The Code of Bushido is the honor and life path of a samurai. The history of the formation of the Bushido code

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

The Bushido Code is a set of rules of life that were supposed to ensure that the best members of society, the guardians of honor and dignity, follow the true path. It has existed for more than a thousand years, but has not lost its value even today.

Actual and modern Bushido code

The philosophy of the East attracts the attention of the progressive part of our society not by chance. In the age of unscrupulousness and selfishness, market economy and competition, there is a yearning for inner peace of mind, a desire to find support in life through firm, correct principles that can help not only an individual, but the whole society. In this regard, the Bushido code is most interesting. Despite the fact that it was created during the period of feudalism and met the needs of Japan of that historical period, its relevance is undeniable today in the Land of the Rising Sun with its information technologies and progress. Of course, not all positions are accepted by contemporaries, but the main essence remains the defining featuretheir society.

Philosophical foundations

Traditional medieval society in Japan was strictly structured. Each estate had certain rights and obligations, formed by tradition and enshrined in state power. There are four categories of the population. Peasants, merchants, artisans and military aristocracy. It was for the latter that the Bushido code was created. The path of a samurai (warrior in Japan) was determined by moral ethical categories that would provide support for the shogun, master. The existing vassal relations determined the presence of entire clans. At its head was the house of the master, smaller feudal lords swore allegiance to him, who received estates from the owner of the land, and for this they served him faithfully until the end of their lives. The Bushido code was based on the concept of duty as a defining category of Eastern philosophy in general, and in particular Confucianism, Buddhism and Shintoism. Attitudes towards death and life were formed under the influence of the ideas of reincarnation and karma, fidelity to duty and honor - with direct reliance on the category of the Confucian "noble husband", respect for the ancestors and the power of the emperor - based on Shinto traditions.

Training the body and spirit

Western society is remarkably pragmatic. The desire for comfort and getting rid of unnecessary suffering makes one come up with new technical discoveries, medicines, but does not give a person either peace or confidence in the future. The Bushido samurai code proclaims the unity of the three components that allow you to live and die with honor. Themacquisition requires intense work on oneself, which in itself denies the idea of comfort and ease. For a warrior, body training is important. He must be strong, hardy, flexible, hardened, which will give him advantages in battle. But all this means little without technology. It is she who, like a master carpenter, creates a thin product from an unhewn club. Technique can always resist force alone. But the most important element is the spirit. It is the inner spiritual strength that determines the true warrior, brave man, hero. He is not afraid of death, which means that he is not limited in his courage and honor.

Noble man

The Code of Bushido, of course, proclaims loyal relations as the main virtue. But it should be noted that the accents in the past, and even more so now, are placed a little differently. The main quality of a true warrior was nobility, which was considered in following the voice of conscience and truth, justice. If the order of the master required the samurai to renounce the truth, to act against the inner understanding of virtue, it was his duty to dissuade the lord from the shameful act. If he did not succeed, a true warrior could not afford to stain his honor with an unrighteous deed. But to break the oath of allegiance also did not befit a noble person. The only way out was a ceremonial rite of suicide, which allowed them to leave this world with dignity. Thus, the code of honor of the samurai - Bushido - demanded to follow justice and defend it at the cost of life itself.

Attitude towards death

The central theme of the worldview of the Japanese nobleman was the attitude to life and death. It was based on the recognition by Eastern philosophers of the inevitability of death and its acceptance as a step towards a new, qualitative transition in the cycle of continuous rebirths. The Bushido samurai code prescribed spiritual and bodily practices aimed at daily reflection on the inevitable death. This, on the one hand, was supposed to relieve the fear of death, on the other hand, it made us value the time allotted to everyone. Any idleness and intemperance were condemned and seen in the context of the temporality of human existence as stupidity, which will certainly backfire in the future. It is necessary to leave this world with honor, just like to live: without fuss, deliberately, clearly. The absence of fear of death did not mean that life was aspired to and not valued, quite the contrary. But if you are destined to die, then a real warrior will do it right. Europeans who happened to witness the hara-kiri rite were amazed at the composure and courage of the Japanese. This is the result of daily practice and a special philosophy in which a real man is brought up from childhood. The only way to wash away the shame is to take out the ceremonial knife and stain it with your own blood.

The Four Commandments of the Samurai

The Code of Bushido is life itself, so a true warrior knows exactly what to do in certain situations. But nevertheless, in all the teachings, several basic commandments of a warrior can be distinguished. First and foremost insocial purpose is loy alty to his master. This is the motive of life and actions. Never own benefit should not be above the interests of the master. The purpose of life is to be useful to the owner. The second postulate is perfection. On the path of the samurai, everyone had to strive for superiority, which is the righteousness of deeds, honor and nobility. The next is the attitude towards parents. The filial duty is sacred, it includes not only the usual care for our parents, but also the upholding of family honor. Each act can bring glory or dishonor to the whole house. Being a worthy son of your parents is the strongest motive for improving yourself and making the right choice in life. And another great commandment is the call to be compassionate and help people. These basic principles determined the path of the warrior in Japan. They are still quite relevant in this country.

Written sources

The Bushido code does not have a written code of laws as such. The quotes that the Internet is full of do not always relate to ancient reality. Many of them are modern adaptations of Eastern parables and wisdom in general, and Buddhist canons in particular. In ancient Japan, all these moral rules existed a priori, reproduced by society. The philosophers of the East believed that by writing down thoughts, we close them in the prison of words, and they lose their reality and vitality. The main thing is not words, but the meaning, time and place of the ideas expressed, a visible example. Everything flows, everything is mobile, an attempt to make static out of dynamics is detrimental to the main thing. But if you still haveif there is a desire to read the Bushido code, then the most useful and truthful reflection of the teachings can be found in the book "Collected Sayings of Master Hagakure". It is a collection of sayings of a hermit samurai, which were recorded by his student at the beginning of the eighteenth century. By the way, Hakagure ordered him to burn the notes, but he disobeyed the teacher, and after the latter he began to distribute copies of the book. That's the code of honor for you. One way or another, but it is thanks to this that we have a written source of the philosophy of bushido. Also of particular interest are the instructions for young samurai, authored by Daidoji Yuzan. His works were created in the same period, that is, at the beginning of the 18th century.

Hidden in the leaves

Eleven books make up the collection of sayings of Hagakure - "Hidden in the leaves". Its name is very symbolic, because the truth is not exposed, but hidden. The conversations speak of the value of duty, conscience, responsibility and justice. The life of a samurai is a preparation for a dignified death, which is the only sincerity in our pretend world. The author clearly draws a distinction between valiant and faithful service to the owner and servility, servility. A samurai lackey is one who has lost his conscience and honor. Vassal relations must be filled with dignity on both sides. All life is built in relationships, so the warrior shows kindness to others, especially to children and his wife, appreciating her loy alty and devotion to her husband in the same way that the master appreciates him. Way of the Samurai -direct, there is no room for even a small lie, laziness, betrayal or cowardice. The readiness to make a quick decision is valued more than long reflections and philosophizing, which will inevitably lead away from the right choice.

Some conclusions

So, bushido is not only a martial art, but also the moral path of a warrior, on which he must prepare for inevitable death and accept it with honor. It is necessary to note the maximalist character of the Eastern teachings. But maybe this is just what is needed in our age of universal relativity and unscrupulousness. The path of the samurai requires the renunciation of selfishness and continuous work on oneself, the rejection of the search for profit, the proclamation of the principles of goodness and justice in the very deeds.