Top Eight Interesting Samurai Practices That Are Applicable Today

Top 8 Samurai Practices That’s Applicable Today

Interesting Samurai Practices

Before we talk about the interesting Samurai practices, here’s a brief background about them.

We all have heard of Samurai. The Samurai or Bushi were the noble warriors of premodern Japan. Later, they became the highest-ranking social class from the feudal period because of their skills.

These warriors wield a variety of weapons. Their favorite war instruments are bows and arrows, spears and guns. Generally, the primary weapon they use was the Japanese sword.

The Imperial Court became weak, so the local governors grew more authoritative. As a result, Samurai began expanding the military and tax collection to former adversaries who behaved like territory governor.

Feudal lords ruled certain regions independently from the government. Subsequently, the Taira clan defeated the Minamoto clan, and Taira no Kiyomori founded the first Samurai-lead government.

Interesting Samurai Practices

Samurai tread on the hills to the ethics code of “Bushido” or “Way of the Warrior”. Bushido encourages self-discipline, respect, honor, principles, and loyalty.

Nitobe Inazo, a Japanese educator and author who wrote Bushido: The Soul of Samurai explains the thought behind the knowledge of Samurai’s training. It emphasizes the virtues and characteristics of honor, loyalty, discipline, justice, courage, and benevolence of a person.

Down below are the Eight Virtues of Bushido as explained by Inazo Nitobe:

  • Rectitude (Justice)
  • Courage (The Spirit of Daring and Bearing)
  • Benevolence (The Feeling of Distress)
  • Politeness
  • Veracity and Sincerity
  • Honor
  • The Duty of Loyalty
  • Self-Control

Rectitude

For a Samurai, Rectitude is one’s power to decide upon a course of conduct under reason. Without wavering; to die when to die is right, to strike when to strike is right.

This virtue is the strongest among all the Samurai code, and this is what Sanada Yukimura is known about. Rectitude can also be defined as a “bone that gives firmness and stature.”

In essences, similar to our body, rectitude is necessary to become a Samurai. Therefore, without it, neither talent nor learning can make the human frame into a Samurai.

This code of ethics connects to another virtue, “valor”.  It may diverge to some degree from rectitude which became more separated as it is frank and honest.

Courage

Confucius defines courage as “Perceiving what is right and doing it not argues lack of courage.” In essences, “Courage is doing what is right.” Putting one into danger and passing through various hazards links to valor.

The Samurai code of ethics is prominent between bravery and courage. A Samurai who does not have courage is a disgrace. A soldier might leave his colleagues on the battlefield if he loses his wits. They could also end up not doing what is right when the odds are against them if they are cowardly.

Samurai who tend to be scared have their family taken by the Daimyo. This is to guarantee that they will not leave their mates in the middle of a harsh battle.

 Benevolence

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The supreme virtues of Bushido were love, altruism, affection for others, sympathy and pity. Warriors should demonstrate benevolence by using his power to kill justly.

Samurai must have mercy not only to themselves but also to others. Both Confucius and Mencius shared the same thought on this. They said that the first essential thing that rules a man is benevolence.

Politeness

If you come to think of it, politeness may be placed at the top of their code of ethics. Unfortunately, few Samurai are having difficulty recognizing the dissimilarity between subservient and courteousness. They believe that courtesy is affixed to benevolence.

Japan’s courtesy and good manners are the ones foreigners immediately notice from them. Samurai believes that politeness on its highest structure approaches loves. It should always consider the feeling of others.

Veracity and Sincerity

“Men must grudge money, for riches hinder wisdom.”

According to Nitobe, Samurai scorns money. Samurai were brought up to think that money showed indecency. Ignorance of the coin’s worth actually showed supreme class before.

Bushido support thriftiness. They do so not because of economic reasons, but they just want to put a limit on themselves. These men despised machines and luxury. They thought of them as a threat to their virility. It is necessary for a warrior’s social standing to have simplicity since that is what’s expected of them.

Honor

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High sense of honor, worth, and dignity are one of the Samurai’s main characteristics. Samurai respect the duties and privileges of everyone they come in contact with. It goes without saying that this includes their enemies.

These fighters respect their enemies on the battlefield. Also, the patience of these Katana wielding warriors was highly praised by Mencius because they always want to be honorable.

A fellow Samurai would criticize them if they were found doing something that stains their honor. Though, we should consider acknowledging that not everyone was able to accomplish the patience needed to become a Samurai.

Loyalty

Samurai remain loyal to those to whom they are indebted to. Loyalty to a superior was the most definite uprightness of the feudal era. Loyalty exists among the majority. This is the reason why some Samurai commit the ceremonial Seppuku when their master dies.

Self-control

Lastly, the Samurai’s code of ethics says that men should become the best version of themselves by expressing self-control. Samurai men must have self-control. It goes without saying that they should teach their children the same values and bear that values themselves.

The first purpose of Bushi was to inaugurate character. Their intelligence is more valued; and prudence, though important, was less significant. Samurai were always acknowledged for their intelligence, but they should not only be smart. They should also be preeminent in battles.

Final Thoughts

Toyotomi Hideyoshi embodied this Eight Virtues of Bushido throughout his life. Thus, by wanting kindness over unkindness, he exemplified the imperishable qualities of manliness. These days, his lessons could not be more favorable.

Bushido’s influence can be found all over Japan. It goes without saying that Japan is proud of its warriors of the past. Just look at their shrines that survived a lot of bloody battles. They also celebrate festivals in memory of Bushi.

Samurai ideals have excelled throughout Japanese history and appreciating the Samurai heritage delivers an interesting perception into today’s generation. Their interesting practices of discipline, honor, and recognition are widespread throughout the nation and that the rest of the world.