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The General Knowledge of Japan 11 |
Hanko & Kanji House
OREN |
___Bushido is the moral code of the samurai class. Based on Confucian ideas, it originated
in the Kamakura Period and reached perfection
in the Edo Period (1603-1867). It puts emphasis
on loyalty, self-sacrifice, justice, sense
of shame, refined manners, purity, modesty,
frugality, martial, spirit, honor, affection,
etc.
___The glorification of death which prevailed
in samurai thinking goes back to the days
when these warriors fought strictly as professionals,
before they became the dominant class, but
such thinking remained strong even into the
Edo Period when peace prevailed. In the Saga
clan, for example, strong emphasis was put
on the concept that "Bushido is the
way of death". However, this is only
one aspect of the entire system of bushido.
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___Two other important aspects are martial spirit
and honor. That is to say, emphasis
is on
prevailing over others. But this does
not
mean simply winning over others by
physical
force. Rather, in bushido one is encouraged
to pursue spiritual training for the
purpose
of conquering oneself, for only through
conquering
oneself is it possible to conquer others.
Strength is deemed to derive from victories
in self-discipline and it is strength
obtained
in this manner which spiritually overpowers
and commands the respect of others
as a manifestation
of spiritual stature. Refined manners
were
considered to be an important aspect
in the
expression of spiritual strength.
___In Europe, chivalry developed under the influence
of Christianity and gave much weight to such
virtues as courage, reverence, a sense of
shame, honor and generosity. Although chivalry
had much in common with bushido, however,
it was different from bushido in that the
relation between a knight and his lords was
contractual while bushido stressed absolute
loyalty. |
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