Bushido

by Yamamoto, Tsunetomo

• ISBN13: 9780757000263
• ISBN10: 0757000266
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-10-01
• Publisher: Square One Pub

Summary

In eighteenth-century Japan, Tsunetomo Yamamoto created the Hagakure, a document that served as the basis for samurai warrior behavior. Its guiding principles greatly influenced the Japanese ruling class and shaped the underlying character of the Japanese psyche, from businessmen to soldiers. Bushido is the first English translation of the Hagakure. This work provides a powerful message aimed at the mind and spirit of the samurai warrior. It offers beliefs that are difficult for the Western mind to embrace, yet fascinating in their pursuit of absolute service. With Bushido, one can better put into perspective Japan's historical path and gain greater insight into the Japan of today.

Author Biography

Born in 1659, Tsunetomo Yamamoto devoted his adult life to the service of his Shogun master, Lord Mitsushige Nabeshima, and his clan, rising to become a highly respected samurai warrior. Upon his master's death in 1700, Yamamoto renounced the world and retired to a hermitage. While at his retreat, a close friend and disciple recorded Yamamoto's thoughts and ideas on what it meant to be a Japanese warrior. Although Yamamoto requested that the work never be published, the Hagakure -- literally meaning "hidden behind the leaves" -- did survive, influencing the development of a culture and serving as the basis of Bushido, the way of the samurai

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Historical Overview	xiii
HAGAKURE
Transcriber's Preface	3	(2)
Author's Introduction	5	(8)
BOOK ONE
The Essence of Bushido	13	(1)
Two Ways of Thinking	14	(1)
Two Methods of Criticism	15	(1)
How to Stop Yawning	16	(1)
Foresight in Relationships	17	(1)
Samurais of Satori and Non-Satori	18	(1)
If the Water Is Clear No Fish Will Live	18	(1)
The Marrow of Service	19	(1)
The Use of Onlookers	19	(1)
High Upon High	20	(1)
Think Lightly on Serious Matters	21	(1)
People You Can Trust	22	(1)
The Thinking Process	23	(1)
Models to Imitate	23	(1)
The Puppet Show World	24	(1)
Conduct at the Wine Feast	24	(1)
The Use of the High Spirit	25	(1)
Lesson From the Heavy Rain	25	(1)
The Winner's Spirit	26	(1)
Bringing Up Samurai Children	26	(1)
Arts and Crafts	27	(1)
Groundless Suffering	28	(1)
Testing Your Friend's Loyalty	28	(1)
Good and Evil	29	(1)
Discharging Servants	29	(1)
On the Men of Learning	29	(1)
Burn With Mad Death	30	(1)
The Samurai Superintendent Officer	30	(1)
Passing the First Barrier	31	(1)
``My Master Is Human and So Am I''	32	(1)
Making Important Decisions	32	(1)
The Liked and the Disliked	33	(1)
Conceal Your Wisdom	33	(1)
Fall Seven Times and Get Up Eight	34	(1)
Talk to Your Inferiors	34	(1)
How to Excel Above Others	35	(1)
Bushido Alone Is the Way	35	(1)
Honor and Wealth	36	(1)
On Homosexuality	36	(1)
How to Conduct Yourself	37	(1)
Spiritual Vigor	37	(1)
The ``Death'' of Yamamoto	38	(1)
The Samurai Ideal of the Handsome Man	38	(1)
Consulting Others	39	(1)
Under Forty	40	(1)
How to Acquire Talented People	40	(1)
Expressing the Spirit	41	(1)
Giving and Receiving Advice	41	(1)
Accomplishment in the Arts and Crafts	42	(1)
BOOK TWO
Persuasion Tactics	43	(1)
``Yes'' Men	43	(1)
How to Treat Your Superiors	44	(1)
On Serious Thoughts	45	(1)
A Little Learning	45	(1)
How to Get Useful Ideas	46	(1)
Father's Favorite Sayings	46	(1)
A Samurai Esprit de Corps	46	(1)
The Present and the Past	47	(1)
Make the Best of Each Occasion	48	(1)
O, What a Vain World	48	(1)
Handling Negative Feelings	48	(1)
Samurai's Toilette	49	(1)
At the Conference	49	(1)
Deny the Gods if They Stand in Your Way	50	(1)
Human Life Is Trivial	50	(1)
You Cannot Tell Your Own Ability	51	(1)
Dignity	51	(1)
Don't Despise the ``Upstarts''	51	(1)
Keeping a Respectful Distance	52	(1)
Weigh Your Words	52	(1)
Two Kinds of People	53	(1)
Defeating Yourself by Victory	53	(1)
On Visiting Others	53	(1)
Analogy of the Sword	54	(1)
Talent and the Times	54	(1)
Listening to Veterans	55	(1)
Drop Out Completely	56	(1)
Samurais: Men of Action	56	(1)
The Family Grant	57	(1)
On Servants	58	(1)
A Koan on the Art of Homosexuality	58	(1)
The Connection Game	59	(1)
On the Spur of Madness	60	(1)
Handling Difficulties	60	(1)
On Dreams	60	(1)
The Samurai Ideal of Love	61	(2)
BOOK THREE
Collapsing House	63	(1)
Story of the Thwarted Ghosts	63	(2)
BOOK FOUR
Four Kinds of Samurai	65	(1)
Saving Face	66	(1)
BOOK FIVE
Humility of the Lord	67	(2)
BOOK SIX
Compassion and Courage	69	(4)
BOOK SEVEN
To Kill	73	(1)
The Loyal Samurai Cook	74	(1)
To Win Is to Overcome Yourself	75	(1)
The Essence of Service	75	(1)
A Story Concerning Lord Tsunashige	76	(3)
BOOK EIGHT
About Kichinosuke Shida	79	(3)
About the Promotion of Ichiemon Kuno	82	(1)
How to Restore the Clan After It Collapses	83	(2)
Cut Down the Gods if They Stand in Your Way	85	(1)
Two Kinds of Samurais	85	(2)
BOOK NINE
A Samurai and His Adulterous Wife	87	(2)
BOOK TEN
How Not to Get Nervous	89	(1)
How to Win in a Debate	89	(2)
BOOK ELEVEN
Do Not Turn Your Back on the Enemy	91	(1)
Do Not Learn Strategy	91	(1)
Some Hints for Arguing	92	(1)
On Victory	92	(1)
How to Win in the Long Run	92	(1)
Success and Failure	93	(1)
Die Every Morning in Advance	93	(1)
To Be Taciturn	94	(1)
Social Appearance	94	(1)
A Story Concerning Family Honor	95	(1)
On Governing	95	(2)
Footnotes	97	(2)
Glossary	99	(4)
Index	103