbol of mouth below. The second kanji is yo, which means to praise or to admire, which has the component of to say. Meiyo is to enjoy a good reputation, honor. 7. CHUUGI – Loyalty Chuugi has two characters. The first one is chuu which means to be sincere or loyal. This character expresses very well the true meaning of loyalty. We see a heart and on top of it the symbol for middle.

Chuu could be understood as no conflict in the heart, faithful to what is felt in the heart. The second kanji is gi, which means right action or duty. Chuugi is to act faithfully, to be loyal. Buying a Seven Virtues of Bushido T-shirt The seven virtues of bushido have inspired me as an artist and I have brushed them in different styles of Japanese calligraphy. As I explained above, each kanji covers in a visual way the content of a virtue and through the living energy of the calligraphic brushstrokes they become dynamic images. I have designed a collection of original hand-brushed Bushido code T-shirts with bright kanji designs for the martial artist. I hope you enjoy the Bushido code calligraphies and use them as visual support in everyday life and for your training. Below you see some of the Seven Virtues of Bushido T-shirts with the Bushido code brushed in regular, semi-cursive and cursive script. The T-shirts are available at Amazon and Cafepress, in different models and colors, for men and women. Enjoy browsing our ever growing Bushido Code T-shirt and poster collection! Buy A Seven Virtues of Bushido T-shirt at Amazon.

At the moment, Amazon only ships these t-shirts to a USA address, sorry! For our international visitors we have created a selection of t-shirts at Zazzle and CafePress below.

Question: What is the name for the "Code of Living" followed by the Samurai?
Answer: BUSHIDO