Abstract This paper explores how Buddhist beliefs shaped the samurai warrior philosophy. The paper begins with a review of Buddhist philosophy and its religious development. Next, the paper examines principal sources of Bushido writings, such as the the "Hagakure" and "The Book of Five Rings". Both books are reviewed in depth, including a detailed summary of their philosophies. The paper concludes by comparing Bushido philosophy with other Buddhist beliefs and explaining that Bushido combines the best parts of a skilled martial artist with Buddhism, which allows the samurai to fulfill their obligations as warriors without forcing them to abandon the teachings of the Buddhas.
From the Paper "Bushido, the samurai a "way of the warrior", is a concept that has held great power over the years. This unwritten code was essential to the samurai philosophy, similar to the chivalry codes of European knights during the Medieval Ages. Some of the virtues stressed under bushido were loyalty, honor, benevolence, and honesty. These ethics would be lauded by almost any society but they are also central to Buddhist religious beliefs, which dominated Japanese culture throughout the era of samurai prominence. The samurai were a warrior class, their profession was warfare and killing, principles that ran counter to all Buddhist teachings; the very idea of a Buddhist warrior is a paradox. In order to reconcile their violent profession with their religious beliefs, samurai needed an ethical code that would not only absolve their warriora?'s guilt but would praise many of the values that made them great warriors. This paper will examine principal texts by ancient samurai and contemporary essays to argue that Bushido arose among the samurai as a means of reconciling Buddhist teachings with the violent lifestyle of an elite warrior class."
Abstract The paper relates that the Samurai philosophy of Bushido has been the subject of much study and has been embodied in writings intended to show the Samurai class what the ideal for behavior should be. Many of the elements of this philosophy have been widely accepted as ideal for living and beneficial in a modern context as they were in the past, while other aspects are seen as specific to a time and place. The ideals are seen in dramatic form in Hiroshi Inagaki's "Samurai Trilogy," as it is called in the U.S. and specifically in the third of the films, "Bushido." The paper discusses these three films; "Miyamoto Musashi," "Musashi Miyamoto Sequel: Duel at Ichijoji Temple" and "Bushido."
From the Paper "The three films by Hiroshi Inagaki begin in 1954 with Miyamoto Musashi, the name of the central character, also known as Takezo. Takezo is an orphan and something of a problem in his village, until he and his friend join the army to go into battle. They lose this first fight and then seek refuge in the home of a widow and her daughter. Takezo's friend takes up with the widow and goes away with them, while Takezo returns to his village. His friend's family does not believe him and has him arrested for treason, and he is eventually sentenced to study the samurai code. He falls in love with the virtuous Otsu, formerly betrothed to his friend, and she vows to wait for him when he sets off to be a knight. This film sets up the character and his background and also introduces the samurai code, which will become such an important element in his life."
Abstract This paper examines how the book "The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan" by Yasushi Inoue introduces the reader to many aspects of the Samurai class in Japanese history and to the role of Bushido. The paper explains that the primary focus of Bushido is on loyalty and honor, tied to the mastery of the martial arts and the physical requirements for being a warrior. It then looks at how these elements are included as part of the texture of this novel, written in modern times about the Japan of the sixteenth century, a turbulent time in Japanese history through which the Samurai and its code provided a bulwark against deeper change.
From the Paper "The Zen school placed its greatest emphasis on self-power, on the active mobilization of all one's energies towards the realization of the ideal of enlightenment. In its more austere forms Zen Buddhism had no time for rituals or philosophical study. It found favor with the samurai class for all these reasons. Their fortunes were then in the ascendant, and their members, men who lived constantly under the shadow of death, needed a spiritual way that would give them an authentic path of spiritual development. At the same time, Zen had an aesthetic side in the Zen virtues of spontaneity, simplicity, tranquility, and aloneness. "
Abstract This paper examines how, throughout the span of his life, Akira Kurosawa endeavored to provide his audiences with a message of morality based strongly in the Shinto and Buddhist traditions. In particular, it looks at how "Ran", which is widely acknowledged as his greatest work, has Kurosawa exploring the theme of loyalty, especially as it is epitomized with in the tenets of Bushido, the warrior's code.
From the Paper "These remarkable examples of loyalty however, must be tempered by the traitors who get caught up in their own intrigue. Leading them all is Lady Kaede, the wife of Taro. Her hand can be found firmly clasped to every other traitorous action we see. Her first act is to elevate her own position by forcing Hidetora's connubial procession to step aside so that she could make her way into the castle. Though she puts on demure and unassuming airs, we quickly learn that her black-heartedness is contagious. By asking a seemingly innocuous question of Taro, she sets into motion events that will begin Hidetora's decent into his personal hell."
This paper reviews Lady Murasaki's "Court Diary", a lady in waiting in the court of the Japanese court from 1007 to 1010 A.D., which discusses the social and cultural influence of Confucianism and Buddhism on ancient Japan.
1,905 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 0 sources, 2005, $ 60.95
Abstract This paper explains that Lady Murasaki wrote her "Court Diary during the period in which Bushido was a code and way of life for Samurai men and was influenced by Zen and Confucianism. The author points out that in Lady Murasaki's "Court Diary", it is obvious that Buddhism and Buddhist metaphysics are very much a part of Japanese court life; however, what is not so obvious is that Chinese Confucianism also had become part of 10th century Japan's Imperial court. The paper relates that the notion of impermanence is an extremely salient characteristic throughout the Diary; she writes that all things are ephemeral, reflecting on the aesthetics of the period, which were based on the beauty of impermanence.
From the Paper "Confucianism influenced the Chinese attitude toward life, set the patterns of living and standards of social value, and provided the background for Chinese political theories and institutions. It eventually spread from China to Korea, from Korea to Japan where it was first brought to around the fifth century. Confucius had a great impact on the Japanese civilization. His teachings relating to ethics, honor, social responsibility, familial obligations, ancestor worship, and observation of rites and historical precedence provide the glue that gives the Japanese civilization continuity and durability."
From the Paper "This study will show how Inazo Nitobe's Bushido: The Soul of Japan illustrates the social, economic, cultural and political trends of Japan in the era it was written. The book was published originally in 1905. In effect, the study will examine the trends current at the turn of the century in Japan, focusing on the attitudes of the author (and presumably, other Japanese) toward the role of Bushido in the society and culture. Nitobe defines Bushido as "the unwritten code of laws governing the lives and conduct of the nobles of Japan, equivalent in many ways to the European chivalry.". Of course, to be an important force in the nation, Bushido had to influence more than just the nobles, and more than just the warriors. The question to be answered, then, is what effect the chivalric, warrior code of Bushido had on the Japanese culture at the turn of the century, as described by..."
Abstract In the Middle Ages, two civilizations at opposite ends of the globe evolved in a strangely similar manner. The paper looks at the similarities between Western Europe and Japan in the Middle Ages. It shows how both had its feudal age. It discusses how, in Europe, the Roman Catholic Church exerted a powerful influence from Sweden to Italy and in Japan, Buddhist temples and monasteries from Hokkaido to Kyushu. In the West, civilization rebuilt itself after the fall of a great empire, while in the Far East a new nation emerged that modeled itself after the ancient civilization of its powerful neighbor, China.
From the Paper "On the other side of the world, in Europe, art and architecture only came into their own in the High Middle Ages, that is, the period from about the Twelfth to the Fifteenth Centuries. Medieval engineers discovered the power of the pointed arch and the flying buttress, and built lofty cathedrals and towers of whose walls seemed made entirely out of beautifully patterned stained glass. Many of these structures were almost completely covered with statues of kings and queens, saints, and monsters. This period of cultural fluorescence coincided with the rebirth of the towns, and the full-flowering of the feudal system. Knights and priests developed the code of chivalry with its devotion to honor, justice, and fair play. Troubadours sang of heroic exploits and courtly love ? the unconsummated (at least theoretically) passion of a knight for an unobtainable lady."
Abstract This paper examines how the loyalty of the Samurai is a central issue in the story of "The 47 Ronin", a well-known Japanese fable that has been told in many different versions. It is best-known as a Japanese puppet play known as "Chushingura" in which the issue of loyalty is explored and has also been the subject of several films. It discusses how the story takes place in the Tokugawa period of Japanese history and evaluates how loyalty is the motivation for the actions of the ronin, the samurai who serve Lord Asano who first avenge his death and then suffer their own punishment for it. It looks at how In doing so, they show loyalty not only to Lord Asano but also to their traditions as embodied in the Code of Bushido.
From the Paper "The 47 ronin are ordered to commit seppuku, or ritual disembowelment, after they kill a corrupt court official they hold responsible for bringing about the death of their master, Lord Asano. Asano before them had been ordered to commit seppuku because he ran afoul of the politics of the Edo court. Asano as actually too innocent to see that he was causing his own downfall and that of his family. He was from the country and did not understand the ways of the court, and he suffered for it. Even though some might say he was his own worst enemy, the samurai who are part of his clan take their own responsibility toward him very seriously. It is not up to them to judge him or his actions but only to serve the family, and this they do too well. "
Abstract The following paper will consider the Samurai in four parts: history, the development of the code, the belief and way of the Samurai, and the Bushido code.
Abstract This paper examines Yamamoto Tsunetomo's "Hagakure" as a product of the Tokugawa period of Japanese history. The author examines how the "Hagakure" was considered somewhat cultish and antiquated at the time of its writing. He identifies how, as a primary source, it represents an outsider's view of the changes that were taking place in Japan. The author examines the night of the 47 ronin, the modern-day view that historians take of the document, and the initial reaction to the document. In conclusion the author states that "Hagakure" allows us a very close and involved look at the Tokugawa period, from a man who fought his whole life to come to a realization about how one should live in it.
From the Paper "Tsunetomoa's work is a spectacular window into the thoughts of a man living both a tumultuous life as well as a man living in an unpredictable socio-political climate. Through Hagakure, we are allowed insight into the world in which Tsunetomo lived. Hagakure invites the modern-day reader into a rich tapestry of ideas and philosophy, but it also serves as a reflection of the time in which it was written. Yamamoto Tsunetomoa's work illustrates many social, cultural, and political trends of the time period: it is one mans critical reflection upon several aspects of the Tokugawa period, and as such represents a valuable primary source of Japan in the early 18th century. Hagakure is most definitely a product of the time in which it was written."
Abstract This paper discusses how three Japanese poems reflect the values of traditional Japanese culture. The poems under consideration are: "Crafty Fox," "Yellow Earth," and "My Poetry."
From the Paper "No account of Japanese art whether visual or textual can be complete without reference to the highly traditional and highly honored value system of historic Japan. Contemporary values of Japan can be traced as far back as the..."
Abstract The paper discusses the movie "Harakiri", based on a novel by Yasuhiko Takiguchi, by Masaki Kobayashi, which takes a dark look at the samurai code of bushido and the problem of the distortion of history in Japan. The paper notes that the movie is neither a glorification of the warrior nor an exciting adventure film, but rather a simple conversation between men watched by an audience, simplistic almost to the point of breaking the fourth wall. The paper also notes that throughout the film, Kobayashi reveals to the viewer the hypocrisy and emptiness of the samurai code of the late Tokugawa era. In addition, the paper notes that the film gives a critique of the state and the state's perversion of norms to serve the ends of those in authority, being largely corrupt men, as well as challenges the traditional belief of the unfailing honor of the samurai.
From the Paper "Despite the recent changes in the government, the Iyi Clan is prosperous and adheres strictly to their oaths of honor and the samurai way. Thus, when a man claiming to be a retainer of the fallen Fukushima Clan, Hanshiro Tsugumo, arrives, and asks permission to commit "Harakiri", or ritual suicide, in the Iyi Clan's forecourt, they question his motives. The counselor, Kageyu Saito, is skeptical because many ronin have been attempting to extort money from various clans by playing to their sympathies under the guise of this sacred ritual. Saito then meets with Tsugumo in private, speaking frankly in the ascetic environment, telling the story of a young man, Motome Chijiiwa, who made the same proposition."
