The History of Bushidō by Rachel Steinberg

What is the Bushidō Code?

rsteinberg2024_2 — 2023-11-13 03:15:12 UTC

Bushidō was a complicated set of morals and values which stressed the way a samurai should act. With it’s translation meaning “way of the warrior,” Bushidō emphasized the importance of prioritizing loyalty and honor towards ones country and family above all else. Bushidō became a more standardized way of living during the Edo period, which was an age of samurai rule from the early seventeenth century to the late nineteenth century.

Some values on the battlefield:

1) Fighting to the death

2) To commit a type of ritualistic suicide (seppuku) if faced with failure or disgrace

Some values off the battlefield:

1) Obedience to authority

2) Detached but benevolent attitude

3) Extreme self-control

rsteinberg2024_2 — 2023-11-13 03:16:41 UTC

How do you Think One of These Quotes Reflects a Bushidō Virtue?

rsteinberg2024_2 — 2023-11-13 03:23:39 UTC

(Don’t watch the whole thing)

The Eight Virtues of Bushidō

rsteinberg2024_2 — 2023-11-13 06:31:05 UTC

1) Justice: Justice was an essential value of the Samurai warriors. To incorporate justice, one of the Bushido principles, into one's life required upholding the value of upstanding moral character and reflection on what was right and fair.

2) Courage: Just like justice, courage came with deciphering what was right and wrong. Courage required the strength to not only discern but also to act.

3) Compassion: Compassion was the ability to show sympathy and love through patience. It also required trying to see the world in other peoples shoes. This was an especially important trait for samurai, who were often in leadership roles.

4) Respect: Respect entailed acknowledging one’s consideration for the feelings and experiences of others. This value was employed in collaboration with other samurai.

5) Integrity: For the samurai, integrity meant living honestly and sincerely.

6) Honor: Samurai were fighters who sustained a sense of self worth and lived in sync with the highest code of conduct. In order to observe the principle of honor, you must remember your moral responsibilities.

7) Loyalty: First, one must stay true to oneself. When loyalty is given to another, abandon is forbidden, even under difficult circumstances.

8) Self-control: Self-control in Bushidō meant adhering to these values under all circumstances, when with others and even when alone.

rsteinberg2024_2 — 2023-11-13 06:33:11 UTC

How Has Bushidō Evolved Throughout Japan’s History?

rsteinberg2024_2 — 2023-11-13 07:50:06 UTC

Over the years, the fundamental principles of Bushido have undergone many changes and shifts in Japanese society. However, a common feature that has persisted is the overarching importance placed on loyalty to one's country and family, paired with a tendency to reject individualism. Some Bushidō concepts were used in the 1900’s to promote Japanese nationalism through education and propaganda.

Modern Bushidō

rsteinberg2024_2 — 2023-11-13 08:03:12 UTC

Following the Meiji Restoration, the samurai ceased to exist formally as a class. Although their traditional lifestyle was essentially eradicated, their values and code of honor endured, lingering nostalgically in the hearts and souls of specific Japanese individuals as a remembrance of the past. Bushidō not only lives on within history books, but also in the way the Japanese honor and hold pride in their country. Even if the samurai no longer exist and Bushidō isn't used as formal policy, many individuals still live by the values of Bushidō.

Sources

rsteinberg2024_2 — 2023-11-13 08:13:59 UTC