Bushido The Soul of Juapan

Bushido: the Soul of Japan 1/95
BUSHIDO: THE SOUL OF J!"

B# I"$O "ITOB%& '('& !h'D'
utho)*s Edition& +e,ised and Enla)-ed 1.th EDITIO" 19/0
DE1E(BE+& 19/2
TO (# BELO3ED U"1LE TO4ITOSHI OT 5HO TU6HT (E TO +E3E+E
THE !ST "D TO D(I+E THE DEEDS OF THE S(U+I I
DEDI1TE THIS LITTLE BOO4
88 9That :a;
O,e) the <ountain& :hi=h :ho stands upon&
Is apt to dou>t if it >e indeed a )oad?
5hile if he ,ie:s it f)o< the :aste itself&
Up -oes the line the)e& plain f)o< >ase to >)o:&
"ot ,a-ue& <ista@a>leA 5hat*s a >)ea@ o) t:o
Seen f)o< the un>)o@en dese)t eithe) sideB
nd then Cto >)in- in f)esh philosoph;D
5hat if the >)ea@s the<sel,es should p)o,e at last
The <ost =onsu<<ate of =ont)i,an=es
To t)ain a <an*s e;e& tea=h hi< :hat is faithB9
88 +OBE+T B+O5"I"6& EBishop Blou-)a<*s polo-;E'
9The)e a)e& if I <a; so sa;& th)ee po:e)ful spi)its&
:hi=h ha,e f)o< ti<e to ti<e& <o,ed on the fa=e of the
:ate)s& and -i,en a p)edo<inant i<pulse to the <o)al
senti<ents and ene)-ies of <an@ind' These a)e the spi)its
of li>e)t;& of )eli-ion& and of hono)'9
88 HLL(& EEu)ope in the (iddle -esE'
91hi,al); is itself the poet); of life'9
88 S1HLE6EL&
E!hilosoph; of Histo);E'
Bushido: the Soul of Japan ./95
!+EF1E
>out ten ;ea)s a-o& :hile spendin- a fe: da;s unde) the
hospita>le )oof of the distin-uished Bel-ian Fu)ist& the
la<ented (' de La,ele;e& ou) =on,e)sation tu)ned& du)in-
one of ou) )a<>les& to the su>Fe=t of )eli-ion' 9Do ;ou
<ean to sa;&9 as@ed the ,ene)a>le p)ofesso)& 9that ;ou
ha,e no )eli-ious inst)u=tion in ;ou) s=hoolsB9 On <;
)epl;in- in the ne-ati,e he suddenl; halted in
astonish<ent& and in a ,oi=e :hi=h I shall not easil;
fo)-et& he )epeated 9"o )eli-ionA Ho: do ;ou i<pa)t <o)al
edu=ationB9 The Guestion stunned <e at the ti<e' I =ould
-i,e no )ead; ans:e)& fo) the <o)al p)e=epts I lea)ned in
<; =hildhood da;s& :e)e not -i,en in s=hools? and not
until I >e-an to anal;He the diffe)ent ele<ents that
fo)<ed <; notions of )i-ht and :)on-& did I find that it
:as Bushido that >)eathed the< into <; nost)ils'
The di)e=t in=eption of this little >oo@ is due to the
f)eGuent Gue)ies put >; <; :ife as to the )easons :h;
su=h and su=h ideas and =usto<s p)e,ail in Japan'
In <; atte<pts to -i,e satisfa=to); )eplies to (' de
La,ele;e and to <; :ife& I found that :ithout
unde)standin- Feudalis< and Bushido&I1J the <o)al ideas
of p)esent Japan a)e a sealed ,olu<e'
Ta@in- ad,anta-e of enfo)=ed idleness on a==ount of lon-
illness& I put do:n in the o)de) no: p)esented to the
pu>li= so<e of the ans:e)s -i,en in ou) household
=on,e)sation' The; =onsist <ainl; of :hat I :as tau-ht
and told in <; ;outhful da;s& :hen Feudalis< :as still in
fo)=e'
Bet:een Laf=adio Hea)n and ()s' Hu-h F)ase) on one side
and Si) E)nest Sato: and !)ofesso) 1ha<>e)lain on the
othe)& it is indeed dis=ou)a-in- to :)ite an;thin-
Japanese in En-lish' The onl; ad,anta-e I ha,e o,e) the<
is that I =an assu<e the attitude of a pe)sonal
defendant& :hile these distin-uished :)ite)s a)e at >est
soli=ito)s and atto)ne;s' I ha,e often thou-ht& 88 9Had I
thei) -ift of lan-ua-e& I :ould p)esent the =ause of
Japan in <o)e eloGuent te)<sA9 But one :ho spea@s in a
>o))o:ed ton-ue should >e than@ful if he =an Fust <a@e
hi<self intelli-i>le'
ll th)ou-h the dis=ou)se I ha,e t)ied to illust)ate
:hate,e) points I ha,e <ade :ith pa)allel eKa<ples f)o<
Eu)opean histo); and lite)atu)e& >elie,in- that these
:ill aid in >)in-in- the su>Fe=t nea)e) to the
=o<p)ehension of fo)ei-n )eade)s'
Should an; of <; allusions to )eli-ious su>Fe=ts and to
)eli-ious :o)@e)s >e thou-ht sli-htin-& I t)ust <;
attitude to:a)ds 1h)istianit; itself :ill not >e
Guestioned' It is :ith e==lesiasti=al <ethods and :ith
the fo)<s :hi=h o>s=u)e the tea=hin-s of 1h)ist& and not
:ith the tea=hin-s the<sel,es& that I ha,e little
s;<path;' I >elie,e in the )eli-ion tau-ht >; Hi< and
handed do:n to us in the "e: Testa<ent& as :ell as in the
la: :)itten in the hea)t' Fu)the)& I >elie,e that 6od
hath <ade a testa<ent :hi=h <a;>e =alled 9old9 :ith e,e);
people and nation& 88 6entile o) Je:& 1h)istian o)
Heathen' s to the )est of <; theolo-;& I need not i<pose
upon the patien=e of the pu>li='
In =on=ludin- this p)efa=e& I :ish to eKp)ess <; than@s
to <; f)iend nna 1' Ha)tsho)ne fo) <an; ,alua>le
su--estions and fo) the =ha)a=te)isti=all; Japanese
desi-n <ade >; he) fo) the =o,e) of this >oo@'
I"$O "ITOBE'
(al,e)n& !a'& T:elfth (onth& 1099'
!+EF1E
TO THE TE"TH "D +E3ISED EDITIO"
Sin=e its fi)st pu>li=ation in !hiladelphia& <o)e than
siK ;ea)s a-o& this little >oo@ has had an uneKpe=ted
histo);' The Japanese )ep)int has passed th)ou-h ei-ht
editions& the p)esent thus >ein- its tenth appea)an=e in
the En-lish lan-ua-e' Si<ultaneousl; :ith this :ill >e
issued an <e)i=an and En-lish edition& th)ou-h the
pu>lishin-8house of (ess)s' 6eo)-e H' !utna<*s Sons& of
"e: #o)@'
In the <eanti<e& EBushidoE has >een t)anslated into
(ah)atti >; ()' De, of 4handesh& into 6e)<an >; F)Lulein
4auf<ann of Ha<>u)-& into Bohe<ian >; ()' Ho)a of
1hi=a-o& into !olish >; the So=iet; of S=ien=e and Life
in Le<>e)-& 88 althou-h this !olish edition has >een
=ensu)ed >; the +ussian 6o,e)n<ent' It is no: >ein-
)ende)ed into "o):e-ian and into F)en=h' 1hinese
t)anslation is unde) =onte<plation' +ussian offi=e)&
no: a p)isone) in Japan& has a <anus=)ipt in +ussian
)ead; fo) the p)ess' pa)t of the ,olu<e has >een
>)ou-ht >efo)e the Hun-a)ian pu>li= and a detailed
)e,ie:& al<ost a<ountin- to a =o<<enta);& has >een
pu>lished in Japanese' Full s=hola)l; notes fo) the help
of ;oun-e) students ha,e >een =o<piled >; <; f)iend ()'
H' Sa@u)ai& to :ho< I also o:e <u=h fo) his aid in othe)
:a;s'
I ha,e >een <o)e than -)atified to feel that <; hu<>le
:o)@ has found s;<patheti= )eade)s in :idel; sepa)ated
=i)=les& sho:in- that the su>Fe=t <atte) is of so<e
inte)est to the :o)ld at la)-e' EK=eedin-l; flatte)inis
the ne:s that has )ea=hed <e f)o< offi=ial sou)=es& that
!)esident +oose,elt has done it undese),ed hono) >;
)eadin- it and dist)i>utin- se,e)al doHens of =opies
a<on- his f)iends'
In <a@in- e<endations and additions fo) the p)esent
edition& I ha,e la)-el; =onfined the< to =on=)ete
eKa<ples' I still =ontinue to )e-)et& as I indeed ha,e
ne,e) =eased to do& <; ina>ilit; to add a =hapte) on
Filial !iet;& :hi=h is =onside)ed one of the t:o :heels
of the =ha)iot of Japanese ethi=s 88 Lo;alt; >ein- the
othe)' (; ina>ilit; is due )athe) to <; i-no)an=e of the
5este)n senti<ent in )e-a)d to this pa)ti=ula) ,i)tue&
than to i-no)an=e of ou) o:n attitude to:a)ds it& and I
Bushido: the Soul of Japan M/95
=annot d)a: =o<pa)isons satisf;in- to <; o:n <ind' I hope
one da; to enla)-e upon this and othe) topi=s at so<e
len-th' ll the su>Fe=ts that a)e tou=hed upon in these
pa-es a)e =apa>le of fu)the) a<plifi=ation and
dis=ussion? >ut I do not no: see <; :a; =lea) to <a@e
this ,olu<e la)-e) than it is'
This !)efa=e :ould >e in=o<plete and unFust& if I :e)e to
o<it the de>t I o:e to <; :ife fo) he) )eadin- of the
p)oof8sheets& fo) helpful su--estions& and& a>o,e all&
fo) he) =onstant en=ou)a-e<ent'
I'"'
4;oto& Fifth (onth t:ent;8se=ond& 19/5'
Bushido: the Soul of Japan N/95
1O"TE"TS
BUSHIDO S " ETHI1L S#STE('''''''''''''''''''''' 0
SOU+1ES OF BUSHIDO&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 17
+E1TITUDE O+ JUSTI1E&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 1N
1OU+6E& THE S!I+IT OF D+I"6 "D BE+I"6&''''''' 7/
BE"E3OLE"1E& THE FEELI"6 OF DIST+ESS&'''''''''''' 72
!OLITE"ESS&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ./
3E+1IT# O+ T+UTHFUL"ESS&'''''''''''''''''''''''' .5
HO"O+&''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 2/
THE DUT# OF LO#LT#&''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 22
EDU1TIO" "D T+I"I"6 OF S(U+I&''''''''''''' 29
SELF81O"T+OL&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 5.
THE I"STITUTIO"S OF SUI1IDE "D +ED+ESS&''''''''' 5N
THE S5O+D THE SOUL OF THE S(U+I&''''''''''''''' MN
THE T+I"I"6 "D !OSITIO" OF 5O("''''''''''''''' N/
THE I"FLUE"1E OF BUSHIDO''''''''''''''''''''''''' N0
IS BUSHIDO STILL LI3EB'''''''''''''''''''''''''' 07
THE FUTU+E OF BUSHIDO&''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 00
FOOT"OTES'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 9.
BUSHIDO S " ETHI1L S#STE('
1hi,al); is a flo:e) no less indi-enous to the soil of
Japan than its e<>le<& the =he)); >losso<? no) is it a
d)ied8up spe=i<en of an antiGue ,i)tue p)ese),ed in the
he)>a)iu< of ou) histo);' It is still a li,in- o>Fe=t of
po:e) and >eaut; a<on- us? and if it assu<es no tan-i>le
shape o) fo)<& it not the less s=ents the <o)al
at<osphe)e& and <a@es us a:a)e that :e a)e still unde)
its potent spell' The =onditions of so=iet; :hi=h >)ou-ht
it fo)th and nou)ished it ha,e lon- disappea)ed? >ut as
those fa)8off sta)s :hi=h on=e :e)e and a)e not& still
=ontinue to shed thei) )a;s upon us& so the li-ht of
=hi,al);& :hi=h :as a =hild of feudalis<& still
illu<inates ou) <o)al path& su),i,in- its <othe)
institution' It is a pleasu)e to <e to )efle=t upon this
su>Fe=t in the lan-ua-e of Bu)@e& :ho utte)ed the :ell8
@no:n tou=hin- eulo-; o,e) the ne-le=ted >ie) of its
Eu)opean p)otot;pe'
It a)-ues a sad defe=t of info)<ation =on=e)nin- the Fa)
East& :hen so e)udite a s=hola) as D)' 6eo)-e (ille) did
not hesitate to affi)< that =hi,al);& o) an; othe)
si<ila) institution& has ne,e) eKisted eithe) a<on- the
nations of antiGuit; o) a<on- the <ode)n O)ientals'I7J
Su=h i-no)an=e& ho:e,e)& is a<pl; eK=usa>le& as the thi)d
edition of the -ood Do=to)*s :o)@ appea)ed the sa<e ;ea)
that 1o<<odo)e !e)); :as @no=@in- at the po)tals of ou)
eK=lusi,is<' (o)e than a de=ade late)& a>out the ti<e
that ou) feudalis< :as in the last th)oes of eKisten=e&
1a)l (a)K& :)itin- his 91apital&9 =alled the attention of
his )eade)s to the pe=ulia) ad,anta-e of stud;in- the
so=ial and politi=al institutions of feudalis<& as then
to >e seen in li,info)< onl; in Japan' I :ould li@e:ise
in,ite the 5este)n histo)i=al and ethi=al student to the
stud; of =hi,al); in the Japan of the p)esent'
Enti=inas is a histo)i=al disGuisition on the
=o<pa)ison >et:een Eu)opean and Japanese feudalis< and
=hi,al);& it is not the pu)pose of this pape) to ente)
into it at len-th' (; atte<pt is )athe) to )elate&
Efi)stl;E& the o)i-in and sou)=es of ou) =hi,al);?
Ese=ondl;E& its =ha)a=te) and tea=hin-? Ethi)dl;E& its
influen=e a<on- the <asses? and& Efou)thl;E& the
=ontinuit; and pe)<anen=e of its influen=e' Of these
se,e)al points& the fi)st :ill >e onl; >)ief and =u)so);&
o) else I should ha,e to ta@e <; )eade)s into the de,ious
paths of ou) national histo);? the se=ond :ill >e d:elt
upon at -)eate) len-th& as >ein- <ost li@el; to inte)est
students of Inte)national Ethi=s and 1o<pa)ati,e Etholo-;
in ou) :a;s of thou-ht and a=tion? and the )est :ill >e
dealt :ith as =o)olla)ies'
The Japanese :o)d :hi=h I ha,e )ou-hl; )ende)ed 1hi,al);&
is& in the o)i-inal& <o)e eKp)essi,e than Ho)se<anship'
EBu8shi8doE <eans lite)all; (ilita);84ni-ht85a;s 88 the
:a;s :hi=h fi-htin- no>les should o>se),e in thei) dail;
life as :ell as in thei) ,o=ation? in a :o)d& the
9!)e=epts of 4ni-hthood&9 the Eno>lesse o>li-eE of the
:a))io) =lass' Ha,in- thus -i,en its lite)al
si-nifi=an=e& I <a; >e allo:ed hen=efo)th to use the :o)d
in the o)i-inal' The use of the o)i-inal te)< is also
ad,isa>le fo) this )eason& that a tea=hin- so
=i)=u<s=)i>ed and uniGue& en-ende)in- a =ast of <ind and
=ha)a=te) so pe=ulia)& so lo=al& <ust :ea) the >ad-e of
its sin-ula)it; on its fa=e? then& so<e :o)ds ha,e a
national Eti<>)eE so eKp)essi,e of )a=e =ha)a=te)isti=s
that the >est of t)anslato)s =an do the< >ut s=ant
Fusti=e& not to sa; positi,e inFusti=e and -)ie,an=e' 5ho
=an i<p)o,e >; t)anslation :hat the 6e)<an 9E6e<OthE9
si-nifies& o) :ho does not feel the diffe)en=e >et:een
the t:o :o)ds ,e)>all; so =losel; allied as the En-lish
E-entle<anE and the F)en=h E-entilho<<eEB
Bushido& then& is the =ode of <o)al p)in=iples :hi=h the
@ni-hts :e)e )eGui)ed o) inst)u=ted to o>se),e' It is not
a :)itten =ode? at >est it =onsists of a fe: <aKi<s
handed do:n f)o< <outh to <outh o) =o<in- f)o< the pen of
so<e :ell8@no:n :a))io) o) sa,ant' (o)e f)eGuentl; it is
a =ode unutte)ed and un:)itten& possessin- all the <o)e
the po:e)ful san=tion of ,e)ita>le deed& and of a la:
:)itten on the fleshl; ta>lets of the hea)t' It :as
founded not on the =)eation of one >)ain& ho:e,e) a>le&
o) on the life of a sin-le pe)sona-e& ho:e,e) )eno:ned'
It :as an o)-ani= -)o:th of de=ades and =entu)ies of
<ilita); =a)ee)' It& pe)haps& fills the sa<e position in
the histo); of ethi=s that the En-lish 1onstitution does
in politi=al histo);? ;et it has had nothin- to =o<pa)e
:ith the (a-na 1ha)ta o) the Ha>eas 1o)pus =t' T)ue&
ea)l; in the se,enteenth =entu); (ilita); Statutes CEBu@P
HattoED :e)e p)o<ul-ated? >ut thei) thi)teen sho)t
a)ti=les :e)e ta@en up <ostl; :ith <a))ia-es& =astles&
lea-ues& et='& and dida=ti= )e-ulations :e)e >ut <ea-e)l;
tou=hed upon' 5e =annot& the)efo)e& point out an;
definite ti<e and pla=e and sa;& 9He)e is its fountain
Bushido: the Soul of Japan 1//95
head'9 Onl; as it attains =ons=iousness in the feudal
a-e& its o)i-in& in )espe=t to ti<e& <a; >e identified
:ith feudalis<' But feudalis< itself is :o,en of <an;
th)eads& and Bushido sha)es its int)i=ate natu)e' s in
En-land the politi=al institutions of feudalis< <a; >e
said to date f)o< the "o)<an 1onGuest& so :e <a; sa; that
in Japan its )ise :as si<ultaneous :ith the as=enden=; of
#o)ito<o& late in the t:elfth =entu);' s& ho:e,e)& in
En-land& :e find the so=ial ele<ents of feudalis< fa)
>a=@ in the pe)iod p)e,ious to 5illia< the 1onGue)o)& so&
too& the -e)<s of feudalis< in Japan had >een lon-
eKistent >efo)e the pe)iod I ha,e <entioned'
-ain& in Japan as in Eu)ope& :hen feudalis< :as fo)<all;
inau-u)ated& the p)ofessional =lass of :a))io)s natu)all;
=a<e into p)o<inen=e' These :e)e @no:n as Esa<u)aiE&
<eanin- lite)all;& li@e the old En-lish E=nihtE C@ne=ht&
@ni-htD& -ua)ds o) attendants 88 )ese<>lin- in =ha)a=te)
the Esoldu)iiE :ho< 1aesa) <entioned as eKistin- in
Guitania& o) the E=o<itatiE& :ho& a==o)din- to Ta=itus&
follo:ed 6e)<ani= =hiefs in his ti<e? o)& to ta@e a still
late) pa)allel& the E<ilites <ediiE that one )eads a>out
in the histo); of (ediae,al Eu)ope' Sini=o8Japanese
:o)d EBu8@PE o) EBu8shiE CFi-htin- 4ni-htsD :as also
adopted in =o<<on use' The; :e)e a p)i,ile-ed =lass& and
<ust o)i-inall; ha,e >een a )ou-h >)eed :ho <ade fi-htin-
thei) ,o=ation' This =lass :as natu)all; )e=)uited& in a
lon- pe)iod of =onstant :a)fa)e& f)o< the <anliest and
the <ost ad,entu)ous& and all the :hile the p)o=ess of
eli<ination :ent on& the ti<id and the fee>le >ein-
so)ted out& and onl; 9a )ude )a=e& all <as=uline& :ith
>)utish st)en-th&9 to >o))o: E<e)son*s ph)ase& su),i,in-
to fo)< fa<ilies and the )an@s of the Esa<u)aiE' 1o<in-
to p)ofess -)eat hono) and -)eat p)i,ile-es& and
=o))espondin-l; -)eat )esponsi>ilities& the; soon felt
the need of a =o<<on standa)d of >eha,io)& espe=iall; as
the; :e)e al:a;s on a >elli-e)ent footin- and >elon-ed to
diffe)ent =lans' Just as ph;si=ians li<it =o<petition
a<on- the<sel,es >; p)ofessional =ou)tes;& Fust as
la:;e)s sit in =ou)ts of hono) in =ases of ,iolated
etiGuette& so <ust also :a))io)s possess so<e )eso)t fo)
final Fud-<ent on thei) <isde<eano)s'
Fai) pla; in fi-htA 5hat fe)tile -e)<s of <o)alit; lie in
this p)i<iti,e sense of sa,a-e); and =hildhood' Is it not
the )oot of all <ilita); and =i,i= ,i)tuesB 5e s<ile Cas
if :e had out-)o:n itAD at the >o;ish desi)e of the s<all
B)itishe)& To< B)o:n& 9to lea,e >ehind hi< the na<e of a
fello: :ho ne,e) >ullied a little >o; o) tu)ned his >a=@
on a >i- one'9 nd ;et& :ho does not @no: that this
desi)e is the =o)ne)8stone on :hi=h <o)al st)u=tu)es of
<i-ht; di<ensions =an >e )ea)edB (a; I not -o e,en so fa)
as to sa; that the -entlest and <ost pea=e8lo,in- of
)eli-ions endo)ses this aspi)ationB This desi)e of To<*s
is the >asis on :hi=h the -)eatness of En-land is la)-el;
>uilt& and it :ill not ta@e us lon- to dis=o,e) that
EBushidoE does not stand on a lesse) pedestal' If
fi-htin- in itself& >e it offensi,e o) defensi,e& is& as
Qua@e)s )i-htl; testif;& >)utal and :)on-& :e =an still
sa; :ith Lessin-& 95e @no: f)o< :hat failin-s ou) ,i)tue
sp)in-s'9I.J 9Snea@s9 and 9=o:a)ds9 a)e epithets of the
:o)st opp)o>)iu< to health;& si<ple natu)es' 1hildhood
>e-ins life :ith these notions& and @ni-hthood also? >ut&
as life -)o:s la)-e) and its )elations <an;8sided& the
ea)l; faith see@s san=tion f)o< hi-he) autho)it; and <o)e
)ational sou)=es fo) its o:n Fustifi=ation& satisfa=tion
and de,elop<ent' If <ilita); inte)ests had ope)ated
alone& :ithout hi-he) <o)al suppo)t& ho: fa) sho)t of
=hi,al); :ould the ideal of @ni-hthood ha,e fallenA In
Eu)ope& 1h)istianit;& inte)p)eted :ith =on=essions
=on,enient to =hi,al);& infused it ne,e)theless :ith
spi)itual data' 9+eli-ion& :a) and -lo); :e)e the th)ee
souls of a pe)fe=t 1h)istian @ni-ht&9 sa;s La<a)tine' In
Japan the)e :e)e se,e)al
SOU+1ES OF BUSHIDO&
of :hi=h I <a; >e-in :ith Buddhis<' It fu)nished a sense
of =al< t)ust in Fate& a Guiet su><ission to the
ine,ita>le& that stoi= =o<posu)e in si-ht of dan-e) o)
=ala<it;& that disdain of life and f)iendliness :ith
death' fo)e<ost tea=he) of s:o)ds<anship& :hen he sa:
his pupil <aste) the ut<ost of his a)t& told hi<& 9Be;ond
this <; inst)u=tion <ust -i,e :a; to $en tea=hin-'9 9$en9
is the Japanese eGui,alent fo) the Dh;Rna& :hi=h
9)ep)esents hu<an effo)t to )ea=h th)ou-h <editation
Hones of thou-ht >e;ond the )an-e of ,e)>al
eKp)ession'9I2J Its <ethod is =onte<plation& and its
pu)po)t& as fa) as I unde)stand it& to >e =on,in=ed of a
p)in=iple that unde)lies all pheno<ena& and& if it =an&
of the >solute itself& and thus to put oneself in
ha)<on; :ith this >solute' Thus defined& the tea=hin-
:as <o)e than the do-<a of a se=t& and :hoe,e) attains to
the pe)=eption of the >solute )aises hi<self a>o,e
<undane thin-s and a:a@es& 9to a ne: Hea,en and a ne:
Ea)th'9
5hat Buddhis< failed to -i,e& Shintois< offe)ed in
a>undan=e' Su=h lo;alt; to the so,e)ei-n& su=h )e,e)en=e
fo) an=est)al <e<o);& and su=h filial piet; as a)e not
tau-ht >; an; othe) =)eed& :e)e in=ul=ated >; the Shinto
do=t)ines& i<pa)tin- passi,it; to the othe):ise a))o-ant
=ha)a=te) of the sa<u)ai' Shinto theolo-; has no pla=e
fo) the do-<a of 9o)i-inal sin'9 On the =ont)a);& it
>elie,es in the innate -oodness and 6od8li@e pu)it; of
the hu<an soul& ado)in- it as the ad;tu< f)o< :hi=h
di,ine o)a=les a)e p)o=lai<ed' E,e);>od; has o>se),ed
that the Shinto sh)ines a)e =onspi=uousl; de,oid of
o>Fe=ts and inst)u<ents of :o)ship& and that a plain
<i))o) hun- in the san=tua); fo)<s the essential pa)t of
its fu)nishin-' The p)esen=e of this a)ti=le& is eas; to
eKplain: it t;pifies the hu<an hea)t& :hi=h& :hen
pe)fe=tl; pla=id and =lea)& )efle=ts the ,e); i<a-e of
the Deit;' 5hen ;ou stand& the)efo)e& in f)ont of the
sh)ine to :o)ship& ;ou see ;ou) o:n i<a-e )efle=ted on
its shinin- su)fa=e& and the a=t of :o)ship is tanta<ount
to the old Delphi= inFun=tion& 94no: Th;self'9 But self8
@no:led-e does not i<pl;& eithe) in the 6)ee@ o) Japanese
tea=hin-& @no:led-e of the ph;si=al pa)t of <an& not his
anato<; o) his ps;=ho8ph;si=s? @no:led-e :as to >e of a
<o)al @ind& the int)ospe=tion of ou) <o)al natu)e'
(o<<sen& =o<pa)in- the 6)ee@ and the +o<an& sa;s that
Bushido: the Soul of Japan 1./95
:hen the fo)<e) :o)shiped he )aised his e;es to hea,en&
fo) his p)a;e) :as =onte<plation& :hile the latte) ,eiled
his head& fo) his :as )efle=tion' Essentiall; li@e the
+o<an =on=eption of )eli-ion& ou) )efle=tion >)ou-ht into
p)o<inen=e not so <u=h the <o)al as the national
=ons=iousness of the indi,idual' Its natu)e8:o)ship
endea)ed the =ount); to ou) in<ost souls& :hile its
an=esto)8:o)ship& t)a=in- f)o< linea-e to linea-e& <ade
the I<pe)ial fa<il; the fountain8head of the :hole
nation' To us the =ount); is <o)e than land and soil f)o<
:hi=h to <ine -old o) to )eap -)ain 88 it is the sa=)ed
a>ode of the -ods& the spi)its of ou) fo)efathe)s: to us
the E<pe)o) is <o)e than the )=h 1onsta>le of a
E+e=htsstaatE& o) e,en the !at)on of a E1ultu)staatE 88
he is the >odil; )ep)esentati,e of Hea,en on ea)th&
>lendin- in his pe)son its po:e) and its <e)=;' If :hat
(' Bout<;I5J sa;s is t)ue of En-lish )o;alt; 88 that it
9is not onl; the i<a-e of autho)it;& >ut the autho) and
s;<>ol of national unit;&9 as I >elie,e it to >e& dou>l;
and t)e>l; <a; this >e affi)<ed of )o;alt; in Japan'
The tenets of Shintois< =o,e) the t:o p)edo<inatin-
featu)es of the e<otional life of ou) )a=e 88 !at)iotis<
and Lo;alt;' )thu) (a; 4napp ,e); t)ul; sa;s: 9In He>)e:
lite)atu)e it is often diffi=ult to tell :hethe) the
:)ite) is spea@in- of 6od o) of the 1o<<on:ealth? of
hea,en o) of Je)usale<? of the (essiah o) of the nation
itself'9IMJ si<ila) =onfusion <a; >e noti=ed in the
no<en=latu)e of ou) national faith' I said =onfusion&
>e=ause it :ill >e so dee<ed >; a lo-i=al intelle=t on
a==ount of its ,e)>al a<>i-uit;? still& >ein- a f)a<e:o)@
of national instin=t and )a=e feelin-s& Shintois< ne,e)
p)etends to a s;ste<ati= philosoph; o) a )ational
theolo-;' This )eli-ion 88 o)& is it not <o)e =o))e=t to
sa;& the )a=e e<otions :hi=h this )eli-ion eKp)essedB 88
tho)ou-hl; i<>ued Bushido :ith lo;alt; to the so,e)ei-n
and lo,e of =ount);' These a=ted <o)e as i<pulses than as
do=t)ines? fo) Shintois<& unli@e the (ediae,al 1h)istian
1hu)=h& p)es=)i>ed to its ,ota)ies s=a)=el; an;
E=)edendaE& fu)nishin- the< at the sa<e ti<e :ith
Ea-endaE of a st)ai-htfo):a)d and si<ple t;pe'
s to st)i=tl; ethi=al do=t)ines& the tea=hin-s of
1onfu=ius :e)e the <ost p)olifi= sou)=e of Bushido' His
enun=iation of the fi,e <o)al )elations >et:een <aste)
and se),ant Cthe -o,e)nin- and the -o,e)nedD& fathe) and
son& hus>and and :ife& olde) and ;oun-e) >)othe)& and
>et:een f)iend and f)iend& :as >ut a =onfi)<ation of :hat
the )a=e instin=t had )e=o-niHed >efo)e his :)itin-s :e)e
int)odu=ed f)o< 1hina' The =al<& >eni-nant& and :o)ldl;8
:ise =ha)a=te) of his politi=o8ethi=al p)e=epts :as
pa)ti=ula)l; :ell suited to the sa<u)ai& :ho fo)<ed the
)ulin- =lass' His a)isto=)ati= and =onse),ati,e tone :as
:ell adapted to the )eGui)e<ents of these :a))io)
states<en' "eKt to 1onfu=ius& (en=ius eKe)=ised an
i<<ense autho)it; o,e) Bushido' His fo)=i>le and often
Guite de<o=)ati= theo)ies :e)e eK=eedin-l; ta@in- to
s;<patheti= natu)es& and the; :e)e e,en thou-ht dan-e)ous
to& and su>,e)si,e of& the eKistin- so=ial o)de)& hen=e
his :o)@s :e)e fo) a lon- ti<e unde) =ensu)e' Still& the
:o)ds of this <aste) <ind found pe)<anent lod-<ent in the
hea)t of the sa<u)ai'
The :)itin-s of 1onfu=ius and (en=ius fo)<ed the
p)in=ipal teKt8>oo@s fo) ;ouths and the hi-hest autho)it;
in dis=ussion a<on- the old' <e)e a=Guaintan=e :ith the
=lassi=s of these t:o sa-es :as held& ho:e,e)& in no hi-h
estee<' =o<<on p)o,e)> )idi=ules one :ho has onl; an
intelle=tual @no:led-e of 1onfu=ius& as a <an e,e)
studious >ut i-no)ant of Enale=tsE' t;pi=al sa<u)ai
=alls a lite)a); sa,ant a >oo@8s<ellin- sot' nothe)
=o<pa)es lea)nin- to an ill8s<ellin- ,e-eta>le that <ust
>e >oiled and >oiled >efo)e it is fit fo) use' <an :ho
has )ead a little s<ells a little pedanti=& and a <an :ho
has )ead <u=h s<ells ;et <o)e so? >oth a)e ali@e
unpleasant' The :)ite) <eant the)e>; that @no:led-e
>e=o<es )eall; su=h onl; :hen it is assi<ilated in the
<ind of the lea)ne) and sho:s in his =ha)a=te)' n
intelle=tual spe=ialist :as =onside)ed a <a=hine'
Intelle=t itself :as =onside)ed su>o)dinate to ethi=al
e<otion' (an and the uni,e)se :e)e =on=ei,ed to >e ali@e
spi)itual and ethi=al' Bushido =ould not a==ept the
Fud-<ent of HuKle;& that the =os<i= p)o=ess :as un<o)al'
Bushido <ade li-ht of @no:led-e as su=h' It :as not
pu)sued as an end in itself& >ut as a <eans to the
attain<ent of :isdo<' Hen=e& he :ho stopped sho)t of this
end :as )e-a)ded no hi-he) than a =on,enient <a=hine&
:hi=h =ould tu)n out poe<s and <aKi<s at >iddin-' Thus&
@no:led-e :as =on=ei,ed as identi=al :ith its p)a=ti=al
appli=ation in life? and this So=)ati= do=t)ine found its
-)eatest eKponent in the 1hinese philosophe)& 5an #an-
(in-& :ho ne,e) :ea)ies of )epeatin-& 9To @no: and to a=t
a)e one and the sa<e'9
I >e- lea,e fo) a <o<ent*s di-)ession :hile I a< on this
su>Fe=t& inas<u=h as so<e of the no>lest t;pes of E>ushiE
:e)e st)on-l; influen=ed >; the tea=hin-s of this sa-e'
5este)n )eade)s :ill easil; )e=o-niHe in his :)itin-s
<an; pa)allels to the "e: Testa<ent' (a@in- allo:an=e fo)
the te)<s pe=ulia) to eithe) tea=hin-& the passa-e& 9See@
;e fi)st the @in-do< of 6od and his )i-hteousness? and
all these thin-s shall >e added unto ;ou&9 =on,e;s a
thou-ht that <a; >e found on al<ost an; pa-e of 5an #an-
(in-' Japanese dis=ipleINJ of his sa;s 88 9The lo)d of
hea,en and ea)th& of all li,in- >ein-s& d:ellin- in the
hea)t of <an& >e=o<es his <ind CE4o@o)oED? hen=e a <ind
is a li,in- thin-& and is e,e) lu<inous:9 and a-ain& 9The
spi)itual li-ht of ou) essential >ein- is pu)e& and is
not affe=ted >; the :ill of <an' Spontaneousl; sp)in-in-
up in ou) <ind& it sho:s :hat is )i-ht and :)on-: it is
then =alled =ons=ien=e? it is e,en the li-ht that
p)o=eedeth f)o< the -od of hea,en'9 Ho: ,e); <u=h do
these :o)ds sound li@e so<e passa-es f)o< Isaa=
!ennin-ton o) othe) philosophi= <;sti=sA I a< in=lined to
thin@ that the Japanese <ind& as eKp)essed in the si<ple
tenets of the Shinto )eli-ion& :as pa)ti=ula)l; open to
the )e=eption of #an- (in-*s p)e=epts' He =a))ied his
do=t)ine of the infalli>ilit; of =ons=ien=e to eKt)e<e
t)ans=endentalis<& att)i>utin- to it the fa=ult; to
pe)=ei,e& not onl; the distin=tion >et:een )i-ht and
:)on-& >ut also the natu)e of ps;=hi=al fa=ts and
ph;si=al pheno<ena' He :ent as fa) as& if not fa)the)
than& Be)@ele; and Fi=hte& in Idealis<& den;in- the
eKisten=e of thin-s outside of hu<an @en' If his s;ste<
had all the lo-i=al e))o)s =ha)-ed to Solipsis<& it had
all the effi=a=; of st)on- =on,i=tion and its <o)al
i<po)t in de,elopin- indi,idualit; of =ha)a=te) and
eGuani<it; of te<pe) =annot >e -ainsaid'
Thus& :hate,e) the sou)=es& the essential p)in=iples
:hi=h EBushidoE i<>i>ed f)o< the< and assi<ilated to
itself& :e)e fe: and si<ple' Fe: and si<ple as these
:e)e& the; :e)e suffi=ient to fu)nish a safe =ondu=t of
life e,en th)ou-h the unsafest da;s of the <ost unsettled
pe)iod of ou) nation*s histo);' The :holeso<e&
unsophisti=ated natu)e of ou) :a))io) an=esto)s de)i,ed
a<ple food fo) thei) spi)it f)o< a sheaf of =o<<onpla=e
and f)a-<enta); tea=hin-s& -leaned as it :e)e on the
hi-h:a;s and >;:a;s of an=ient thou-ht& and& sti<ulated
>; the de<ands of the a-e& fo)<ed f)o< these -leanin-s
ane: and uniGue t;pe of <anhood' n a=ute F)en=h
Esa,antE& (' de la (aHeliS)e& thus su<s up his
i<p)essions of the siKteenth =entu);: 88 9To:a)d the
Bushido: the Soul of Japan 1M/95
<iddle of the siKteenth =entu);& all is =onfusion in
Japan& in the -o,e)n<ent& in so=iet;& in the =hu)=h' But
the =i,il :a)s& the <anne)s )etu)nin- to >a)>a)is<& the
ne=essit; fo) ea=h to eKe=ute Fusti=e fo) hi<self& 88
these fo)<ed <en =o<pa)a>le to those Italians of the
siKteenth =entu);& in :ho< Taine p)aises *the ,i-o)ous
initiati,e& the ha>it of sudden )esolutions and despe)ate
unde)ta@in-s& the -)and =apa=it; to do and to suffe)'* In
Japan as in Ital; *the )ude <anne)s of the (iddle -es
<ade of <an a supe)> ani<al& :holl; <ilitant and :holl;
)esistant'* nd this is :h; the siKteenth =entu);
displa;s in the hi-hest de-)ee the p)in=ipal Gualit; of
the Japanese )a=e& that -)eat di,e)sit; :hi=h one finds
the)e >et:een <inds CEesp)itsED as :ell as >et:een
te<pe)a<ents' 5hile in India and e,en in 1hina <en see<
to diffe) =hiefl; in de-)ee of ene)-; o) intelli-en=e& in
Japan the; diffe) >; o)i-inalit; of =ha)a=te) as :ell'
"o:& indi,idualit; is the si-n of supe)io) )a=es and of
=i,iliHations al)ead; de,eloped' If :e <a@e use of an
eKp)ession dea) to "ietHs=he& :e <i-ht sa; that in sia&
to spea@ of hu<anit; is to spea@ of its plains? in Japan
as in Eu)ope& one )ep)esents it a>o,e all >; its
<ountains'9
To the pe),adin- =ha)a=te)isti=s of the <en of :ho< (' de
la (aHeliS)e :)ites& let us no: add)ess ou)sel,es' I
shall >e-in :ith
Bushido: the Soul of Japan 1N/95
+E1TITUDE O+ JUSTI1E&
the <ost =o-ent p)e=ept in the =ode of the sa<u)ai'
"othin- is <o)e loathso<e to hi< than unde)hand dealin-s
and =)oo@ed unde)ta@in-s' The =on=eption of +e=titude <a;
>e e))oneous 88 it <a; >e na))o:' :ell8@no:n >ushi
defines it as a po:e) of )esolution? 88 9+e=titude is the
po:e) of de=idin- upon a =e)tain =ou)se of =ondu=t in
a==o)dan=e :ith )eason& :ithout :a,e)in-? 88 to die :hen
it is )i-ht to die& to st)i@e :hen to st)i@e is )i-ht'9
nothe) spea@s of it in the follo:inte)<s: 9+e=titude
is the >one that -i,es fi)<ness and statu)e' s :ithout
>ones the head =annot )est on the top of the spine& no)
hands <o,e no) feet stand& so :ithout )e=titude neithe)
talent no) lea)nin- =an <a@e of a hu<an f)a<e a sa<u)ai'
5ith it the la=@ of a==o<plish<ents is as nothin-'9
(en=ius =alls Bene,olen=e <an*s <ind& and +e=titude o)
+i-hteousness his path' 9Ho: la<enta>le&9 he eK=lai<s&
9is it to ne-le=t the path and not pu)sue it& to lose the
<ind and not @no: to see@ it a-ainA 5hen <en*s fo:ls and
do-s a)e lost& the; @no: to see@ fo) the< a-ain& >ut the;
lose thei) <ind and do not @no: to see@ fo) it'9 Ha,e :e
not he)e 9as in a -lass da)@l;9 a pa)a>le p)opounded
th)ee hund)ed ;ea)s late) in anothe) =li<e and >; a
-)eate) Tea=he)& :ho =alled Hi<self Ethe 5a;E of
+i-hteousness& th)ou-h :ho< the lost =ould >e foundB But
I st)a; f)o< <; point' +i-hteousness& a==o)din- to
(en=ius& is a st)ai-ht and na))o: path :hi=h a <an ou-ht
to ta@e to )e-ain the lost pa)adise'
E,en in the latte) da;s of feudalis<& :hen the lon-
=ontinuan=e of pea=e >)ou-ht leisu)e into the life of the
:a))io) =lass& and :ith it dissipations of all @inds and
-entle a==o<plish<ents& the epithet E6ishiE Ca <an of
)e=titudeD :as =onside)ed supe)io) to an; na<e that
si-nified <aste); of lea)nin- o) a)t' The Fo)t;8se,en
Faithfuls 88 of :ho< so <u=h is <ade in ou) popula)
edu=ation 88 a)e @no:n in =o<<on pa)lan=e as the Fo)t;8
se,en E6ishiE'
In ti<es :hen =unnin- a)tifi=e :as lia>le to pass fo)
<ilita); ta=t and do:n)i-ht falsehood fo) E)use de
-ue))eE& this <anl; ,i)tue& f)an@ and honest& :as a Fe:el
that shone the >)i-htest and :as <ost hi-hl; p)aised'
+e=titude is a t:in >)othe) to 3alo)& anothe) <a)tial
,i)tue' But >efo)e p)o=eedin- to spea@ of 3alo)& let <e
lin-e) a little :hile on :hat I <a; te)< a de)i,ation
f)o< +e=titude& :hi=h& at fi)st de,iatin- sli-htl; f)o<
its o)i-inal& >e=a<e <o)e and <o)e )e<o,ed f)o< it& until
its <eanin- :as pe),e)ted in the popula) a==eptan=e' I
spea@ of E6i8)iE& lite)all; the +i-ht +eason& >ut :hi=h
=a<e in ti<e to <ean a ,a-ue sense of dut; :hi=h pu>li=
opinion eKpe=ted an in=u<>ent to fulfil' In its o)i-inal
and unallo;ed sense& it <eant dut;& pu)e and si<ple& 88
hen=e& :e spea@ of the E6i)iE :e o:e to pa)ents& to
supe)io)s& to infe)io)s& to so=iet; at la)-e& and so
fo)th' In these instan=es E6i)iE is dut;? fo) :hat else
is dut; than :hat +i-ht +eason de<ands and =o<<ands us to
do' Should not +i-ht +eason >e ou) =ate-o)i=al
i<pe)ati,eB
E6i)iE p)i<a)il; <eant no <o)e than dut;& and I da)e sa;
its et;<olo-; :as de)i,ed f)o< the fa=t that in ou)
=ondu=t& sa; to ou) pa)ents& thou-h lo,e should >e the
onl; <oti,e& la=@in- that& the)e <ust >e so<e othe)
autho)it; to enfo)=e filial piet;? and the; fo)<ulated
this autho)it; in E6i)iE' 3e); )i-htl; did the; fo)<ulate
this autho)it; 88 E6i)i 88 sin=e if lo,e does not )ush to
deeds of ,i)tue& )e=ou)se <ust >e had to <an*s intelle=t
and his )eason <ust >e Gui=@ened to =on,in=e hi< of the
ne=essit; of a=tin- a)i-ht' The sa<e is t)ue of an; othe)
<o)al o>li-ation' The instant Dut; >e=o<es one)ous' +i-ht
+eason steps in to p)e,ent ou) shi)@in- it' E6i)iE thus
unde)stood is a se,e)e tas@<aste)& :ith a >i)=h8)od in
his hand to <a@e slu--a)ds pe)fo)< thei) pa)t' It is a
se=onda); po:e) in ethi=s? as a <oti,e it is infinitel;
infe)io) to the 1h)istian do=t)ine of lo,e& :hi=h should
>e EtheE la:' I dee< it a p)odu=t of the =onditions of an
a)tifi=ial so=iet; 88 of a so=iet; in :hi=h a==ident of
>i)th and un<e)ited fa,ou) instituted =lass distin=tions&
in :hi=h the fa<il; :as the so=ial unit& in :hi=h
senio)it; of a-e :as of <o)e a==ount than supe)io)it; of
talents& in :hi=h natu)al affe=tions had often to su==u<>
>efo)e a)>it)a); <an8<ade =usto<s' Be=ause of this ,e);
a)tifi=ialit;& E6i)iE in ti<e de-ene)ated into a ,a-ue
sense of p)op)iet; =alled up to eKplain this and san=tion
that& 88 as& fo) eKa<ple& :h; a <othe) <ust& if need >e&
sa=)ifi=e all he) othe) =hild)en in o)de) to sa,e the
fi)st8>o)n? o) :h; a dau-hte) <ust sell he) =hastit; to
-et funds to pa; fo) the fathe)*s dissipation& and the
li@e' Sta)tin- as +i-ht +eason& E6i)iE has& in <;
opinion& often stooped to =asuist);' It has e,en
de-ene)ated into =o:a)dl; fea) of =ensu)e' I <i-ht sa; of
E6i)iE :hat S=ott :)ote of pat)iotis<& that 9as it is the
fai)est& so it is often the <ost suspi=ious& <as@ of
othe) feelin-s'9 1a))ied >e;ond o) >elo: +i-ht +eason&
E6i)iE >e=a<e a <onst)ous <isno<e)' It ha)>o)ed unde) its
:in-s e,e); so)t of sophist); and h;po=)is;' It <i-ht
easil; 88 ha,e >een tu)ned into a nest of =o:a)di=e& if
Bushido had not a @een and =o))e=t sense of
1OU+6E& THE S!I+IT OF D+I"6 "D BE+I"6&
to the =onside)ation of :hi=h :e shall no: )etu)n'
1ou)a-e :as s=a)=el; dee<ed :o)th; to >e =ounted a<on-
,i)tues& unless it :as eKe)=ised in the =ause of
+i-hteousness' In his 9nale=ts9 1onfu=ius defines
1ou)a-e >; eKplainin-& as is often his :ont& :hat its
ne-ati,e is' 9!e)=ei,in- :hat is )i-ht&9 he sa;s& 9and
doin- it not& a)-ues la=@ of =ou)a-e'9 !ut this epi-)a<
into a positi,e state<ent& and it )uns& 91ou)a-e is doin-
:hat is )i-ht'9 To )un all @inds of haHa)ds& to
Feopa)diHe one*s self& to )ush into the Fa:s of death 88
these a)e too often identified :ith 3alo)& and in the
p)ofession of a)<s su=h )ashness of =ondu=t 88 :hat
Sha@espea)e =alls& 9,alo) <is>e-ot9 88 is unFustl;
applauded? >ut not so in the !)e=epts of 4ni-hthood'
Death fo) a =ause un:o)th; of d;info)& :as =alled a
9do-*s death'9 9To )ush into the thi=@ of >attle and to
>e slain in it&9 sa;s a !)in=e of (ito& 9is eas; enou-h&
and the <e)est =hu)l is eGual to the tas@? >ut&9 he
=ontinues& 9it is t)ue =ou)a-e to li,e :hen it is )i-ht
to li,e& and to die onl; :hen it is )i-ht to die&9 and
;et the !)in=e had not e,en hea)d of the na<e of !lato&
:ho defines =ou)a-e as 9the @no:led-e of thin-s that a
<an should fea) and that he should not fea)'9
distin=tion :hi=h is <ade in the 5est >et:een <o)al and
ph;si=al =ou)a-e has lon- >een )e=o-niHed a<on- us' 5hat
sa<u)ai ;outh has not hea)d of 96)eat 3alo)9 and the
93alo) of a 3illeinB9
3alo)& Fo)titude& B)a,e);& Fea)lessness& 1ou)a-e& >ein-
the Gualities of soul :hi=h appeal <ost easil; to
Fu,enile <inds& and :hi=h =an >e t)ained >; eKe)=ise and
eKa<ple& :e)e& so to spea@& the <ost popula) ,i)tues&
ea)l; e<ulated a<on- the ;outh' Sto)ies of <ilita);
eKploits :e)e )epeated al<ost >efo)e >o;s left thei)
<othe)*s >)east' Does a little >oo>; =); fo) an; a=heB
The <othe) s=olds hi< in this fashion: 95hat a =o:a)d to
=); fo) a t)iflin- painA 5hat :ill ;ou do :hen ;ou) a)<
is =ut off in >attleB 5hat :hen ;ou a)e =alled upon to
=o<<it Eha)a@i)iEB9 5e all @no: the patheti= fo)titude of
a fa<ished little >o;8p)in=e of Sendai& :ho in the d)a<a
is <ade to sa; to his little pa-e& 9Seest thou those tin;
spa))o:s in the nest& ho: thei) ;ello: >ills a)e opened
:ide& and no: seeA the)e =o<es thei) <othe) :ith :o)<s to
feed the<' Ho: ea-e)l; and happil; the little ones eatA
>ut fo) a sa<u)ai& :hen his sto<a=h is e<pt;& it is a
dis-)a=e to feel hun-e)'9 ne=dotes of fo)titude and
>)a,e); a>ound in nu)se); tales& thou-h sto)ies of this
@ind a)e not >; an; <eans the onl; <ethod of ea)l;
i<>uin- the spi)it :ith da)in- and fea)lessness' !a)ents&
:ith ste)nness so<eti<es ,e)-in- on =)uelt;& set thei)
=hild)en to tas@s that =alled fo)th all the plu=@ that
:as in the<' 9Bea)s hu)l thei) =u>s do:n the -o)-e&9 the;
said' Sa<u)ai*s sons :e)e let do:n the steep ,alle;s of
ha)dship& and spu))ed to Sis;phus8li@e tas@s' O==asional
dep)i,ation of food o) eKposu)e to =old& :as =onside)ed a
hi-hl; effi=a=ious test fo) inu)in- the< to endu)an=e'
1hild)en of tende) a-e :e)e sent a<on- utte) st)an-e)s
:ith so<e <essa-e to deli,e)& :e)e <ade to )ise >efo)e
the sun& and >efo)e >)ea@fast attend to thei) )eadin-
eKe)=ises& :al@in- to thei) tea=he) :ith >a)e feet in the
=old of :inte)? the; f)eGuentl; 88 on=e o) t:i=e a <onth&
as on the festi,al of a -od of lea)nin-& 88 =a<e to-ethe)
in s<all -)oups and passed the ni-ht :ithout sleep& in
)eadin- aloud >; tu)ns' !il-)i<a-es to all so)ts of
un=ann; pla=es 88 to eKe=ution -)ounds& to -)a,e;a)ds& to
houses )eputed to >e haunted& :e)e fa,o)ite pasti<es of
the ;oun-' In the da;s :hen de=apitation :as pu>li=& not
onl; :e)e s<all >o;s sent to :itness the -hastl; s=ene&
>ut the; :e)e <ade to ,isit alone the pla=e in the
da)@ness of ni-ht and the)e to lea,e a <a)@ of thei)
,isit on the t)un@less head'
Does this ult)a8Spa)tan s;ste< of 9d)illin- the ne),es9
st)i@e the <ode)n peda-o-ist :ith ho))o) and dou>t 88
dou>t :hethe) the tenden=; :ould not >e >)utaliHin-&
nippin- in the >ud the tende) e<otions of the hea)tB Let
us see :hat othe) =on=epts Bushido had of 3alo)'
The spi)itual aspe=t of ,alo) is e,iden=ed >; =o<posu)e
88 =al< p)esen=e of <ind' T)anGuillit; is =ou)a-e in
)epose' It is a stati=al <anifestation of ,alo)& as
da)in- deeds a)e a d;na<i=al' t)ul; >)a,e <an is e,e)
se)ene? he is ne,e) ta@en >; su)p)ise? nothin- )uffles
the eGuani<it; of his spi)it' In the heat of >attle he
)e<ains =ool? in the <idst of =atast)ophes he @eeps le,el
his <ind' Ea)thGua@es do not sha@e hi<& he lau-hs at
sto)<s' 5e ad<i)e hi< as t)ul; -)eat& :ho& in the
<ena=in- p)esen=e of dan-e) o) death& )etains his self8
possession? :ho& fo) instan=e& =an =o<pose a poe< unde)
i<pendin- pe)il o) hu< a st)ain in the fa=e of death'
Su=h indul-en=e >et)a;inno t)e<o) in the :)itin- o) in
the ,oi=e& is ta@en as an infalli>le indeK of a la)-e
natu)e 88 of :hat :e =all a =apa=ious <ind CE;o;TED&
:hi=h& fo) f)o< >ein- p)essed o) =)o:ded& has al:a;s )oo<
fo) so<ethin- <o)e'
It passes =u))ent a<on- us as a pie=e of authenti=
histo);& that as Uta Do@an& the -)eat >uilde) of the
=astle of To@;o& :as pie)=ed th)ou-h :ith a spea)& his
assassin& @no:in- the poeti=al p)edile=tion of his
,i=ti<& a==o<panied his th)ust :ith this =ouplet 88
9hA ho: in <o<ents li@e these
Ou) hea)t doth -)ud-e the li-ht of life?9
:he)eupon the eKpi)inhe)o& not one :hit daunted >; the
<o)tal :ound in his side& added the lines 88
9Had not in hou)s of pea=e&
It lea)ned to li-htl; loo@ on life'9
The)e is e,en a spo)ti,e ele<ent in a =ou)a-eous natu)e'
Thin-s :hi=h a)e se)ious to o)dina); people& <a; >e >ut
pla; to the ,aliant' Hen=e in old :a)fa)e it :as not at
all )a)e fo) the pa)ties to a =onfli=t to eK=han-e
)epa)tee o) to >e-in a )heto)i=al =ontest' 1o<>at :as not
solel; a <atte) of >)ute fo)=e? it :as& as& :ell& an
intelle=tual en-a-e<ent'
Of su=h =ha)a=te) :as the >attle fou-ht on the >an@ of
the 4o)o<o +i,e)& late in the ele,enth =entu);' The
easte)n a)<; )outed& its leade)& Sadato& too@ to fli-ht'
5hen the pu)suin- -ene)al p)essed hi< ha)d and =alled
aloud 88 9It is a dis-)a=e fo) a :a))io) to sho: his >a=@
to the ene<;&9 Sadato )eined his ho)se? upon this the
=onGue)in- =hief shouted an i<p)o<ptu ,e)se 88
9To)n into sh)eds is the :a)p of the =loth9
CE@o)o<oED'
S=a)=el; had the :o)ds es=aped his lips :hen the defeated
:a))io)& undis<a;ed& =o<pleted the =ouplet 88
9Sin=e a-e has :o)n its th)eads >; use'9
#oshiie& :hose >o: had all the :hile >een >ent& suddenl;
unst)unit and tu)ned a:a;& lea,in- his p)ospe=ti,e
,i=ti< to do as he pleased' 5hen as@ed the )eason of his
st)an-e >eha,io)& he )eplied that he =ould not >ea) to
put to sha<e one :ho had @ept his p)esen=e of <ind :hile
hotl; pu)sued >; his ene<;'
The so))o: :hi=h o,e)too@ nton; and O=ta,ius at the
death of B)utus& has >een the -ene)al eKpe)ien=e of >)a,e
<en' 4enshin& :ho fou-ht fo) fou)teen ;ea)s :ith Shin-en&
:hen he hea)d of the latte)*s death& :ept aloud at the
loss of 9the >est of ene<ies'9 It :as this sa<e 4enshin
:ho had set a no>le eKa<ple fo) all ti<e& in his
t)eat<ent of Shin-en& :hose p)o,in=es la; in a
<ountainous )e-ion Guite a:a; f)o< the sea& and :ho had
=onseGuentl; depended upon the HVFV p)o,in=es of the
To@aido fo) salt' The HVFV p)in=e :ishin- to :ea@en hi<&
althou-h not openl; at :a) :ith hi<& had =ut off f)o<
Shin-en all t)affi= in this i<po)tant a)ti=le' 4enshin&
hea)in- of his ene<;*s dile<<a and a>le to o>tain his
salt f)o< the =oast of his o:n do<inions& :)ote Shin-en
that in his opinion the HVFV lo)d had =o<<itted a ,e);
<ean a=t& and that althou-h he C4enshinD :as at :a) :ith
hi< CShin-enD he had o)de)ed his su>Fe=ts to fu)nish hi<
:ith plent; of salt 88 addin-& 9I do not fi-ht :ith salt&
>ut :ith the s:o)d&9 affo)din- <o)e than a pa)allel to
the :o)ds of 1a<illus& 95e +o<ans do not fi-ht :ith -old&
>ut :ith i)on'9 "ietHs=he spo@e fo) the sa<u)ai hea)t
:hen he :)ote& 9#ou a)e to >e p)oud of ;ou) ene<;? then&
the su==ess of ;ou) ene<; is ;ou) su==ess also'9 Indeed
,alo) and hono) ali@e )eGui)ed that :e should o:n as
ene<ies in :a) onl; su=h as p)o,e :o)th; of >ein- f)iends
in pea=e' 5hen ,alo) attains this hei-ht& it >e=o<es a@in
to
BE"E3OLE"1E& THE FEELI"6 OF DIST+ESS&
lo,e& <a-nani<it;& affe=tion fo) othe)s& s;<path; and
pit;& :hi=h :e)e e,e) )e=o-niHed to >e sup)e<e ,i)tues&
the hi-hest of all the att)i>utes of the hu<an soul'
Bene,olen=e :as dee<ed a p)in=el; ,i)tue in a t:ofold
sense? 88 p)in=el; a<on- the <anifold att)i>utes of a
no>le spi)it? p)in=el; as pa)ti=ula)l; >efittin- a
p)in=el; p)ofession' 5e needed no Sha@espea)e to feel 88
thou-h& pe)haps& li@e the )est of the :o)ld& :e needed
hi< to eKp)ess it 88 that <e)=; >e=a<e a <ona)=h >ette)
than his =)o:n& that it :as a>o,e his s=epte)ed s:a;' Ho:
often >oth 1onfu=ius and (en=ius )epeat the hi-hest
)eGui)e<ent of a )ule) of <en to =onsist in >ene,olen=e'
1onfu=ius :ould sa;& 9Let >ut a p)in=e =ulti,ate ,i)tue&
people :ill flo=@ to hi<? :ith people :ill =o<e to hi<
lands? lands :ill >)info)th fo) hi< :ealth? :ealth :ill
-i,e hi< the >enefit of )i-ht uses' 3i)tue is the )oot&
and :ealth an out=o<e'9 -ain& 9"e,e) has the)e >een a
=ase of a so,e)ei-n lo,in- >ene,olen=e& and the people
not lo,in- )i-hteousness&9 (en=ius follo:s =lose at his
heels and sa;s& 9Instan=es a)e on )e=o)d :he)e
indi,iduals attained to sup)e<e po:e) in a sin-le state&
:ithout >ene,olen=e& >ut ne,e) ha,e I hea)d of a :hole
e<pi)e fallin- into the hands of one :ho la=@ed this
,i)tue'9 lso& 88 9It is i<possi>le that an; one should
>e=o<e )ule) of the people to :ho< the; ha,e not ;ielded
the su>Fe=tion of thei) hea)ts'9 Both defined this
indispensa>le )eGui)e<ent in a )ule) >; sa;in-&
9Bene,olen=e 88 Bene,olen=e is (an'9 Unde) the )P-i<e of
feudalis<& :hi=h =ould easil; >e pe),e)ted into
<ilita)is<& it :as to Bene,olen=e that :e o:ed ou)
deli,e)an=e f)o< despotis< of the :o)st @ind' n utte)
su))ende) of 9life and li<>9 on the pa)t of the -o,e)ned
:ould ha,e left nothin- fo) the -o,e)nin- >ut self8:ill&
and this has fo) its natu)al =onseGuen=e the -)o:th of
that a>solutis< so often =alled 9o)iental despotis<&9 88
as thou-h the)e :e)e no despots of o==idental histo);A
Let it >e fa) f)o< <e to uphold despotis< of an; so)t?
>ut it is a <ista@e to identif; feudalis< :ith it' 5hen
F)ede)i=@ the 6)eat :)ote that 94in-s a)e the fi)st
se),ants of the State&9 Fu)ists thou-ht )i-htl; that a
ne: e)a :as )ea=hed in the de,elop<ent of f)eedo<'
St)an-el; =oin=idin- in ti<e& in the >a=@:oods of "o)th8
:este)n Japan& #oHan of #onPHa:a <ade eKa=tl; the sa<e
de=la)ation& sho:in- that feudalis< :as not all t;)ann;
and opp)ession' feudal p)in=e& althou-h un<indful of
o:in- )e=ip)o=al o>li-ations to his ,assals& felt a
hi-he) sense of )esponsi>ilit; to his an=esto)s and to
Hea,en' He :as a fathe) to his su>Fe=ts& :ho< Hea,en
ent)usted to his =a)e' In a sense not usuall; assi-ned to
the te)<& Bushido a==epted and =o))o>o)ated pate)nal
-o,e)n<ent 88 pate)nal also as opposed to the less
inte)ested a,un=ula) -o,e)n<ent CUn=le Sa<*s& to :itAD'
The diffe)en=e >et:een a despoti= and a pate)nal
-o,e)n<ent lies in this& that in the one the people o>e;
)elu=tantl;& :hile in the othe) the; do so :ith 9that
p)oud su><ission& that di-nified o>edien=e& that
su>o)dination of hea)t :hi=h @ept ali,e& e,en in
se),itude itself& the spi)it of eKalted f)eedo<'9I0J The
old sa;inis not enti)el; false :hi=h =alled the @in- of
En-land the 9@in- of de,ils& >e=ause of his su>Fe=ts*
often insu))e=tions a-ainst& and depositions of& thei)
p)in=es&9 and :hi=h <ade the F)en=h <ona)=h the 9@in- of
asses& >e=ause of thei) infinite taKes and I<positions&9
>ut :hi=h -a,e the title of 9the @in- of <en9 to the
so,e)ei-n of Spain 9>e=ause of his su>Fe=ts* :illin-
o>edien=e'9 But enou-hA 88
3i)tue and a>solute po:e) <a; st)i@e the n-lo8SaKon <ind
as te)<s :hi=h it is i<possi>le to ha)<oniHe'
!o>;edonostseff has =lea)l; set >efo)e us the =ont)ast in
the foundations of En-lish and othe) Eu)opean
=o<<unities? na<el; that these :e)e o)-aniHed on the
>asis of =o<<on inte)est& :hile that :as distin-uished >;
a st)on-l; de,eloped independent pe)sonalit;' 5hat this
+ussian states<an sa;s of the pe)sonal dependen=e of
indi,iduals on so<e so=ial allian=e and in the end of
ends of the State& a<on- the =ontinental nations of
Eu)ope and pa)ti=ula)l; a<on- Sla,oni= peoples& is dou>l;
t)ue of the Japanese' Hen=e not onl; is a f)ee eKe)=ise
of <ona)=hi=al po:e) not felt as hea,il; >; us as in
Eu)ope& >ut it is -ene)all; <ode)ated >; pa)ental
=onside)ation fo) the feelin-s of the people'
9>solutis<&9 sa;s Bis<a)=@& 9p)i<a)il; de<ands in the
)ule) i<pa)tialit;& honest;& de,otion to dut;& ene)-; and
in:a)d hu<ilit;'9 If I <a; >e allo:ed to <a@e one <o)e
Guotation on this su>Fe=t& I :ill =ite f)o< the spee=h of
the 6e)<an E<pe)o) at 1o>lenH& in :hi=h he spo@e of
94in-ship& >; the -)a=e of 6od& :ith its hea,; duties&
its t)e<endous )esponsi>ilit; to the 1)eato) alone& f)o<
:hi=h no <an& no <iniste)& no pa)lia<ent& =an )elease the
<ona)=h'9
5e @ne: Bene,olen=e :as a tende) ,i)tue and <othe)8li@e'
If up)i-ht +e=titude and ste)n Justi=e :e)e pe=ulia)l;
<as=uline& (e)=; had the -entleness and the
pe)suasi,eness of a fe<inine natu)e' 5e :e)e :a)ned
a-ainst indul-in- in indis=)i<inate =ha)it;& :ithout
seasonin- it :ith Fusti=e and )e=titude' (asa<unP
eKp)essed it :ell in his oft8Guoted apho)is< 88
9+e=titude =a))ied to eK=ess ha)dens into stiffness?
Bene,olen=e indul-ed >e;ond <easu)e sin@s into :ea@ness'9
Fo)tunatel; (e)=; :as not so )a)e as it :as >eautiful&
fo) it is uni,e)sall; t)ue that 9The >)a,est a)e the
tende)est& the lo,in- a)e the da)in-'9 9EBushi no
nasa@PE9 88 the tende)ness of a :a))io) 88 had a sound
:hi=h appealed at on=e to :hate,e) :as no>le in us? not
that the <e)=; of a sa<u)ai :as -ene)i=all; diffe)ent
f)o< the <e)=; of an; othe) >ein-& >ut >e=ause it i<plied
<e)=; :he)e <e)=; :as not a >lind i<pulse& >ut :he)e it
)e=o-niHed due )e-a)d to Fusti=e& and :he)e <e)=; did not
)e<ain <e)el; a =e)tain state of <ind& >ut :he)e it :as
>a=@ed :ith po:e) to sa,e o) @ill' s e=ono<ists spea@ of
de<and as >ein- effe=tual o) ineffe=tual& si<ila)l; :e
<a; =all the <e)=; of >ushi effe=tual& sin=e it i<plied
the po:e) of a=tin- fo) the -ood o) det)i<ent of the
)e=ipient'
!)idin- the<sel,es as the; did in thei) >)ute st)en-th
and p)i,ile-es to tu)n it into a==ount& the sa<u)ai -a,e
full =onsent to :hat (en=ius tau-ht =on=e)nin- the po:e)
of Lo,e' 9Bene,olen=e&9 he sa;s& 9>)in-s unde) its s:a;
:hate,e) hinde)s its po:e)& Fust as :ate) su>dues fi)e:
the; onl; dou>t the po:e) of :ate) to Guen=h fla<es :ho
t); to eKtin-uish :ith a =upful a :hole >u)nin- :a-on8
load of fa-ots'9 He also sa;s that 9the feelin- of
dist)ess is the )oot of >ene,olen=e& the)efo)e a
>ene,olent <an is e,e) <indful of those :ho a)e suffe)in-
and in dist)ess'9 Thus did (en=ius lon- anti=ipate da<
S<ith :ho founds his ethi=al philosoph; on S;<path;'
It is indeed st)i@in- ho: =losel; the =ode of @ni-htl;
hono) of one =ount); =oin=ides :ith that of othe)s? in
othe) :o)ds& ho: the <u=h a>used o)iental ideas of <o)als
find thei) =ounte)pa)ts in the no>lest <aKi<s of Eu)opean
lite)atu)e' If the :ell8@no:n lines&
Hae ti>i e)unt a)tes 88 pa=isGue i<pone)e <o)e<&
!a)=e)e su>Fe=tis& et de>ella)e supe)>os&
:e)e sho:n a Japanese -entle<an& he <i-ht )eadil; a==use
the (antuan >a)d of pla-ia)iHin- f)o< the lite)atu)e of
his o:n =ount);' Bene,olen=e to the :ea@& the do:nt)odden
o) the ,anGuished& :as e,e) eKtolled as pe=ulia)l;
>e=o<in- to a sa<u)ai' Lo,e)s of Japanese a)t <ust >e
fa<ilia) :ith the )ep)esentation of a p)iest )idin-
>a=@:a)ds on a =o:' The )ide) :as on=e a :a))io) :ho in
his da; <ade his na<e a >;8:o)d of te))o)' In that
te))i>le >attle of Su<ano8u)a& C1102 'D'D& :hi=h :as one
of the <ost de=isi,e in ou) histo);& he o,e)too@ an ene<;
and in sin-le =o<>at had hi< in the =lut=h of his
-i-anti= a)<s' "o: the etiGuette of :a) )eGui)ed that on
su=h o==asions no >lood should >e spilt& unless the
:ea@e) pa)t; p)o,ed to >e a <an of )an@ o) a>ilit; eGual
to that of the st)on-e)' The -)i< =o<>atant :ould ha,e
the na<e of the <an unde) hi<? >ut he )efusin- to <a@e it
@no:n& his hel<et :as )uthlessl; to)n off& :hen the si-ht
of a Fu,enile fa=e& fai) and >ea)dless& <ade the
astonished @ni-ht )elaK his hold' Helpin- the ;outh to
his feet& in pate)nal tones he >ade the st)iplin- -o:
9Off& ;oun- p)in=e& to th; <othe)*s sideA The s:o)d of
4u<a-a;e shall ne,e) >e ta)nished >; a d)op of th; >lood'
Haste and flee o*e) ;on pass >efo)e th; ene<ies =o<e in
si-htA9 The ;oun- :a))io) )efused to -o and >e--ed
4u<a-a;e& fo) the hono) of >oth& to despat=h hi< on the
spot' >o,e the hoa); head of the ,ete)an -lea<s the =old
>lade& :hi=h <an; a ti<e >efo)e has sunde)ed the =ho)ds
of life& >ut his stout hea)t Guails? the)e flashes
ath:a)t his <ental e;e the ,ision of his o:n >o;& :ho
this self8sa<e da; <a)=hed to the sound of >u-le to t);
his <aiden a)<s? the st)on- hand of the :a))io) Gui,e)s?
a-ain he >e-s his ,i=ti< to flee fo) his life' Findin-
all his ent)eaties ,ain and hea)in- the app)oa=hin- steps
of his =o<)ades& he eK=lai<s: 9If thou a)t o,e)ta@en&
thou <a;est fall at a <o)e i-no>le hand than <ine' O&
thou InfiniteA )e=ei,e his soulA9 In an instant the s:o)d
flashes in the ai)& and :hen it falls it is )ed :ith
adoles=ent >lood' 5hen the :a) is ended& :e find ou)
soldie) )etu)nin- in t)iu<ph& >ut little =a)es he no: fo)
hono) o) fa<e? he )enoun=es his :a)li@e =a)ee)& sha,es
his head& dons a p)iestl; -a)>& de,otes the )est of his
da;s to hol; pil-)i<a-e& ne,e) tu)nin- his >a=@ to the
5est& :he)e lies the !a)adise :hen=e sal,ation =o<es and
:hithe) the sun hastes dail; fo) his )est'
1)iti=s <a; point out fla:s in this sto);& :hi=h is
=asuisti=all; ,ulne)a>le' Let it >e: all the sa<e it
sho:s that Tende)ness& !it; and Lo,e& :e)e t)aits :hi=h
ado)ned the <ost san-uina); eKploits of the sa<u)ai' It
:as an old <aKi< a<on- the< that 9It >e=o<eth not the
fo:le) to sla; the >i)d :hi=h ta@es )efu-e in his >oso<'9
This in a la)-e <easu)e eKplains :h; the +ed 1)oss
<o,e<ent& =onside)ed pe=ulia)l; 1h)istian& so )eadil;
found a fi)< footin- a<on- us' Fo) de=ades >efo)e :e
hea)d of the 6ene,a 1on,ention& Ba@in& ou) -)eatest
no,elist& had fa<ilia)iHed us :ith the <edi=al t)eat<ent
of a fallen foe' In the p)in=ipalit; of Satsu<a& noted
fo) its <a)tial spi)it and edu=ation& the =usto<
p)e,ailed fo) ;oun- <en to p)a=ti=e <usi=? not the >last
of t)u<pets o) the >eat of d)u<s& 88 9those =la<o)ous
ha)>in-e)s of >lood and death9 88 sti))inus to i<itate
the a=tions of a ti-e)& >ut sad and tende) <elodies on
the E>i:aE&I9J soothin- ou) fie); spi)its& d)a:in- ou)
thou-hts a:a; f)o< s=ent of >lood and s=enes of =a)na-e'
!ol;>ius tells us of the 1onstitution of )=adia& :hi=h
)eGui)ed all ;ouths unde) thi)t; to p)a=ti=e <usi=& in
o)de) that this -entle a)t <i-ht alle,iate the )i-o)s of
that in=le<ent )e-ion' It is to its influen=e that he
att)i>utes the a>sen=e of =)uelt; in that pa)t of the
)=adian <ountains'
"o) :as Satsu<a the onl; pla=e in Japan :he)e -entleness
:as in=ul=ated a<on- the :a))io) =lass' !)in=e of
Shi)a@a:a Fots do:n his )ando< thou-hts& and a<on- the<
is the follo:in-: 9Thou-h the; =o<e stealin- to ;ou)
>edside in the silent :at=hes of the ni-ht& d)i,e not
a:a;& >ut )athe) =he)ish these 88 the f)a-)an=e of
flo:e)s& the sound of distant >ells& the inse=t hu<<in-
of a f)ost; ni-ht'9 nd a-ain& 9Thou-h the; <a; :ound
;ou) feelin-s& these th)ee ;ou ha,e onl; to fo)-i,e& the
>)eeHe that s=atte)s ;ou) flo:e)s& the =loud that hides
;ou) <oon& and the <an :ho t)ies to pi=@ Gua))els :ith
;ou'9
It :as ostensi>l; to eKp)ess& >ut a=tuall; to =ulti,ate&
these -entle) e<otions that the :)itin- of ,e)ses :as
en=ou)a-ed' Ou) poet); has the)efo)e a st)on-
unde)=u))ent of pathos and tende)ness' :ell8@no:n
ane=dote of a )usti= sa<u)ai illust)ates a =ase in point'
5hen he :as told to lea)n ,e)sifi=ation& and 9The
5a)>le)*s "otes9I1/J :as -i,en hi< fo) the su>Fe=t of his
fi)st atte<pt& his fie); spi)it )e>elled and he Eflun-E
at the feet of his <aste) this un=outh p)odu=tion& :hi=h
)an
9The >)a,e :a))io) @eeps apa)t
The ea) that <i-ht listen
To the :a)>le)*s son-'9
His <aste)& undaunted >; the =)ude senti<ent& =ontinued
to en=ou)a-e the ;outh& until one da; the <usi= of his
soul :as a:a@ened to )espond to the s:eet notes of the
Eu-uisuE& and he :)ote
9Stands the :a))io)& <ailed and st)on-&
To hea) the u-uisu*s son-&
5a)>led s:eet the t)ees a<on-'9
5e ad<i)e and enFo; the he)oi= in=ident in 4W)ne)*s sho)t
life& :hen& as he la; :ounded on the >attle8field& he
s=)i>>led his fa<ous 9Fa)e:ell to Life'9 In=idents of a
si<ila) @ind :e)e not at all unusual in ou) :a)fa)e' Ou)
pith;& epi-)a<<ati= poe<s :e)e pa)ti=ula)l; :ell suited
to the i<p)o,isation of a sin-le senti<ent' E,e);>od; of
an; edu=ation :as eithe) a poet o) a poetaste)' "ot
inf)eGuentl; a <a)=hin- soldie) <i-ht >e seen to halt&
ta@e his :)itin- utensils f)o< his >elt& and =o<pose an
ode& 88 and su=h pape)s :e)e found afte):a)d in the
hel<ets o) the >)east8plates& :hen these :e)e )e<o,ed
f)o< thei) lifeless :ea)e)s'
5hat 1h)istianit; has done in Eu)ope to:a)d )ousin-
=o<passion in the <idst of >elli-e)ent ho))o)s& lo,e of
<usi= and lette)s has done in Japan' The =ulti,ation of
tende) feelin-s >)eeds =onside)ate )e-a)d fo) the
suffe)in-s of othe)s' (odest; and =o<plaisan=e& a=tuated
>; )espe=t fo) othe)s* feelin-s& a)e at the )oot of
Bushido: the Soul of Japan .//95
!OLITE"ESS&
that =ou)tes; and u)>anit; of <anne)s :hi=h has >een
noti=ed >; e,e); fo)ei-n tou)ist as a <a)@ed Japanese
t)ait' !oliteness is a poo) ,i)tue& if it is a=tuated
onl; >; a fea) of offendin- -ood taste& :he)eas it should
>e the out:a)d <anifestation of a s;<patheti= )e-a)d fo)
the feelin-s of othe)s' It also i<plies a due )e-a)d fo)
the fitness of thin-s& the)efo)e due )espe=t to so=ial
positions? fo) these latte) eKp)ess no pluto=)ati=
distin=tions& >ut :e)e o)i-inall; distin=tions fo) a=tual
<e)it'
In its hi-hest fo)<& politeness al<ost app)oa=hes lo,e'
5e <a; )e,e)entl; sa;& politeness 9suffe)eth lon-& and is
@ind? en,ieth not& ,aunteth not itself& is not puffed up?
doth not >eha,e itself unsee<l;& see@eth not he) o:n& is
not easil; p)o,o@ed& ta@eth not a==ount of e,il'9 Is it
an; :onde) that !)ofesso) Dean& in spea@in- of the siK
ele<ents of Hu<anit;& a==o)ds to !oliteness an eKalted
position& inas<u=h as it is the )ipest f)uit of so=ial
inte)=ou)seB
5hile thus eKtollin- !oliteness& fa) >e it f)o< <e to put
it in the f)ont )an@ of ,i)tues' If :e anal;He it& :e
shall find it =o))elated :ith othe) ,i)tues of a hi-he)
o)de)? fo) :hat ,i)tue stands aloneB 5hile 88 o) )athe)
>e=ause 88 it :as eKalted as pe=ulia) to the p)ofession
of a)<s& and as su=h estee<ed in a de-)ee hi-he) than its
dese)ts& the)e =a<e into eKisten=e its =ounte)feits'
1onfu=ius hi<self has )epeatedl; tau-ht that eKte)nal
appu)tenan=es a)e as little a pa)t of p)op)iet; as sounds
a)e of <usi='
5hen p)op)iet; :as ele,ated to the Esine Gua nonE of
so=ial inte)=ou)se& it :as onl; to >e eKpe=ted that an
ela>o)ate s;ste< of etiGuette should =o<e into ,o-ue to
t)ain ;outh in =o))e=t so=ial >eha,io)' Ho: one <ust >o:
in a==ostin- othe)s& ho: he <ust :al@ and sit& :e)e
tau-ht and lea)ned :ith ut<ost =a)e' Ta>le <anne)s -)e:
to >e a s=ien=e' Tea se),in- and d)in@in- :e)e )aised to
a =e)e<on;' <an of edu=ation is& of =ou)se& eKpe=ted to
>e <aste) of all these' 3e); fitl; does ()' 3e>len& in
his inte)estin- >oo@&I11J =all de=o)u< 9a p)odu=t and an
eKponent of the leisu)e8=lass life'9
I ha,e hea)d sli-htin- )e<a)@s <ade >; Eu)opeans upon ou)
Bushido: the Soul of Japan .1/95
ela>o)ate dis=ipline of politeness' It has >een
=)iti=iHed as a>so)>in- too <u=h of ou) thou-ht and in so
fa) a foll; to o>se),e st)i=t o>edien=e to it' I ad<it
that the)e <a; >e unne=essa); ni=eties in =e)e<onious
etiGuette& >ut :hethe) it pa)ta@es as <u=h of foll; as
the adhe)en=e to e,e)8=han-in- fashions of the 5est& is a
Guestion not ,e); =lea) to <; <ind' E,en fashions I do
not =onside) solel; as f)ea@s of ,anit;? on the =ont)a);&
I loo@ upon these as a =easeless sea)=h of the hu<an <ind
fo) the >eautiful' (u=h less do I =onside) ela>o)ate
=e)e<on; as alto-ethe) t)i,ial? fo) it denotes the )esult
of lon- o>se),ation as to the <ost app)op)iate <ethod of
a=hie,in- a =e)tain )esult' If the)e is an;thin- to do&
the)e is =e)tainl; a >est :a; to do it& and the >est :a;
is >oth the <ost e=ono<i=al and the <ost -)a=eful' ()'
Spen=e) defines -)a=e as the <ost e=ono<i=al <anne) of
<otion' The tea =e)e<on; p)esents =e)tain definite :a;s
of <anipulatin- a >o:l& a spoon& a nap@in& et=' To a
no,i=e it loo@s tedious' But one soon dis=o,e)s that the
:a; p)es=)i>ed is& afte) all& the <ost sa,in- of ti<e and
la>o)? in othe) :o)ds& the <ost e=ono<i=al use of fo)=e&
88 hen=e& a==o)din- to Spen=e)*s di=tu<& the <ost
-)a=eful'
The spi)itual si-nifi=an=e of so=ial de=o)u<& 88 o)& I
<i-ht sa;& to >o))o: f)o< the ,o=a>ula); of the
9!hilosoph; of 1lothes&9 the spi)itual dis=ipline of
:hi=h etiGuette and =e)e<on; a)e <e)e out:a)d -a)<ents&
88 is out of all p)opo)tion to :hat thei) appea)an=e
:a))ants us in >elie,in-' I <i-ht follo: the eKa<ple of
()' Spen=e) and t)a=e in ou) =e)e<onial institutions
thei) o)i-ins and the <o)al <oti,es that -a,e )ise to
the<? >ut that is not :hat I shall endea,o) to do in this
>oo@' It is the <o)al t)ainin- in,ol,ed in st)i=t
o>se),an=e of p)op)iet;& that I :ish to e<phasiHe'
I ha,e said that etiGuette :as ela>o)ated into the finest
ni=eties& so <u=h so that diffe)ent s=hools ad,o=atin-
diffe)ent s;ste<s& =a<e into eKisten=e' But the; all
united in the ulti<ate essential& and this :as put >; a
-)eat eKponent of the >est @no:n s=hool of etiGuette& the
O-asa:a)a& in the follo:inte)<s: 9The end of all
etiGuette is to so =ulti,ate ;ou) <ind that e,en :hen ;ou
a)e Guietl; seated& not the )ou-hest )uffian =an da)e
<a@e onset on ;ou) pe)son'9 It <eans& in othe) :o)ds&
that >; =onstant eKe)=ise in =o))e=t <anne)s& one >)in-s
all the pa)ts and fa=ulties of his >od; into pe)fe=t
o)de) and into su=h ha)<on; :ith itself and its
en,i)on<ent as to eKp)ess the <aste); of spi)it o,e) the
flesh' 5hat a ne: and deep si-nifi=an=e the F)en=h :o)d
E>iensSan=eEI17J =o<es thus to =ontainA
If the p)e<ise is t)ue that -)a=efulness <eans e=ono<; of
fo)=e& then it follo:s as a lo-i=al seGuen=e that a
=onstant p)a=ti=e of -)a=eful depo)t<ent <ust >)in- :ith
it a )ese),e and sto)a-e of fo)=e' Fine <anne)s&
the)efo)e& <ean po:e) in )epose' 5hen the >a)>a)ian
6auls& du)in- the sa=@ of +o<e& >u)st into the asse<>led
Senate and da)ed pull the >ea)ds of the ,ene)a>le
Fathe)s& :e thin@ the old -entle<en :e)e to >la<e&
inas<u=h as the; la=@ed di-nit; and st)en-th of <anne)s'
Is loft; spi)itual attain<ent )eall; possi>le th)ou-h
etiGuetteB 5h; notB 88 ll )oads lead to +o<eA
s an eKa<ple of ho: the si<plest thin- =an >e <ade into
an a)t and then >e=o<e spi)itual =ultu)e& I <a; ta@e
E1ha8no8;uE& the tea =e)e<on;' Tea8sippin- as a fine a)tA
5h; should it not >eB In the =hild)en d)a:in- pi=tu)es on
the sand& o) in the sa,a-e =a),in- on a )o=@& :as the
p)o<ise of a +aphael o) a (i=hael n-elo' Ho: <u=h <o)e
is the d)in@in- of a >e,e)a-e& :hi=h >e-an :ith the
t)ans=endental =onte<plation of a Hindoo an=ho)ite&
entitled to de,elop into a hand<aid of +eli-ion and
(o)alit;B That =al<ness of <ind& that se)enit; of te<pe)&
that =o<posu)e and Guietness of de<eano)& :hi=h a)e the
fi)st essentials of E1ha8no8;uE a)e :ithout dou>t the
fi)st =onditions of )i-ht thin@in- and )i-ht feelin-' The
s=)upulous =leanliness of the little )oo<& shut off f)o<
si-ht and sound of the <addin- =)o:d& is in itself
=ondu=i,e to di)e=t one*s thou-hts f)o< the :o)ld' The
>a)e inte)io) does not en-)oss one*s attention li@e the
innu<e)a>le pi=tu)es and >)i=8a8>)a= of a 5este)n pa)lo)?
the p)esen=e of E@a@e<onoEI1.J =alls ou) attention <o)e
to -)a=e of desi-n than to >eaut; of =olo)' The ut<ost
)efine<ent of taste is the o>Fe=t ai<ed at? :he)eas
an;thin- li@e displa; is >anished :ith )eli-ious ho))o)'
The ,e); fa=t that it :as in,ented >; a =onte<plati,e
)e=luse& in a ti<e :hen :a)s and the )u<o)s of :a)s :e)e
in=essant& is :ell =al=ulated to sho: that this
institution :as <o)e than a pasti<e' Befo)e ente)in- the
Guiet p)e=in=ts of the tea8)oo<& the =o<pan; asse<>lin-
to pa)ta@e of the =e)e<on; laid aside& to-ethe) :ith
thei) s:o)ds& the fe)o=it; of the >attle8field o) the
=a)es of -o,e)n<ent& the)e to find pea=e and f)iendship'
E1ha8no8;uE is <o)e than a =e)e<on; 88 it is a fine a)t?
Bushido: the Soul of Japan ../95
it is poet);& :ith a)ti=ulate -estu)es fo) )h;th<: it is
a E<odus ope)andiE of soul dis=ipline' Its -)eatest ,alue
lies in this last phase' "ot inf)eGuentl; the othe)
phases p)eponde)ated in the <ind of its ,ota)ies& >ut
that does not p)o,e that its essen=e :as not of a
spi)itual natu)e'
!oliteness :ill >e a -)eat a=Guisition& if it does no
<o)e than i<pa)t -)a=e to <anne)s? >ut its fun=tion does
not stop he)e' Fo) p)op)iet;& sp)in-inas it does f)o<
<oti,es of >ene,olen=e and <odest;& and a=tuated >;
tende) feelin-s to:a)d the sensi>ilities of othe)s& is
e,e) a -)a=eful eKp)ession of s;<path;' Its )eGui)e<ent
is that :e should :eep :ith those that :eep and )eFoi=e
:ith those that )eFoi=e' Su=h dida=ti= )eGui)e<ent& :hen
)edu=ed into s<all e,e);8da; details of life& eKp)esses
itself in little a=ts s=a)=el; noti=ea>le& o)& if
noti=ed& is& as one <issiona); lad; of t:ent; ;ea)s*
)esiden=e on=e said to <e& 9a:full; funn;'9 #ou a)e out
in the hot -la)in- sun :ith no shade o,e) ;ou? a Japanese
a=Guaintan=e passes >;? ;ou a==ost hi<& and instantl; his
hat is off 88 :ell& that is pe)fe=tl; natu)al& >ut the
9a:full; funn;9 pe)fo)<an=e is& that all the :hile he
tal@s :ith ;ou his pa)asol is do:n and he stands in the
-la)in- sun also' Ho: foolishA 88 #es& eKa=tl; so&
p)o,ided the <oti,e :e)e less than this: 9#ou a)e in the
sun? I s;<pathiHe :ith ;ou? I :ould :illin-l; ta@e ;ou
unde) <; pa)asol if it :e)e la)-e enou-h& o) if :e :e)e
fa<ilia)l; a=Guainted? as I =annot shade ;ou& I :ill
sha)e ;ou) dis=o<fo)ts'9 Little a=ts of this @ind&
eGuall; o) <o)e a<usin-& a)e not <e)e -estu)es o)
=on,entionalities' The; a)e the 9>od;info)th9 of
thou-htful feelin-s fo) the =o<fo)t of othe)s'
nothe) 9a:full; funn;9 =usto< is di=tated >; ou) =anons
of !oliteness? >ut <an; supe)fi=ial :)ite)s on Japan&
ha,e dis<issed it >; si<pl; att)i>utin- it to the -ene)al
tops;8tu),;ness of the nation' E,e); fo)ei-ne) :ho has
o>se),ed it :ill =onfess the a:@:a)dness he felt in
<a@in- p)ope) )epl; upon the o==asion' In <e)i=a& :hen
;ou <a@e a -ift& ;ou sin- its p)aises to the )e=ipient?
in Japan :e dep)e=iate o) slande) it' The unde)l;in- idea
:ith ;ou is& 9This is a ni=e -ift: if it :e)e not ni=e I
:ould not da)e -i,e it to ;ou? fo) it :ill >e an insult
to -i,e ;ou an;thin- >ut :hat is ni=e'9 In =ont)ast to
this& ou) lo-i= )uns: 9#ou a)e a ni=e pe)son& and no -ift
is ni=e enou-h fo) ;ou' #ou :ill not a==ept an;thin- I
=an la; at ;ou) feet eK=ept as a to@en of <; -ood :ill?
so a==ept this& not fo) its int)insi= ,alue& >ut as a
to@en' It :ill >e an insult to ;ou) :o)th to =all the
>est -ift -ood enou-h fo) ;ou'9 !la=e the t:o ideas side
>; side? and :e see that the ulti<ate idea is one and the
sa<e' "eithe) is 9a:full; funn;'9 The <e)i=an spea@s of
the <ate)ial :hi=h <a@es the -ift? the Japanese spea@s of
the spi)it :hi=h p)o<pts the -ift'
It is pe),e)se )easonin- to =on=lude& >e=ause ou) sense
of p)op)iet; sho:s itself in all the s<allest
)a<ifi=ations of ou) depo)t<ent& to ta@e the least
i<po)tant of the< and uphold it as the t;pe& and pass
Fud-<ent upon the p)in=iple itself' 5hi=h is <o)e
i<po)tant& to eat o) to o>se),e )ules of p)op)iet; a>out
eatin-B 1hinese sa-e ans:e)s& 9If ;ou ta@e a =ase :he)e
the eatin- is all8i<po)tant& and the o>se),in- the )ules
of p)op)iet; is of little i<po)tan=e& and =o<pa)e the<
to-ethe)& :h; <e)el; sa; that the eatin- is of the <o)e
i<po)tan=eB9 9(etal is hea,ie) than feathe)s&9 >ut does
that sa;in- ha,e )efe)en=e to a sin-le =lasp of <etal and
a :a-on8load of feathe)sB Ta@e a pie=e of :ood a foot
thi=@ and )aise it a>o,e the pinna=le of a te<ple& none
:ould =all it talle) than the te<ple' To the Guestion&
95hi=h is the <o)e i<po)tant& to tell the t)uth o) to >e
politeB9 the Japanese a)e said to -i,e an ans:e)
dia<et)i=all; opposite to :hat the <e)i=an :ill sa;& 88
>ut I fo)>ea) an; =o<<ent until I =o<e to spea@ of
3E+1IT# O+ T+UTHFUL"ESS&
:ithout :hi=h !oliteness is a fa)=e and a sho:'
9!)op)iet; =a))ied >e;ond )i-ht >ounds&9 sa;s (asa<unP&
9>e=o<es a lie'9 n an=ient poet has outdone !olonius in
the ad,i=e he -i,es: 9To th;self >e faithful: if in th;
hea)t thou st)a;est not f)o< t)uth& :ithout p)a;e) of
thine the 6ods :ill @eep thee :hole'9 The apotheosis of
Sin=e)it; to :hi=h Tsu8tsu -i,es eKp)ession in the
EDo=t)ine of the (eanE& att)i>utes to it t)ans=endental
po:e)s& al<ost identif;in- the< :ith the Di,ine'
9Sin=e)it; is the end and the >e-innin- of all thin-s?
:ithout Sin=e)it; the)e :ould >e nothin-'9 He then d:ells
:ith eloGuen=e on its fa)8)ea=hin- and lon- endu)in-
natu)e& its po:e) to p)odu=e =han-es :ithout <o,e<ent and
>; its <e)e p)esen=e to a==o<plish its pu)pose :ithout
effo)t' F)o< the 1hinese ideo-)a< fo) Sin=e)it;& :hi=h is
a =o<>ination of 95o)d9 and 9!e)fe=t&9 one is te<pted to
d)a: a pa)allel >et:een it and the "eo8!latoni= do=t)ine
of ELo-osE 88 to su=h hei-ht does the sa-e soa) in his
un:onted <;sti= fli-ht'
L;in- o) eGui,o=ation :e)e dee<ed eGuall; =o:a)dl;' The
>ushi held that his hi-h so=ial position de<anded a
loftie) standa)d of ,e)a=it; than that of the t)ades<an
and peasant' EBushi no i=hi8-onE 88 the :o)d of a sa<u)ai
o) in eKa=t 6e)<an eGui,alent Eein +itte):o)tE 88 :as
suffi=ient -ua)ant; of the t)uthfulness of an asse)tion'
His :o)d =a))ied su=h :ei-ht :ith it that p)o<ises :e)e
-ene)all; <ade and fulfilled :ithout a :)itten pled-e&
:hi=h :ould ha,e >een dee<ed Guite >eneath his di-nit;'
(an; th)illin- ane=dotes :e)e told of those :ho atoned >;
death fo) Eni8-onE& a dou>le ton-ue'
The )e-a)d fo) ,e)a=it; :as so hi-h that& unli@e the
-ene)alit; of 1h)istians :ho pe)sistentl; ,iolate the
plain =o<<ands of the Tea=he) not to s:ea)& the >est of
sa<u)ai loo@ed upon an oath as de)o-ato); to thei) hono)'
I a< :ell a:a)e that the; did s:ea) >; diffe)ent deities
o) upon thei) s:o)ds? >ut ne,e) has s:ea)inde-ene)ated
into :anton fo)< and i))e,e)ent inte)Fe=tion' To
e<phasiHe ou) :o)ds a p)a=ti=e of lite)all; sealin- :ith
>lood :as so<eti<es )eso)ted to' Fo) the eKplanation of
su=h a p)a=ti=e& I need onl; )efe) <; )eade)s to 6oethe*s
Faust'
)e=ent <e)i=an :)ite) is )esponsi>le fo) this
Bushido: the Soul of Japan .M/95
state<ent& that if ;ou as@ an o)dina); Japanese :hi=h is
>ette)& to tell a falsehood o) >e i<polite& he :ill not
hesitate to ans:e) 9to tell a falsehoodA9 D)' !ee);I12J
is pa)tl; )i-ht and pa)tl; :)on-? )i-ht in that an
o)dina); Japanese& e,en a sa<u)ai& <a; ans:e) in the :a;
as=)i>ed to hi<& >ut :)onin att)i>utin- too <u=h :ei-ht
to the te)< he t)anslates 9falsehood'9 This :o)d Cin
Japanese EusoED is e<plo;ed to denote an;thin- :hi=h is
not a t)uth CE<a@otoED o) fa=t CEhontoED' Lo:ell tells us
that 5o)ds:o)th =ould not distin-uish >et:een t)uth and
fa=t& and an o)dina); Japanese is in this )espe=t as -ood
as 5o)ds:o)th' s@ a Japanese& o) e,en an <e)i=an of an;
)efine<ent& to tell ;ou :hethe) he disli@es ;ou o)
:hethe) he is si=@ at his sto<a=h& and he :ill not
hesitate lon- to tell falsehoods and ans:e)& 9I li@e ;ou
<u=h&9 o)& 9I a< Guite :ell& than@ ;ou'9 To sa=)ifi=e
t)uth <e)el; fo) the sa@e of politeness :as )e-a)ded as
an 9e<pt; fo)<9 CE@;o8)eiED and 9de=eption >; s:eet
:o)ds&9 and :as ne,e) Fustified'
I o:n I a< spea@inno: of the Bushido idea of ,e)a=it;?
>ut it <a; not >e a<iss to de,ote a fe: :o)ds to ou)
=o<<e)=ial inte-)it;& of :hi=h I ha,e hea)d <u=h
=o<plaint in fo)ei-n >oo@s and Fou)nals' loose >usiness
<o)alit; has indeed >een the :o)st >lot on ou) national
)eputation? >ut >efo)e a>usin- it o) hastil; =onde<nin-
the :hole )a=e fo) it& let us =al<l; stud; it and :e
shall >e )e:a)ded :ith =onsolation fo) the futu)e'
Of all the -)eat o==upations of life& none :as fa)the)
)e<o,ed f)o< the p)ofession of a)<s than =o<<e)=e' The
<e)=hant :as pla=ed lo:est in the =ate-o); of ,o=ations&
88 the @ni-ht& the tille) of the soil& the <e=hani=& the
<e)=hant' The sa<u)ai de)i,ed his in=o<e f)o< land and
=ould e,en indul-e& if he had a <ind to& in a<ateu)
fa)<in-? >ut the =ounte) and a>a=us :e)e a>ho))ed' 5e
@ne: the :isdo< of this so=ial a))an-e<ent' (ontesGuieu
has <ade it =lea) that the de>a))in- of the no>ilit; f)o<
<e)=antile pu)suits :as an ad<i)a>le so=ial poli=;& in
that it p)e,ented :ealth f)o< a==u<ulatin- in the hands
of the po:e)ful' The sepa)ation of po:e) and )i=hes @ept
the dist)i>ution of the latte) <o)e nea)l; eGua>le'
!)ofesso) Dill& the autho) of 9+o<an So=iet; in the Last
1entu); of the 5este)n E<pi)e&9 has >)ou-ht af)esh to ou)
<ind that one =ause of the de=aden=e of the +o<an E<pi)e&
:as the pe)<ission -i,en to the no>ilit; to en-a-e in
t)ade& and the =onseGuent <onopol; of :ealth and po:e) >;
a <ino)it; of the senato)ial fa<ilies'
Bushido: the Soul of Japan .N/95
1o<<e)=e& the)efo)e& in feudal Japan did not )ea=h that
de-)ee of de,elop<ent :hi=h it :ould ha,e attained unde)
f)ee) =onditions' The o>loGu; atta=hed to the =allin-
natu)all; >)ou-ht :ithin its pale su=h as =a)ed little
fo) so=ial )epute' 91all one a thief and he :ill steal:9
put a sti-<a on a =allin- and its follo:e)s adFust thei)
<o)als to it& fo) it is natu)al that 9the no)<al
=ons=ien=e&9 as Hu-h Bla=@ sa;s& 9)ises to the de<ands
<ade on it& and easil; falls to the li<it of the standa)d
eKpe=ted f)o< it'9 It is unne=essa); to add that no
>usiness& =o<<e)=ial o) othe):ise& =an >e t)ansa=ted
:ithout a =ode of <o)als' Ou) <e)=hants of the feudal
pe)iod had one a<on- the<sel,es& :ithout :hi=h the; =ould
ne,e) ha,e de,eloped& as the; did& su=h funda<ental
<e)=antile institutions as the -uild& the >an@& the
>ou)se& insu)an=e& =he=@s& >ills of eK=han-e& et='? >ut
in thei) )elations :ith people outside thei) ,o=ation&
the t)ades<en li,ed too t)ue to the )eputation of thei)
o)de)'
This >ein- the =ase& :hen the =ount); :as opened to
fo)ei-n t)ade& onl; the <ost ad,entu)ous and uns=)upulous
)ushed to the po)ts& :hile the )espe=ta>le >usiness
houses de=lined fo) so<e ti<e the )epeated )eGuests of
the autho)ities to esta>lish >)an=h houses' 5as Bushido
po:e)less to sta; the =u))ent of =o<<e)=ial dishono)B Let
us see'
Those :ho a)e :ell a=Guainted :ith ou) histo); :ill
)e<e<>e) that onl; a fe: ;ea)s afte) ou) t)eat; po)ts
:e)e opened to fo)ei-n t)ade& feudalis< :as a>olished&
and :hen :ith it the sa<u)ai*s fiefs :e)e ta@en and >onds
issued to the< in =o<pensation& the; :e)e -i,en li>e)t;
to in,est the< in <e)=antile t)ansa=tions' "o: ;ou <a;
as@& 95h; =ould the; not >)in- thei) <u=h >oasted
,e)a=it; into thei) ne: >usiness )elations and so )efo)<
the old a>usesB9 Those :ho had e;es to see =ould not :eep
enou-h& those :ho had hea)ts to feel =ould not s;<pathiHe
enou-h& :ith the fate of <an; a no>le and honest sa<u)ai
:ho si-nall; and i))e,o=a>l; failed in his ne: and
unfa<ilia) field of t)ade and indust);& th)ou-h shee)
la=@ of sh)e:dness in =opin- :ith his a)tful ple>eian
)i,al' 5hen :e @no: that ei-ht; pe) =ent' of the >usiness
houses fail in so indust)ial a =ount); as <e)i=a& is it
an; :onde) that s=a)=el; one a<on- a hund)ed sa<u)ai :ho
:ent into t)ade =ould su==eed in his ne: ,o=ationB It
:ill >e lon- >efo)e it :ill >e )e=o-niHed ho: <an;
fo)tunes :e)e :)e=@ed in the atte<pt to appl; Bushido
ethi=s to >usiness <ethods? >ut it :as soon patent to
e,e); o>se),in- <ind that the :a;s of :ealth :e)e not the
:a;s of hono)' In :hat )espe=ts& then& :e)e the;
diffe)entB
Of the th)ee in=enti,es to 3e)a=it; that Le=@;
enu<e)ates& ,iH: the indust)ial& the politi=al& and the
philosophi=al& the fi)st :as alto-ethe) la=@in- in
Bushido' s to the se=ond& it =ould de,elop little in a
politi=al =o<<unit; unde) a feudal s;ste<' It is in its
philosophi=al& and as Le=@; sa;s& in its hi-hest aspe=t&
that Honest; attained ele,ated )an@ in ou) =atalo-ue of
,i)tues' 5ith all <; sin=e)e )e-a)d fo) the hi-h
=o<<e)=ial inte-)it; of the n-lo8SaKon )a=e& :hen I as@
fo) the ulti<ate -)ound& I a< told that 9Honest; is the
>est poli=;&9 that it Epa;sE to >e honest' Is not this
,i)tue& then& its o:n )e:a)dB If it is follo:ed >e=ause
it >)in-s in <o)e =ash than falsehood& I a< af)aid
Bushido :ould )athe) indul-e in liesA
If Bushido )eFe=ts a do=t)ine of EGuid p)o GuoE )e:a)ds&
the sh)e:de) t)ades<an :ill )eadil; a==ept it' Le=@; has
,e); t)ul; )e<a)@ed that 3e)a=it; o:es its -)o:th la)-el;
to =o<<e)=e and <anufa=tu)e? as "ietHs=he puts it&
9Honest; is the ;oun-est of ,i)tues9 88 in othe) :o)ds&
it is the foste)8=hild of indust);& of <ode)n indust);'
5ithout this <othe)& 3e)a=it; :as li@e a >lue8>lood
o)phan :ho< onl; the <ost =ulti,ated <ind =ould adopt and
nou)ish' Su=h <inds :e)e -ene)al a<on- the sa<u)ai& >ut&
fo) :ant of a <o)e de<o=)ati= and utilita)ian foste)8
<othe)& the tende) =hild failed to th)i,e' Indust)ies
ad,an=in-& 3e)a=it; :ill p)o,e an eas;& na;& a
p)ofita>le& ,i)tue to p)a=ti=e' Just thin@& as late as
"o,e<>e) 100/& Bis<a)=@ sent a =i)=ula) to the
p)ofessional =onsuls of the 6e)<an E<pi)e& :a)nin- the<
of 9a la<enta>le la=@ of )elia>ilit; :ith )e-a)d to
6e)<an ship<ents Einte) aliaE& appa)ent >oth as to
Gualit; and Guantit;?9 no:8a8da;s :e hea) =o<pa)ati,el;
little of 6e)<an =a)elessness and dishonest; in t)ade' In
t:ent; ;ea)s he) <e)=hants lea)ned that in the end
honest; pa;s' l)ead; ou) <e)=hants a)e findin- that out'
Fo) the )est I )e=o<<end the )eade) to t:o )e=ent :)ite)s
fo) :ell8:ei-hed Fud-<ent on this point'I15J It is
inte)estin- to )e<a)@ in this =onne=tion that inte-)it;
and hono) :e)e the su)est -ua)anties :hi=h e,en a
<e)=hant de>to) =ould p)esent in the fo)< of p)o<isso);
notes' It :as Guite a usual thin- to inse)t su=h =lauses
as these: 9In default of the )epa;<ent of the su< lent to
<e& I shall sa; nothin- a-ainst >ein- )idi=uled in
pu>li=?9 o)& 9In =ase I fail to pa; ;ou >a=@& ;ou <a;
=all <e a fool&9 and the li@e'
Often ha,e I :onde)ed :hethe) the 3e)a=it; of Bushido had
an; <oti,e hi-he) than =ou)a-e' In the a>sen=e of an;
positi,e =o<<and<ent a-ainst >ea)in- false :itness& l;in-
:as not =onde<ned as sin& >ut si<pl; denoun=ed as
:ea@ness& and& as su=h& hi-hl; dishono)a>le' s a <atte)
of fa=t& the idea of honest; is so inti<atel; >lended&
and its Latin and its 6e)<an et;<olo-; so identified :ith
HO"O+&
that it is hi-h ti<e I should pause a fe: <o<ents fo) the
=onside)ation of this featu)e of the !)e=epts of
4ni-hthood'
The sense of hono)& i<pl;in- a ,i,id =ons=iousness of
pe)sonal di-nit; and :o)th& =ould not fail to
=ha)a=te)iHe the sa<u)ai& >o)n and >)ed to ,alue the
duties and p)i,ile-es of thei) p)ofession' Thou-h the
:o)d o)dina)il; -i,en no:8a8da;s as the t)anslation of
Hono) :as not used f)eel;& ;et the idea :as =on,e;ed >;
su=h te)<s as EnaE Cna<eD E<en8<o@uE C=ountenan=eD&
E-uai8>unE Coutside hea)in-D& )e<indin- us )espe=ti,el;
of the >i>li=al use of 9na<e&9 of the e,olution of the
te)< 9pe)sonalit;9 f)o< the 6)ee@ <as@& and of 9fa<e'9
-ood na<e 88 one*s )eputation& the i<<o)tal pa)t of one*s
self& :hat )e<ains >ein- >estial 88 assu<ed as a <atte)
of =ou)se& an; inf)in-e<ent upon its inte-)it; :as felt
as sha<e& and the sense of sha<e CE+en8=hi8shinED :as one
of the ea)liest to >e =he)ished in Fu,enile edu=ation'
9#ou :ill >e lau-hed at&9 9It :ill dis-)a=e ;ou&9 9)e
;ou not asha<edB9 :e)e the last appeal to =o))e=t
>eha,io) on the pa)t of a ;outhful delinGuent' Su=h a
)e=ou)se to his hono) tou=hed the <ost sensiti,e spot in
the =hild*s hea)t& as thou-h it had >een nu)sed on hono)
:hile it :as in its <othe)*s :o<>? fo) <ost t)ul; is
hono) a p)enatal influen=e& >ein- =losel; >ound up :ith
st)on- fa<il; =ons=iousness' 9In losin- the solida)it; of
fa<ilies&9 sa;s BalHa=& 9so=iet; has lost the funda<ental
fo)=e :hi=h (ontesGuieu na<ed Hono)'9 Indeed& the sense
of sha<e see<s to <e to >e the ea)liest indi=ation of the
<o)al =ons=iousness of ou) )a=e' The fi)st and :o)st
punish<ent :hi=h >efell hu<anit; in =onseGuen=e of
tastin- 9the f)uit of that fo)>idden t)ee9 :as& to <;
<ind& not the so))o: of =hild>i)th& no) the tho)ns and
thistles& >ut the a:a@enin- of the sense of sha<e' Fe:
in=idents in histo); eK=el in pathos the s=ene of the
fi)st <othe) pl;in- :ith hea,in- >)east and t)e<ulous
fin-e)s& he) =)ude needle on the fe: fi- lea,es :hi=h he)
deFe=ted hus>and plu=@ed fo) he)' This fi)st f)uit of
diso>edien=e =lin-s to us :ith a tena=it; that nothin-
else does' ll the sa)to)ial in-enuit; of <an@ind has not
;et su==eeded in se:in- an ap)on that :ill effi=a=iousl;
hide ou) sense of sha<e' That sa<u)ai :as )i-ht :ho
)efused to =o<p)o<ise his =ha)a=te) >; a sli-ht
hu<iliation in his ;outh? 9>e=ause&9 he said& 9dishono)
is li@e a s=a) on a t)ee& :hi=h ti<e& instead of
effa=in-& onl; helps to enla)-e'9
(en=ius had tau-ht =entu)ies >efo)e& in al<ost the
identi=al ph)ase& :hat 1a)l;le has latte)l; eKp)essed& 88
na<el;& that 9Sha<e is the soil of all 3i)tue& of -ood
<anne)s and -ood <o)als'9
The fea) of dis-)a=e :as so -)eat that if ou) lite)atu)e
la=@s su=h eloGuen=e as Sha@espea)e puts into the <outh
of "o)fol@& it ne,e)theless hun- li@e Da<o=les* s:o)d
o,e) the head of e,e); sa<u)ai and often assu<ed a <o)>id
=ha)a=te)' In the na<e of Hono)& deeds :e)e pe)pet)ated
:hi=h =an find no Fustifi=ation in the =ode of Bushido'
t the sli-htest& na;& i<a-ina); insult& the Gui=@8
te<pe)ed >)a--a)t too@ offense& )eso)ted to the use of
the s:o)d& and <an; an unne=essa); st)ife :as )aised and
<an; an inno=ent life lost' The sto); of a :ell8<eanin-
=itiHen :ho =alled the attention of a >ushi to a flea
Fu<pin- on his >a=@& and :ho :as fo)th:ith =ut in t:o&
fo) the si<ple and Guestiona>le )eason that inas<u=h as
fleas a)e pa)asites :hi=h feed on ani<als& it :as an
unpa)dona>le insult to identif; a no>le :a))io) :ith a
>east 88 I sa;& sto)ies li@e these a)e too f)i,olous to
>elie,e' #et& the =i)=ulation of su=h sto)ies i<plies
th)ee thin-s? C1D that the; :e)e in,ented to o,e)a:e
=o<<on people? C7D that a>uses :e)e )eall; <ade of the
sa<u)ai*s p)ofession of hono)? and C.D that a ,e); st)on-
sense of sha<e :as de,eloped a<on- the<' It is plainl;
unfai) to ta@e an a>no)<al =ase to =ast >la<e upon the
!)e=epts& an; <o)e than to Fud-e of the t)ue tea=hin- of
1h)ist f)o< the f)uits of )eli-ious fanati=is< and
eKt)a,a-an=e 88 inGuisitions and h;po=)is;' But& as in
)eli-ious <ono<ania the)e is so<ethin- tou=hin-l; no>le&
as =o<pa)ed :ith the deli)iu< t)e<ens of a d)un@a)d& so
in that eKt)e<e sensiti,eness of the sa<u)ai a>out thei)
hono) do :e not )e=o-niHe the su>st)atu< of a -enuine
,i)tueB
The <o)>id eK=ess into :hi=h the deli=ate =ode of hono)
:as in=lined to )un :as st)on-l; =ounte)>alan=ed >;
p)ea=hin- <a-nani<it; and patien=e' To ta@e offense at
sli-ht p)o,o=ation :as )idi=uled as 9sho)t8te<pe)ed'9 The
popula) ada-e said: 9To >ea) :hat ;ou thin@ ;ou =annot
>ea) is )eall; to >ea)'9 The -)eat I;P;asu left to
poste)it; a fe: <aKi<s& a<on- :hi=h a)e the follo:in-: 88
9The life of <an is li@e -oin- a lon- distan=e :ith a
hea,; load upon the shoulde)s' Haste not' X X X X
+ep)oa=h none& >ut >e fo)e,e) :at=hful of thine o:n
sho)t8=o<in-s' X X X Fo)>ea)an=e is the >asis of len-th
of da;s'9 He p)o,ed in his life :hat he p)ea=hed'
lite)a); :it put a =ha)a=te)isti= epi-)a< into the <ouths
of th)ee :ell8@no:n pe)sona-es in ou) histo);: to
"o>una-a he att)i>uted& 9I :ill @ill he)& if the
ni-htin-ale sin-s not in ti<e?9 to HidP;oshi& 9I :ill
fo)=e he) to sin- fo) <e?9 and to I;P;asu& 9I :ill :ait
till she opens he) lips'9
!atien=e and lon- suffe)in- :e)e also hi-hl; =o<<ended >;
(en=ius' In one pla=e he :)ites to this effe=t: 9Thou-h
;ou denude ;ou)self and insult <e& :hat is that to <eB
#ou =annot defile <; soul >; ;ou) out)a-e'9 Else:he)e he
tea=hes that an-e) at a pett; offense is un:o)th; a
supe)io) <an& >ut indi-nation fo) a -)eat =ause is
)i-hteous :)ath'
To :hat hei-ht of un<a)tial and un)esistin- <ee@ness
Bushido =ould )ea=h in so<e of its ,ota)ies& <a; >e seen
in thei) utte)an=es' Ta@e& fo) instan=e& this sa;in- of
O-a:a: 95hen othe)s spea@ all <anne) of e,il thin-s
a-ainst thee& )etu)n not e,il fo) e,il& >ut )athe)
)efle=t that thou :ast not <o)e faithful in the dis=ha)-e
of th; duties'9 Ta@e anothe) of 4u<aHa:a: 88 95hen othe)s
>la<e thee& >la<e the< not? :hen othe)s a)e an-); at
thee& )etu)n not an-e)' Jo; =o<eth onl; as !assion and
Desi)e pa)t'9 Still anothe) instan=e I <a; =ite f)o<
Sai-o& upon :hose o,e)han-in- >)o:s 9sha<e is asha<ed to
sit?9 88 9The 5a; is the :a; of Hea,en and Ea)th: (an*s
pla=e is to follo: it: the)efo)e <a@e it the o>Fe=t of
th; life to )e,e)en=e Hea,en' Hea,en lo,es <e and othe)s
:ith eGual lo,e? the)efo)e :ith the lo,e :he)e:ith thou
lo,est th;self& lo,e othe)s' (a@e not (an th; pa)tne) >ut
Hea,en& and <a@in- Hea,en th; pa)tne) do th; >est' "e,e)
=onde<n othe)s? >ut see to it that thou =o<est not sho)t
of thine o:n <a)@'9 So<e of those sa;in-s )e<ind us of
1h)istian eKpostulations and sho: us ho: fa) in p)a=ti=al
<o)alit; natu)al )eli-ion =an app)oa=h the )e,ealed' "ot
onl; did these sa;in-s )e<ain as utte)an=es& >ut the;
:e)e )eall; e<>odied in a=ts'
It <ust >e ad<itted that ,e); fe: attained this su>li<e
hei-ht of <a-nani<it;& patien=e and fo)-i,eness' It :as a
-)eat pit; that nothin- =lea) and -ene)al :as eKp)essed
as to :hat =onstitutes Hono)& onl; a fe: enli-htened
<inds >ein- a:a)e that it 9f)o< no =ondition )ises&9 >ut
that it lies in ea=h a=tin- :ell his pa)t: fo) nothin-
:as easie) than fo) ;ouths to fo)-et in the heat of
a=tion :hat the; had lea)ned in (en=ius in thei) =al<e)
<o<ents' Said this sa-e& 9*Tis in e,e); <an*s <ind to
lo,e hono): >ut little doth he d)ea< that :hat is t)ul;
hono)a>le lies :ithin hi<self and not an;:he)e else' The
hono) :hi=h <en =onfe) is not -ood hono)' Those :ho< 1hRo
the 6)eat enno>les& he =an <a@e <ean a-ain'9
Fo) the <ost pa)t& an insult :as Gui=@l; )esented and
)epaid >; death& as :e shall see late)& :hile Hono) 88
too often nothin- hi-he) than ,ain -lo); o) :o)ldl;
app)o>ation 88 :as p)iHed as the Esu<<u< >onu<E of
ea)thl; eKisten=e' Fa<e& and not :ealth o) @no:led-e& :as
the -oal to:a)d :hi=h ;ouths had to st)i,e' (an; a lad
s:o)e :ithin hi<self as he =)ossed the th)eshold of his
pate)nal ho<e& that he :ould not )e=)oss it until he had
<ade a na<e in the :o)ld: and <an; an a<>itious <othe)
)efused to see he) sons a-ain unless the; =ould 9)etu)n
ho<e&9 as the eKp)ession is& 9=apa)isoned in >)o=ade'9 To
shun sha<e o) :in a na<e& sa<u)ai >o;s :ould su><it to
an; p)i,ations and unde)-o se,e)est o)deals of >odil; o)
<ental suffe)in-' The; @ne: that hono) :on in ;outh -)o:s
:ith a-e' In the <e<o)a>le sie-e of Osa@a& a ;oun- son of
I;P;asu& in spite of his ea)nest ent)eaties to >e put in
the ,an-ua)d& :as pla=ed at the )ea) of the a)<;' 5hen
the =astle fell& he :as so =ha-)ined and :ept so >itte)l;
that an old =oun=illo) t)ied to =onsole hi< :ith all the
)esou)=es at his =o<<and' 9Ta@e =o<fo)t& Si)e&9 said he&
9at thou-ht of the lon- futu)e >efo)e ;ou' In the <an;
;ea)s that ;ou <a; li,e& the)e :ill =o<e di,e)s o==asions
to distin-uish ;ou)self'9 The >o; fiKed his indi-nant
-aHe upon the <an and said 88 9Ho: foolishl; ;ou tal@A
1an e,e) <; fou)teenth ;ea) =o<e )ound a-ainB9
Life itself :as thou-ht =heap if hono) and fa<e =ould >e
attained the)e:ith: hen=e& :hene,e) a =ause p)esented
itself :hi=h :as =onside)ed dea)e) than life& :ith ut<ost
se)enit; and =ele)it; :as life laid do:n'
Of the =auses in =o<pa)ison :ith :hi=h no life :as too
dea) to sa=)ifi=e& :as
THE DUT# OF LO#LT#&
:hi=h :as the @e;8stone <a@in- feudal ,i)tues a
s;<<et)i=al a)=h' Othe) ,i)tues feudal <o)alit; sha)es in
=o<<on :ith othe) s;ste<s of ethi=s& :ith othe) =lasses
of people& >ut this ,i)tue 88 ho<a-e and fealt; to a
supe)io) 88 is its distin=ti,e featu)e' I a< a:a)e that
pe)sonal fidelit; is a <o)al adhesion eKistin- a<on- all
so)ts and =onditions of <en& 88 a -an- of pi=@po=@ets o:e
alle-ian=e to a Fa-in? >ut it is onl; in the =ode of
=hi,al)ous hono) that Lo;alt; assu<es pa)a<ount
i<po)tan=e'
In spite of He-el*s =)iti=is< that the fidelit; of feudal
,assals& >ein- an o>li-ation to an indi,idual and not to
a 1o<<on:ealth& is a >ond esta>lished on totall; unFust
p)in=iples&I1MJ a -)eat =o<pat)iot of his <ade it his
>oast that pe)sonal lo;alt; :as a 6e)<an ,i)tue' Bis<a)=@
had -ood )eason to do so& not >e=ause the ET)eueE he
>oasts of :as the <onopol; of his Fathe)land o) of an;
sin-le nation o) )a=e& >ut >e=ause this fa,o)ed f)uit of
=hi,al); lin-e)s latest a<on- the people :he)e feudalis<
has lasted lon-est' In <e)i=a :he)e 9e,e);>od; is as
-ood as an;>od; else&9 and& as the I)ish<an added&
9>ette) too&9 su=h eKalted ideas of lo;alt; as :e feel
fo) ou) so,e)ei-n <a; >e dee<ed 9eK=ellent :ithin =e)tain
>ounds&9 >ut p)eposte)ous as en=ou)a-ed a<on- us'
(ontesGuieu =o<plained lon- a-o that )i-ht on one side of
the !;)enees :as :)on- on the othe)& and the )e=ent
D)e;fus t)ial p)o,ed the t)uth of his )e<a)@& sa,e that
the !;)enees :e)e not the sole >ounda); >e;ond :hi=h
F)en=h Fusti=e finds no a==o)d' Si<ila)l;& Lo;alt; as :e
=on=ei,e it <a; find fe: ad<i)e)s else:he)e& not >e=ause
ou) =on=eption is :)on-& >ut >e=ause it is& I a< af)aid&
fo)-otten& and also >e=ause :e =a)); it to a de-)ee not
)ea=hed in an; othe) =ount);' 6)iffisI1NJ :as Guite )i-ht
in statin- that :he)eas in 1hina 1onfu=ian ethi=s <ade
o>edien=e to pa)ents the p)i<a); hu<an dut;& in Japan
p)e=eden=e :as -i,en to Lo;alt;' t the )is@ of sho=@in-
so<e of <; -ood )eade)s& I :ill )elate of one 9:ho =ould
endu)e to follo: a fall*n lo)d9 and :ho thus& as
Sha@espea)e assu)es& 9ea)ned a pla=e i* the sto);'9
The sto); is of one of the pu)est =ha)a=te)s in ou)
histo);& (i=hiHanP& :ho& fallin- a ,i=ti< to Fealous; and
=alu<n;& is eKiled f)o< the =apital' "ot =ontent :ith
this& his un)elentin- ene<ies a)e no: >ent upon the
eKtin=tion of his fa<il;' St)i=t sea)=h fo) his son 88
not ;et -)o:n 88 )e,eals the fa=t of his >ein- se=)eted
in a ,illa-e s=hool @ept >; one 6enHo& a fo)<e) ,assal of
(i=hiHanP' 5hen o)de)s a)e dispat=hed to the s=hool<aste)
to deli,e) the head of the Fu,enile offende) on a =e)tain
da;& his fi)st idea is to find a suita>le su>stitute fo)
it' He ponde)s o,e) his s=hool8list& s=)utiniHes :ith
=a)eful e;es all the >o;s& as the; st)oll into the =lass8
)oo<& >ut none a<on- the =hild)en >o)n of the soil >ea)s
the least )ese<>lan=e to his p)otP-P' His despai)&
ho:e,e)& is >ut fo) a <o<ent? fo)& >ehold& a ne: s=hola)
is announ=ed 88 a =o<el; >o; of the sa<e a-e as his
<aste)*s son& es=o)ted >; a <othe) of no>le <ien' "o less
=ons=ious of the )ese<>lan=e >et:een infant lo)d and
infant )etaine)& :e)e the <othe) and the >o; hi<self' In
the p)i,a=; of ho<e >oth had laid the<sel,es upon the
alta)? the one his life& 88 the othe) he) hea)t& ;et
:ithout si-n to the oute) :o)ld' Un:ittin- of :hat had
passed >et:een the<& it is the tea=he) f)o< :ho< =o<es
the su--estion'
He)e& then& is the s=ape8-oatA 88 The )est of the
na))ati,e <a; >e >)iefl; told' 88 On the da; appointed&
a))i,es the offi=e) =o<<issioned to identif; and )e=ei,e
the head of the ;outh' 5ill he >e de=ei,ed >; the false
headB The poo) 6enHo*s hand is on the hilt of the s:o)d&
)ead; to st)i@e a >lo: eithe) at the <an o) at hi<self&
should the eKa<ination defeat his s=he<e' The offi=e)
ta@es up the -)ueso<e o>Fe=t >efo)e hi<& -oes =al<l; o,e)
ea=h featu)e& and in a deli>e)ate& >usiness8li@e tone&
p)onoun=es it -enuine' 88 That e,enin- in a lonel; ho<e
a:aits the <othe) :e sa: in the s=hool' Does she @no: the
fate of he) =hildB It is not fo) his )etu)n that she
:at=hes :ith ea-e)ness fo) the openin- of the :i=@et' He)
fathe)8in8la: has >een fo) a lon- ti<e a )e=ipient of
(i=hiHanP*s >ounties& >ut sin=e his >anish<ent
=i)=u<stan=es ha,e fo)=ed he) hus>and to follo: the
se),i=e of the ene<; of his fa<il;*s >enefa=to)' He
hi<self =ould not >e unt)ue to his o:n =)uel <aste)? >ut
his son =ould se),e the =ause of the -)andsi)e*s lo)d' s
one a=Guainted :ith the eKile*s fa<il;& it :as he :ho had
>een ent)usted :ith the tas@ of identif;in- the >o;*s
head' "o: the da;*s 88 ;ea& the life*s 88 ha)d :o)@ is
done& he )etu)ns ho<e and as he =)osses its th)eshold& he
a==osts his :ife& sa;in-: 9+eFoi=e& <; :ife& ou) da)lin-
son has p)o,ed of se),i=e to his lo)dA9
95hat an at)o=ious sto);A9 I hea) <; )eade)s eK=lai<& 88
9!a)ents deli>e)atel; sa=)ifi=in- thei) o:n inno=ent
=hild to sa,e the life of anothe) <an*s'9 But this =hild
:as a =ons=ious and :illin- ,i=ti<: it is a sto); of
,i=a)ious death 88 as si-nifi=ant as& and not <o)e
)e,oltin- than& the sto); of >)aha<*s intended sa=)ifi=e
of Isaa=' In >oth =ases it :as o>edien=e to the =all of
dut;& utte) su><ission to the =o<<and of a hi-he) ,oi=e&
:hethe) -i,en >; a ,isi>le o) an in,isi>le an-el& o)
hea)d >; an out:a)d o) an in:a)d ea)? 88 >ut I a>stain
f)o< p)ea=hin-'
The indi,idualis< of the 5est& :hi=h )e=o-niHes sepa)ate
inte)ests fo) fathe) and son& hus>and and :ife&
ne=essa)il; >)in-s into st)on- )elief the duties o:ed >;
one to the othe)? >ut Bushido held that the inte)est of
the fa<il; and of the <e<>e)s the)eof is inta=t& 88 one
and insepa)a>le' This inte)est it >ound up :ith affe=tion
88 natu)al& instin=ti,e& i))esisti>le? hen=e& if :e die
fo) one :e lo,e :ith natu)al lo,e C:hi=h ani<als
the<sel,es possessD& :hat is thatB 9Fo) if ;e lo,e the<
that lo,e ;ou& :hat )e:a)d ha,e ;eB Do not e,en the
pu>li=ans the sa<eB9
In his -)eat histo);& San;o )elates in tou=hin- lan-ua-e
the hea)t st)u--le of Shi-e<o)i =on=e)nin- his fathe)*s
)e>ellious =ondu=t' 9If I >e lo;al& <; fathe) <ust >e
undone? if I o>e; <; fathe)& <; dut; to <; so,e)ei-n <ust
-o a<iss'9 !oo) Shi-e<o)iA 5e see hi< afte):a)d p)a;in-
:ith all his soul that @ind Hea,en <a; ,isit hi< :ith
death& that he <a; >e )eleased f)o< this :o)ld :he)e it
is ha)d fo) pu)it; and )i-hteousness to d:ell'
(an; a Shi-e<o)i has his hea)t to)n >; the =onfli=t
>et:een dut; and affe=tion' Indeed neithe) Sha@espea)e
no) the Old Testa<ent itself =ontains an adeGuate
)ende)in- of E@oE& ou) =on=eption of filial piet;& and
;et in su=h =onfli=ts Bushido ne,e) :a,e)ed in its =hoi=e
of Lo;alt;' 5o<en& too& en=ou)a-ed thei) offsp)in- to
sa=)ifi=e all fo) the @in-' E,e) as )esolute as 5ido:
5indha< and he) illust)ious =onso)t& the sa<u)ai <at)on
stood )ead; to -i,e up he) >o;s fo) the =ause of Lo;alt;'
Sin=e Bushido& li@e )istotle and so<e <ode)n
so=iolo-ists& =on=ei,ed the state as antedatin- the
indi,idual 88 the latte) >ein- >o)n into the fo)<e) as
pa)t and pa)=el the)eof 88 he <ust li,e and die fo) it o)
fo) the in=u<>ent of its le-iti<ate autho)it;' +eade)s of
1)ito :ill )e<e<>e) the a)-u<ent :ith :hi=h So=)ates
)ep)esents the la:s of the =it; as pleadin- :ith hi< on
the su>Fe=t of his es=ape' <on- othe)s he <a@es the<
Cthe la:s& o) the stateD sa;: 88 9Sin=e ;ou :e)e >e-otten
and nu)tu)ed and edu=ated unde) us& da)e ;ou on=e to sa;
;ou a)e not ou) offsp)in- and se),ant& ;ou and ;ou)
fathe)s >efo)e ;ouA9 These a)e :o)ds :hi=h do not i<p)ess
us as an; thin- eKt)ao)dina);? fo) the sa<e thin- has
lon- >een on the lips of Bushido& :ith this <odifi=ation&
that the la:s and the state :e)e )ep)esented :ith us >; a
pe)sonal >ein-' Lo;alt; is an ethi=al out=o<e of this
politi=al theo);'
I a< not enti)el; i-no)ant of ()' Spen=e)*s ,ie:
a==o)din- to :hi=h politi=al o>edien=e 88 Lo;alt; 88 is
a==)edited :ith onl; a t)ansitional fun=tion'I10J It <a;
>e so' Suffi=ient unto the da; is the ,i)tue the)eof' 5e
<a; =o<pla=entl; )epeat it& espe=iall; as :e >elie,e
EthatE da; to >e a lon- spa=e of ti<e& du)in- :hi=h& so
ou) national anthe< sa;s& 9tin; pe>>les -)o: into <i-ht;
)o=@s d)aped :ith <oss'9 5e <a; )e<e<>e) at this Fun=tu)e
that e,en a<onso de<o=)ati= a people as the En-lish&
9the senti<ent of pe)sonal fidelit; to a <an and his
poste)it; :hi=h thei) 6e)<ani= an=esto)s felt fo) thei)
=hiefs& has&9 as (onsieu) Bout<; )e=entl; said& 9onl;
passed <o)e o) less into thei) p)ofound lo;alt; to the
)a=e and >lood of thei) p)in=es& as e,iden=ed in thei)
eKt)ao)dina); atta=h<ent to the d;nast;'9
!oliti=al su>o)dination& ()' Spen=e) p)edi=ts& :ill -i,e
pla=e to lo;alt; to the di=tates of =ons=ien=e' Suppose
his indu=tion is )ealiHed 88 :ill lo;alt; and its
=on=o<itant instin=t of )e,e)en=e disappea) fo)e,e)B 5e
t)ansfe) ou) alle-ian=e f)o< one <aste) to anothe)&
:ithout >ein- unfaithful to eithe)? f)o< >ein- su>Fe=ts
of a )ule) that :ields the te<po)al s=ept)e :e >e=o<e
se),ants of the <ona)=h :ho sits enth)oned in the
penet)alia of ou) hea)t' fe: ;ea)s a-o a ,e); stupid
=ont)o,e)s;& sta)ted >; the <is-uided dis=iples of
Spen=e)& <ade ha,o= a<on- the )eadin- =lass of Japan' In
thei) Heal to uphold the =lai< of the th)one to undi,ided
lo;alt;& the; =ha)-ed 1h)istians :ith t)easona>le
p)opensities in that the; a,o: fidelit; to thei) Lo)d and
(aste)' The; a))a;ed fo)th sophisti=al a)-u<ents :ithout
the :it of Sophists& and s=holasti= to)tuosities <inus
the ni=eties of the S=hool<en' Little did the; @no: that
:e =an& in a sense& 9se),e t:o <aste)s :ithout holdin- to
the one o) despisin- the othe)&9 9)ende)in- unto 1aesa)
the thin-s that a)e 1aesa)*s and unto 6od the thin-s that
a)e 6od*s'9 Did not So=)ates& all the :hile he
unflin=hin-l; )efused to =on=ede one iota of lo;alt; to
his Edae<onE& o>e; :ith eGual fidelit; and eGuani<it; the
=o<<and of his ea)thl; <aste)& the StateB His =ons=ien=e
he follo:ed& ali,e? his =ount); he se),ed& d;in-' la=@
the da; :hen a state -)o:s so po:e)ful as to de<and of
its =itiHens the di=tates of thei) =ons=ien=eA
Bushido did not )eGui)e us to <a@e ou) =ons=ien=e the
sla,e of an; lo)d o) @in-' Tho<as (o:>)a; :as a ,e)ita>le
spo@es<an fo) us :hen he said:
9(;self I th)o:& d)ead so,e)ei-n& at th; foot'
(; life thou shalt =o<<and& >ut not <; sha<e'
The one <; dut; o:es? >ut <; fai) na<e&
Despite of death& that li,es upon <; -)a,e&
To da)@ dishono)*s use& thou shalt not ha,e'9
<an :ho sa=)ifi=ed his o:n =ons=ien=e to the =ap)i=ious
:ill o) f)ea@ o) fan=; of a so,e)ei-n :as a==o)ded a lo:
pla=e in the esti<ate of the !)e=epts' Su=h an one :as
despised as Enei8shinE& a =)in-elin-& :ho <a@es =ou)t >;
uns=)upulous fa:nin- o) as E=hY8shinE& a fa,o)ite :ho
steals his <aste)*s affe=tions >; <eans of se),ile
=o<plian=e? these t:o spe=ies of su>Fe=ts =o))espondin-
eKa=tl; to those :hi=h Ia-o des=)i>es& 88 the one& a
duteous and @nee8=)oo@in- @na,e& dotin- on his o:n
o>seGuious >onda-e& :ea)in- out his ti<e <u=h li@e his
<aste)*s ass? the othe) t)i<<*d in fo)<s and ,isa-es of
dut;& @eepin- ;et his hea)t attendin- on hi<self' 5hen a
su>Fe=t diffe)ed f)o< his <aste)& the lo;al path fo) hi<
to pu)sue :as to use e,e); a,aila>le <eans to pe)suade
hi< of his e))o)& as 4ent did to 4in- Lea)' Failin- in
this& let the <aste) deal :ith hi< as he :ills' In =ases
of this @ind& it :as Guite a usual =ou)se fo) the sa<u)ai
to <a@e the last appeal to the intelli-en=e and
=ons=ien=e of his lo)d >; de<onst)atin- the sin=e)it; of
his :o)ds :ith the sheddin- of his o:n >lood'
Life >ein- )e-a)ded as the <eans :he)e>; to se),e his
<aste)& and its ideal >ein- set upon hono)& the :hole
EDU1TIO" "D T+I"I"6 OF S(U+I&
:e)e =ondu=ted a==o)din-l;'
The fi)st point to o>se),e in @ni-htl; peda-o-i=s :as to
>uild up =ha)a=te)& lea,in- in the shade the su>tle)
fa=ulties of p)uden=e& intelli-en=e and diale=ti=s' 5e
ha,e seen the i<po)tant pa)t aestheti= a==o<plish<ents
pla;ed in his edu=ation' Indispensa>le as the; :e)e to a
<an of =ultu)e& the; :e)e a==esso)ies )athe) than
essentials of sa<u)ai t)ainin-' Intelle=tual supe)io)it;
:as& of =ou)se& estee<ed? >ut the :o)d E1hiE& :hi=h :as
e<plo;ed to denote intelle=tualit;& <eant :isdo< in the
fi)st instan=e and pla=ed @no:led-e onl; in a ,e);
su>o)dinate pla=e' The t)ipod that suppo)ted the
f)a<e:o)@ of Bushido :as said to >e E1hiE& EJinE& E#uE&
)espe=ti,el; 5isdo<& Bene,olen=e& and 1ou)a-e' sa<u)ai
:as essentiall; a <an of a=tion' S=ien=e :as :ithout the
pale of his a=ti,it;' He too@ ad,anta-e of it in so fa)
as it =on=e)ned his p)ofession of a)<s' +eli-ion and
theolo-; :e)e )ele-ated to the p)iests? he =on=e)ned
hi<self :ith the< in so fa) as the; helped to nou)ish
=ou)a-e' Li@e an En-lish poet the sa<u)ai >elie,ed 9*tis
not the =)eed that sa,es the <an? >ut it is the <an that
Fustifies the =)eed'9 !hilosoph; and lite)atu)e fo)<ed
the =hief pa)t of his intelle=tual t)ainin-? >ut e,en in
the pu)suit of these& it :as not o>Fe=ti,e t)uth that he
st)o,e afte)& 88 lite)atu)e :as pu)sued <ainl; as a
pasti<e& and philosoph; as a p)a=ti=al aid in the
fo)<ation of =ha)a=te)& if not fo) the eKposition of so<e
<ilita); o) politi=al p)o>le<'
F)o< :hat has >een said& it :ill not >e su)p)isin- to
note that the =u))i=ulu< of studies& a==o)din- to the
peda-o-i=s of Bushido& =onsisted <ainl; of the follo:in-&
88 fen=in-& a)=he);& EFiuFutsuE o) E;a:a)aE&
ho)se<anship& the use of the spea)& ta=ti=s& =ali-)aph;&
ethi=s& lite)atu)e and histo);' Of these& EFiuFutsuE and
=ali-)aph; <a; )eGui)e a fe: :o)ds of eKplanation' 6)eat
st)ess :as laid on -ood :)itin-& p)o>a>l; >e=ause ou)
lo-o-)a<s& pa)ta@inas the; do of the natu)e of
pi=tu)es& possess a)tisti= ,alue& and also >e=ause
=hi)o-)aph; :as a==epted as indi=ati,e of one*s pe)sonal
=ha)a=te)' EJiuFutsuE <a; >e >)iefl; defined as an
appli=ation of anato<i=al @no:led-e to the pu)pose of
offense o) defense' It diffe)s f)o< :)estlin-& in that it
does not depend upon <us=ula) st)en-th' It diffe)s f)o<
othe) fo)<s of atta=@ in that it uses no :eapon' Its feat
=onsists in =lut=hin- o) st)i@insu=h pa)t of the
ene<;*s >od; as :ill <a@e hi< nu<> and in=apa>le of
)esistan=e' Its o>Fe=t is not to @ill& >ut to
in=apa=itate one fo) a=tion fo) the ti<e >ein-'
su>Fe=t of stud; :hi=h one :ould eKpe=t to find in
<ilita); edu=ation and :hi=h is )athe) =onspi=uous >; its
a>sen=e in the Bushido =ou)se of inst)u=tion& is
<athe<ati=s' This& ho:e,e)& =an >e )eadil; eKplained in
pa)t >; the fa=t that feudal :a)fa)e :as not =a))ied on
:ith s=ientifi= p)e=ision' "ot onl; that& >ut the :hole
t)ainin- of the sa<u)ai :as unfa,o)a>le to foste)in-
nu<e)i=al notions'
1hi,al); is une=ono<i=al? it >oasts of penu);' It sa;s
:ith 3entidius that 9a<>ition& the soldie)*s ,i)tue&
)athe) <a@es =hoi=e of loss& than -ain :hi=h da)@ens
hi<'9 Don QuiKote ta@es <o)e p)ide in his )ust; spea) and
s@in8and8>one ho)se than in -old and lands& and a sa<u)ai
is in hea)t; s;<path; :ith his eKa--e)ated =onf)S)e of La
(an=ha' He disdains <one; itself& 88 the a)t of <a@in- o)
hoa)din- it' It is to hi< ,e)ita>l; filth; lu=)e' The
ha=@ne;ed eKp)ession to des=)i>e the de=aden=e of an a-e
is 9that the =i,ilians lo,ed <one; and the soldie)s
fea)ed death'9 "i--a)dliness of -old and of life eK=ites
as <u=h disapp)o>ation as thei) la,ish use is
pane-;)iHed' 9Less than all thin-s&9 sa;s a =u))ent
p)e=ept& 9<en <ust -)ud-e <one;: it is >; )i=hes that
:isdo< is hinde)ed'9 Hen=e =hild)en :e)e >)ou-ht up :ith
utte) dis)e-a)d of e=ono<;' It :as =onside)ed >ad taste
to spea@ of it& and i-no)an=e of the ,alue of diffe)ent
=oins :as a to@en of -ood >)eedin-' 4no:led-e of nu<>e)s
:as indispensa>le in the <uste)in- of fo)=es as :ell& as
in the dist)i>ution of >enefi=es and fiefs? >ut the
=ountin- of <one; :as left to <eane) hands' In <an;
feudato)ies& pu>li= finan=e :as ad<iniste)ed >; a lo:e)
@ind of sa<u)ai o) >; p)iests' E,e); thin@in- >ushi @ne:
:ell enou-h that <one; fo)<ed the sine:s of :a)? >ut he
did not thin@ of )aisin- the app)e=iation of <one; to a
,i)tue' It is t)ue that th)ift :as enFoined >; Bushido&
>ut not fo) e=ono<i=al )easons so <u=h as fo) the
eKe)=ise of a>stinen=e' LuKu); :as thou-ht the -)eatest
<ena=e to <anhood& and se,e)est si<pli=it; :as )eGui)ed
of the :a))io) =lass& su<ptua); la:s >ein- enfo)=ed in
<an; of the =lans'
5e )ead that in an=ient +o<e the fa)<e)s of )e,enue and
othe) finan=ial a-ents :e)e -)aduall; )aised to the )an@
of @ni-hts& the State the)e>; sho:in- its app)e=iation of
thei) se),i=e and of the i<po)tan=e of <one; itself' Ho:
=losel; this :as =onne=ted :ith the luKu); and a,a)i=e of
the +o<ans <a; >e i<a-ined' "ot so :ith the !)e=epts of
4ni-hthood' These pe)sisted in s;ste<ati=all; )e-a)din-
finan=e as so<ethin- lo: 88 lo: as =o<pa)ed :ith <o)al
and intelle=tual ,o=ations'
(one; and the lo,e of it >ein- thus dili-entl; i-no)ed&
Bushido itself =ould lon- )e<ain f)ee f)o< a thousand and
one e,ils of :hi=h <one; is the )oot' This is suffi=ient
)eason fo) the fa=t that ou) pu>li= <en ha,e lon- >een
f)ee f)o< =o))uption? >ut& alas& ho: fast pluto=)a=; is
<a@in- its :a; in ou) ti<e and -ene)ationA
The <ental dis=ipline :hi=h :ould no:8a8da;s >e =hiefl;
aided >; the stud; of <athe<ati=s& :as supplied >;
lite)a); eKe-esis and deontolo-i=al dis=ussions' 3e); fe:
a>st)a=t su>Fe=ts t)ou>led the <ind of the ;oun-& the
=hief ai< of thei) edu=ation >ein-& as I ha,e said&
de=ision of =ha)a=te)' !eople :hose <inds :e)e si<pl;
sto)ed :ith info)<ation found no -)eat ad<i)e)s' Of the
th)ee se),i=es of studies that Ba=on -i,es& 88 fo)
deli-ht& o)na<ent& and a>ilit;& 88 Bushido had de=ided
p)efe)en=e fo) the last& :he)e thei) use :as 9in Fud-<ent
and the disposition of >usiness'9 5hethe) it :as fo) the
disposition of pu>li= >usiness o) fo) the eKe)=ise of
self8=ont)ol& it :as :ith a p)a=ti=al end in ,ie: that
edu=ation :as =ondu=ted' 9Lea)nin- :ithout thou-ht&9 said
1onfu=ius& 9is la>o) lost: thou-ht :ithout lea)nin- is
pe)ilous'9
5hen =ha)a=te) and not intelli-en=e& :hen the soul and
not the head& is =hosen >; a tea=he) fo) the <ate)ial to
:o)@ upon and to de,elop& his ,o=ation pa)ta@es of a
sa=)ed =ha)a=te)' 9It is the pa)ent :ho has >o)ne <e: it
is the tea=he) :ho <a@es <e <an'9 5ith this idea&
the)efo)e& the estee< in :hi=h one*s p)e=epto) :as held
:as ,e); hi-h' <an to e,o@e su=h =onfiden=e and )espe=t
f)o< the ;oun-& <ust ne=essa)il; >e endo:ed :ith supe)io)
pe)sonalit; :ithout la=@in- e)udition' He :as a fathe) to
the fathe)less& and an ad,ise) to the e))in-' 9Th; fathe)
and th; <othe)9 88 so )uns ou) <aKi< 88 9a)e li@e hea,en
and ea)th? th; tea=he) and th; lo)d a)e li@e the sun and
<oon'9
The p)esent s;ste< of pa;info) e,e); so)t of se),i=e
:as not in ,o-ue a<on- the adhe)ents of Bushido' It
>elie,ed in a se),i=e :hi=h =an >e )ende)ed onl; :ithout
<one; and :ithout p)i=e' Spi)itual se),i=e& >e it of
p)iest o) tea=he)& :as not to >e )epaid in -old o)
sil,e)& not >e=ause it :as ,alueless >ut >e=ause it :as
in,alua>le' He)e the non8a)ith<eti=al hono)8instin=t of
Bushido tau-ht a t)ue) lesson than <ode)n !oliti=al
E=ono<;? fo) :a-es and sala)ies =an >e paid onl; fo)
se),i=es :hose )esults a)e definite& tan-i>le& and
<easu)a>le& :he)eas the >est se),i=e done in edu=ation&
88 na<el;& in soul de,elop<ent Cand this in=ludes the
se),i=es of a pasto)D& is not definite& tan-i>le o)
<easu)a>le' Bein- i<<easu)a>le& <one;& the ostensi>le
<easu)e of ,alue& is of inadeGuate use' Usa-e san=tioned
that pupils >)ou-ht to thei) tea=he)s <one; o) -oods at
diffe)ent seasons of the ;ea)? >ut these :e)e not
pa;<ents >ut offe)in-s& :hi=h indeed :e)e :el=o<e to the
)e=ipients as the; :e)e usuall; <en of ste)n =ali>)e&
>oastin- of hono)a>le penu);& too di-nified to :o)@ :ith
thei) hands and too p)oud to >e-' The; :e)e -)a,e
pe)sonifi=ations of hi-h spi)its undaunted >; ad,e)sit;'
The; :e)e an e<>odi<ent of :hat :as =onside)ed as an end
of all lea)nin-& and :e)e thus a li,in- eKa<ple of that
dis=ipline of dis=iplines&
SELF81O"T+OL&
:hi=h :as uni,e)sall; )eGui)ed of sa<u)ai'
The dis=ipline of fo)titude on the one hand& in=ul=atin-
endu)an=e :ithout a -)oan& and the tea=hin- of politeness
on the othe)& )eGui)inus not to <a) the pleasu)e o)
se)enit; of anothe) >; <anifestations of ou) o:n so))o:
o) pain& =o<>ined to en-ende) a stoi=al tu)n of <ind& and
e,entuall; to =onfi)< it into a national t)ait of
appa)ent stoi=is<' I sa; appa)ent stoi=is<& >e=ause I do
not >elie,e that t)ue stoi=is< =an e,e) >e=o<e the
=ha)a=te)isti= of a :hole nation& and also >e=ause so<e
of ou) national <anne)s and =usto<s <a; see< to a fo)ei-n
o>se),e) ha)d8hea)ted' #et :e a)e )eall; as sus=epti>le
to tende) e<otion as an; )a=e unde) the s@;'
I a< in=lined to thin@ that in one sense :e ha,e to feel
<o)e than othe)s 88 ;es& dou>l; <o)e 88 sin=e the ,e);
atte<pt to& )est)ain natu)al p)o<ptin-s entails
suffe)in-' I<a-ine >o;s 88 and -i)ls too 88 >)ou-ht up
not to )eso)t to the sheddin- of a tea) o) the utte)in-
of a -)oan fo) the )elief of thei) feelin-s& 88 and the)e
is a ph;siolo-i=al p)o>le< :hethe) su=h effo)t steels
thei) ne),es o) <a@es the< <o)e sensiti,e'
It :as =onside)ed un<anl; fo) a sa<u)ai to >et)a; his
e<otions on his fa=e' 9He sho:s no si-n of Fo; o) an-e)&9
:as a ph)ase used in des=)i>in- a st)on- =ha)a=te)' The
<ost natu)al affe=tions :e)e @ept unde) =ont)ol' fathe)
=ould e<>)a=e his son onl; at the eKpense of his di-nit;?
a hus>and :ould not @iss his :ife& 88 no& not in the
p)esen=e of othe) people& :hate,e) he <i-ht do in
p)i,ateA The)e <a; >e so<e t)uth in the )e<a)@ of a :itt;
;outh :hen he said& 9<e)i=an hus>ands @iss thei) :i,es
in pu>li= and >eat the< in p)i,ate? Japanese hus>ands
>eat thei)s in pu>li= and @iss the< in p)i,ate'9
1al<ness of >eha,io)& =o<posu)e of <ind& should not >e
distu)>ed >; passion of an; @ind' I )e<e<>e) :hen& du)in-
the late :a) :ith 1hina& a )e-i<ent left a =e)tain to:n&
a la)-e =on=ou)se of people flo=@ed to the station to >id
fa)e:ell to the -ene)al and his a)<;' On this o==asion an
<e)i=an )esident )eso)ted to the pla=e& eKpe=tin- to
:itness loud de<onst)ations& as the nation itself :as
hi-hl; eK=ited and the)e :e)e fathe)s& <othe)s& and
s:eethea)ts of the soldie)s in the =)o:d' The <e)i=an
:as st)an-el; disappointed? fo) as the :histle >le: and
the t)ain >e-an to <o,e& the hats of thousands of people
:e)e silentl; ta@en off and thei) heads >o:ed in
)e,e)ential fa)e:ell? no :a,in- of hand@e)=hiefs& no :o)d
utte)ed& >ut deep silen=e in :hi=h onl; an attenti,e ea)
=ould =at=h a fe: >)o@en so>s' In do<esti= life& too& I
@no: of a fathe) :ho spent :hole ni-hts listenin- to the
>)eathin- of a si=@ =hild& standin- >ehind the doo) that
he <i-ht not >e =au-ht in su=h an a=t of pa)ental
:ea@nessA I @no: of a <othe) :ho& in he) last <o<ents&
)ef)ained f)o< sendin- fo) he) son& that he <i-ht not >e
distu)>ed in his studies' Ou) histo); and e,e);da; life
a)e )eplete :ith eKa<ples of he)oi= <at)ons :ho =an :ell
>ea) =o<pa)ison :ith so<e of the <ost tou=hin- pa-es of
!luta)=h' <on- ou) peasant); an Ian (a=la)en :ould >e
su)e to find <an; a (a)-et Ho:e'
It is the sa<e dis=ipline of self8)est)aint :hi=h is
a==ounta>le fo) the a>sen=e of <o)e f)eGuent )e,i,als in
the 1h)istian =hu)=hes of Japan' 5hen a <an o) :o<an
feels his o) he) soul sti))ed& the fi)st instin=t is to
Guietl; supp)ess an; indi=ation of it' In )a)e instan=es
is the ton-ue set f)ee >; an i))esisti>le spi)it& :hen :e
ha,e eloGuen=e of sin=e)it; and fe),o)' It is puttin- a
p)e<iu< upon a >)ea=h of the thi)d =o<<and<ent to
en=ou)a-e spea@in- li-htl; of spi)itual eKpe)ien=e' It is
t)ul; Fa))in- to Japanese ea)s to hea) the <ost sa=)ed
:o)ds& the <ost se=)et hea)t eKpe)ien=es& th)o:n out in
p)o<is=uous audien=es' 9Dost thou feel the soil of th;
soul sti))ed :ith tende) thou-htsB It is ti<e fo) seeds
to sp)out' Distu)> it not :ith spee=h? >ut let it :o)@
alone in Guietness and se=)e=;&9 88 :)ites a ;oun-
sa<u)ai in his dia);'
To -i,e in so <an; a)ti=ulate :o)ds one*s in<ost thou-hts
and feelin-s 88 nota>l; the )eli-ious 88 is ta@en a<on-
us as an un<ista@a>le si-n that the; a)e neithe) ,e);
p)ofound no) ,e); sin=e)e' 9Onl; a po<e-)anate is he9 88
so )uns a popula) sa;in- 88 9:ho& :hen he -apes his
<outh& displa;s the =ontents of his hea)t'9
It is not alto-ethe) pe),e)seness of o)iental <inds that
the instant ou) e<otions a)e <o,ed :e t); to -ua)d ou)
lips in o)de) to hide the<' Spee=h is ,e); often :ith us&
as the F)en=h<an defined it& 9the a)t of =on=ealin-
thou-ht'9
1all upon a Japanese f)iend in ti<e of deepest affli=tion
and he :ill in,a)ia>l; )e=ei,e ;ou lau-hin-& :ith )ed
e;es o) <oist =hee@s' t fi)st ;ou <a; thin@ hi<
h;ste)i=al' !)ess hi< fo) eKplanation and ;ou :ill -et a
fe: >)o@en =o<<onpla=es 88 9Hu<an life has so))o:?9 9The;
:ho <eet <ust pa)t?9 9He that is >o)n <ust die?9 9It is
foolish to =ount the ;ea)s of a =hild that is -one& >ut a
:o<an*s hea)t :ill indul-e in follies?9 and the li@e' So
the no>le :o)ds of a no>le HohenHolle)n 88 9Le)ne Hu
leiden ohne 4la-en9 88 had found <an; )esponsi,e <inds
a<on- us& lon- >efo)e the; :e)e utte)ed'
Indeed& the Japanese ha,e )e=ou)se to )isi>ilit; :hene,e)
the f)ailties of hu<an natu)e a)e put to se,e)est test' I
thin@ :e possess a >ette) )eason than De<o=)itus hi<self
fo) ou) >de)ian tenden=;? fo) lau-hte) :ith us oftenest
,eils an effo)t to )e-ain >alan=e of te<pe)& :hen
distu)>ed >; an; unto:a)d =i)=u<stan=e' It is a
=ounte)poise of so))o: o) )a-e'
The supp)ession of feelin-s >ein- thus steadil; insisted
upon& the; find thei) safet;8,al,e in poeti=al apho)is<'
poet of the tenth =entu); :)ites& 9In Japan and 1hina
as :ell& hu<anit;& :hen <o,ed >; so))o:& tells its >itte)
-)ief in ,e)se'9 <othe) :ho t)ies to =onsole he) >)o@en
hea)t >; fan=;inhe) depa)ted =hild a>sent on his :onted
=hase afte) the d)a-on8fl;& hu<s&
9Ho: fa) to8da; in =hase& I :onde)&
Has -one <; hunte) of the d)a-on8fl;A9
I )ef)ain f)o< Guotin- othe) eKa<ples& fo) I @no: I =ould
do onl; s=ant Fusti=e to the pea)l; -e<s of ou)
lite)atu)e& :e)e I to )ende) into a fo)ei-n ton-ue the
thou-hts :hi=h :e)e :)un- d)op >; d)op f)o< >leedin-
hea)ts and th)eaded into >eads of )a)est ,alue' I hope I
ha,e in a <easu)e sho:n that inne) :o)@in- of ou) <inds
:hi=h often p)esents an appea)an=e of =allousness o) of
an h;ste)i=al <iKtu)e of lau-hte) and deFe=tion& and
:hose sanit; is so<eti<es =alled in Guestion'
It has also >een su--ested that ou) endu)an=e of pain and
indiffe)en=e to death a)e due to less sensiti,e ne),es'
This is plausi>le as fa) as it -oes' The neKt Guestion
is& 88 5h; a)e ou) ne),es less ti-htl; st)un-B It <a; >e
ou) =li<ate is not so sti<ulatin- as the <e)i=an' It <a;
>e ou) <ona)=hi=al fo)< of -o,e)n<ent does not eK=ite us
as <u=h as the +epu>li= does the F)en=h<an' It <a; >e
that :e do not )ead ESa)to) +esa)tusE as Healousl; as the
En-lish<an' !e)sonall;& I >elie,e it :as ou) ,e);
eK=ita>ilit; and sensiti,eness :hi=h <ade it a ne=essit;
to )e=o-niHe and enfo)=e =onstant self8)ep)ession? >ut
:hate,e) <a; >e the eKplanation& :ithout ta@in- into
a==ount lon- ;ea)s of dis=ipline in self8=ont)ol& none
=an >e =o))e=t'
Dis=ipline in self8=ont)ol =an easil; -o too fa)' It =an
:ell )ep)ess the -enial =u))ent of the soul' It =an fo)=e
pliant natu)es into disto)tions and <onst)osities' It =an
>e-et >i-ot);& >)eed h;po=)is; o) he>etate affe=tions' Be
a ,i)tue ne,e) so no>le& it has its =ounte)pa)t and
=ounte)feit' 5e <ust )e=o-niHe in ea=h ,i)tue its o:n
positi,e eK=ellen=e and follo: its positi,e ideal& and
the ideal of self8)est)aint is to @eep ou) <ind Ele,elE
88 as ou) eKp)ession is 88 o)& to >o))o: a 6)ee@ te)<&
attain the state of Eeuth;<iaE& :hi=h De<o=)itus =alled
the hi-hest -ood'
The a=<e of self8=ont)ol is )ea=hed and >est illust)ated
in the fi)st of the t:o institutions :hi=h :e shall no:
>)in- to ,ie:? na<el;&
THE I"STITUTIO"S OF SUI1IDE "D +ED+ESS&
of :hi=h Cthe fo)<e) @no:n as Eha)a8@i)iE and the latte)
as E@ata@i8u=hiE D<an; fo)ei-n :)ite)s ha,e t)eated <o)e
o) less full;'
To >e-in :ith sui=ide& let <e state that I =onfine <;
o>se),ations onl; to Eseppu@uE o) E@appu@uE& popula)l;
@no:n as Eha)a8@i)iE 88 :hi=h <eans self8i<<olation >;
dise<>o:el<ent' 9+ippin- the a>do<enB Ho: a>su)dA9 88 so
=); those to :ho< the na<e is ne:' >su)dl; odd as it <a;
sound at fi)st to fo)ei-n ea)s& it =an not >e so ,e);
fo)ei-n to students of Sha@espea)e& :ho puts these :o)ds
in B)utus* <outh 88 9Th; C1aesa)*sD spi)it :al@s a>)oad
and tu)ns ou) s:o)ds into ou) p)ope) ent)ails'9 Listen to
a <ode)n En-lish poet& :ho in his ELi-ht of siaE& spea@s
of a s:o)d pie)=in- the >o:els of a Gueen: 88 none >la<es
hi< fo) >ad En-lish o) >)ea=h of <odest;' O)& to ta@e
still anothe) eKa<ple& loo@ at 6ue)=ino*s paintin- of
1ato*s death& in the !alaHHo +ossa in 6enoa' 5hoe,e) has
)ead the s:an8son- :hi=h ddison <a@es 1ato sin-& :ill
not Fee) at the s:o)d half8>u)ied in his a>do<en' In ou)
<inds this <ode of death is asso=iated :ith instan=es of
no>lest deeds and of <ost tou=hin- pathos& so that
nothin- )epu-nant& <u=h less ludi=)ous& <a)s ou)
=on=eption of it' So :onde)ful is the t)ansfo)<in- po:e)
of ,i)tue& of -)eatness& of tende)ness& that the ,ilest
fo)< of death assu<es a su>li<it; and >e=o<es a s;<>ol of
ne: life& o) else 88 the si-n :hi=h 1onstantine >eheld
:ould not =onGue) the :o)ldA
"ot fo) eKt)aneous asso=iations onl; does Eseppu@uE lose
in ou) <ind an; taint of a>su)dit;? fo) the =hoi=e of
this pa)ti=ula) pa)t of the >od; to ope)ate upon& :as
>ased on an old anato<i=al >elief as to the seat of the
soul and of the affe=tions' 5hen (oses :)ote of Joseph*s
9>o:els ;ea)nin- upon his >)othe)&9 o) Da,id p)a;ed the
Lo)d not to fo)-et his >o:els& o) :hen Isaiah& Je)e<iah
and othe) inspi)ed <en of old spo@e of the 9soundin-9 o)
the 9t)ou>lin-9 of >o:els& the; all and ea=h endo)sed the
>elief p)e,alent a<on- the Japanese that in the a>do<en
:as ensh)ined the soul' The Se<ites ha>ituall; spo@e of
the li,e) and @idne;s and su))oundin- fat as the seat of
e<otion and of life' The te)< Eha)aE :as <o)e
=o<p)ehensi,e than the 6)ee@ Eph)enE o) Ethu<osE and the
Japanese and Hellenese ali@e thou-ht the spi)it of <an to
d:ell so<e:he)e in that )e-ion' Su=h a notion is >; no
<eans =onfined to the peoples of antiGuit;' The F)en=h&
in spite of the theo); p)opounded >; one of thei) <ost
distin-uished philosophe)s& Des=a)tes& that the soul is
lo=ated in the pineal -land& still insist in usin- the
te)< E,ent)eE in a sense& :hi=h& if anato<i=all; too
,a-ue& is ne,e)theless ph;siolo-i=all; si-nifi=ant'
Si<ila)l; Eent)aillesE stands in thei) lan-ua-e fo)
affe=tion and =o<passion' "o) is su=h >elief <e)e
supe)stition& >ein- <o)e s=ientifi= than the -ene)al idea
of <a@in- the hea)t the =ent)e of the feelin-s' 5ithout
as@in- a f)ia)& the Japanese @ne: >ette) than +o<eo 9in
:hat ,ile pa)t of this anato<; one*s na<e did lod-e'9
(ode)n neu)olo-ists spea@ of the a>do<inal and pel,i=
>)ains& denotin- the)e>; s;<patheti= ne),e8=ent)es in
those pa)ts :hi=h a)e st)on-l; affe=ted >; an; ps;=hi=al
a=tion' This ,ie: of <ental ph;siolo-; on=e ad<itted& the
s;llo-is< of Eseppu@uE is eas; to =onst)u=t' 9I :ill open
the seat of <; soul and sho: ;ou ho: it fa)es :ith it'
See fo) ;ou)self :hethe) it is polluted o) =lean'9
I do not :ish to >e unde)stood as asse)tin- )eli-ious o)
e,en <o)al Fustifi=ation of sui=ide& >ut the hi-h
esti<ate pla=ed upon hono) :as a<ple eK=use :ith <an; fo)
ta@in- one*s o:n life' Ho: <an; a=Guies=ed in the
senti<ent eKp)essed >; 6a)th&
95hen hono)*s lost& *tis a )elief to die?
Death*s >ut a su)e )et)eat f)o< infa<;&9
and ha,e s<ilin-l; su))ende)ed thei) souls to o>li,ionA
Death :hen hono) :as in,ol,ed& :as a==epted in Bushido as
a @e; to the solution of <an; =o<pleK p)o>le<s& so that
to an a<>itious sa<u)ai a natu)al depa)tu)e f)o< life
see<ed a )athe) ta<e affai) and a =onsu<<ation not
de,outl; to >e :ished fo)' I da)e sa; that <an; -ood
1h)istians& if onl; the; a)e honest enou-h& :ill =onfess
the fas=ination of& if not positi,e ad<i)ation fo)& the
su>li<e =o<posu)e :ith :hi=h 1ato& B)utus& !et)onius and
a host of othe) an=ient :o)thies& te)<inated thei) o:n
ea)thl; eKisten=e' Is it too >old to hint that the death
of the fi)st of the philosophe)s :as pa)tl; sui=idalB
5hen :e a)e told so <inutel; >; his pupils ho: thei)
<aste) :illin-l; su><itted to the <andate of the state 88
:hi=h he @ne: :as <o)all; <ista@en 88 in spite of the
possi>ilities of es=ape& and ho: he too@ up the =up of
he<lo=@ in his o:n hand& e,en offe)in- li>ation f)o< its
deadl; =ontents& do :e not dis=e)n in his :hole
p)o=eedin- and de<eano)& an a=t of self8i<<olationB "o
ph;si=al =o<pulsion he)e& as in o)dina); =ases of
eKe=ution' T)ue the ,e)di=t of the Fud-es :as =o<pulso);:
it said& 9Thou shalt die& 88 and that >; th; o:n hand'9
If sui=ide <eant no <o)e than d;in- >; one*s o:n hand&
So=)ates :as a =lea) =ase of sui=ide' But no>od; :ould
=ha)-e hi< :ith the =)i<e? !lato& :ho :as a,e)se to it&
:ould not =all his <aste) a sui=ide'
"o: <; )eade)s :ill unde)stand that Eseppu@uE :as not a
<e)e sui=idal p)o=ess' It :as an institution& le-al and
=e)e<onial' n in,ention of the <iddle a-es& it :as a
p)o=ess >; :hi=h :a))io)s =ould eKpiate thei) =)i<es&
apolo-iHe fo) e))o)s& es=ape f)o< dis-)a=e& )edee< thei)
f)iends& o) p)o,e thei) sin=e)it;' 5hen enfo)=ed as a
le-al punish<ent& it :as p)a=ti=ed :ith due =e)e<on;' It
:as a )efine<ent of self8dest)u=tion& and none =ould
pe)fo)< it :ithout the ut<ost =oolness of te<pe) and
=o<posu)e of de<eano)& and fo) these )easons it :as
pa)ti=ula)l; >efittin- the p)ofession of >ushi'
ntiGua)ian =u)iosit;& if nothin- else& :ould te<pt <e to
-i,e he)e a des=)iption of this o>solete =e)e<onial? >ut
seein- that su=h a des=)iption :as <ade >; a fa) a>le)
:)ite)& :hose >oo@ is not <u=h )ead no:8a8da;s& I a<
te<pted to <a@e a so<e:hat len-th; Guotation' (itfo)d& in
his 9Tales of Old Japan&9 afte) -i,in- a t)anslation of a
t)eatise on Eseppu@uE f)o< a )a)e Japanese <anus=)ipt&
-oes on to des=)i>e an instan=e of su=h an eKe=ution of
:hi=h he :as an e;e8:itness: 88
95e Cse,en fo)ei-n )ep)esentati,esD :e)e in,ited to
follo: the Japanese :itness into the EhondoE o) <ain hall
of the te<ple& :he)e the =e)e<on; :as to >e pe)fo)<ed' It
:as an i<posin- s=ene' la)-e hall :ith a hi-h )oof
suppo)ted >; da)@ pilla)s of :ood' F)o< the =eilin- hun-
a p)ofusion of those hu-e -ilt la<ps and o)na<ents
pe=ulia) to Buddhist te<ples' In f)ont of the hi-h alta)&
:he)e the floo)& =o,e)ed :ith >eautiful :hite <ats& is
)aised so<e th)ee o) fou) in=hes f)o< the -)ound& :as
laid a )u- of s=a)let felt' Tall =andles pla=ed at
)e-ula) inte),als -a,e out a di< <;ste)ious li-ht& Fust
suffi=ient to let all the p)o=eedin-s >e seen' The se,en
Japanese too@ thei) pla=es on the left of the )aised
floo)& the se,en fo)ei-ne)s on the )i-ht' "o othe) pe)son
:as p)esent'
9fte) the inte),al of a fe: <inutes of anKious suspense&
Ta@i $enHa>u)o& a stal:a)t <an thi)t;8t:o ;ea)s of a-e&
Bushido: the Soul of Japan M//95
:ith a no>le ai)& :al@ed into the hall atti)ed in his
d)ess of =e)e<on;& :ith the pe=ulia) he<pen8=loth :in-s
:hi=h a)e :o)n on -)eat o==asions' He :as a==o<panied >;
a E@aisha@uE and th)ee offi=e)s& :ho :o)e the EFi<>ao)iE
o) :a) su)=oat :ith -old tissue fa=in-s' The :o)d
E@aisha@uE it should >e o>se),ed& is one to :hi=h ou)
:o)d eKe=utione) is no eGui,alent te)<' The offi=e is
that of a -entle<an: in <an; =ases it is pe)fo)<ed >; a
@ins<an o) f)iend of the =onde<ned& and the )elation
>et:een the< is )athe) that of p)in=ipal and se=ond than
that of ,i=ti< and eKe=utione)' In this instan=e the
E@aisha@uE :as a pupil of Ta@i $enHa>u)o& and :as
sele=ted >; f)iends of the latte) f)o< a<on- thei) o:n
nu<>e) fo) his s@ill in s:o)ds<anship'
95ith the E@aisha@uE on his left hand& Ta@i $enHa>u)o
ad,an=ed slo:l; to:a)ds the Japanese :itnesses& and the
t:o >o:ed >efo)e the<& then d)a:in- nea) to the
fo)ei-ne)s the; saluted us in the sa<e :a;& pe)haps e,en
:ith <o)e defe)en=e? in ea=h =ase the salutation :as
=e)e<oniousl; )etu)ned' Slo:l; and :ith -)eat di-nit; the
=onde<ned <an <ounted on to the )aised floo)& p)ost)ated
hi<self >efo)e the hi-h alta) t:i=e& and seatedI19J
hi<self on the felt =a)pet :ith his >a=@ to the hi-h
alta)& the E@aisha@uE =)ou=hin- on his left hand side'
One of the th)ee attendant offi=e)s then =a<e fo):a)d&
>ea)in- a stand of the @ind used in the te<ple fo)
offe)in-s& on :hi=h& :)apped in pape)& la; the
E:a@iHashiE& the sho)t s:o)d o) di)@ of the Japanese&
nine in=hes and a half in len-th& :ith a point and an
ed-e as sha)p as a )aHo)*s' This he handed& p)ost)atin-
hi<self& to the =onde<ned <an& :ho )e=ei,ed it
)e,e)entl;& )aisin- it to his head :ith >oth hands& and
pla=ed it in f)ont of hi<self'
9fte) anothe) p)ofound o>eisan=e& Ta@i $enHa>u)o& in a
,oi=e :hi=h >et)a;ed Fust so <u=h e<otion and hesitation
as <i-ht >e eKpe=ted f)o< a <an :ho is <a@in- a painful
=onfession& >ut :ith no si-n of eithe) in his fa=e o)
<anne)& spo@e as follo:s: 88
*I& and I alone& un:a))anta>l; -a,e the o)de) to fi)e on
the fo)ei-ne)s at 4o>e& and a-ain as the; t)ied to
es=ape' Fo) this =)i<e I dise<>o:el <;self& and I >e- ;ou
:ho a)e p)esent to do <e the hono) of :itnessin- the
a=t'*
9Bo:in- on=e <o)e& the spea@e) allo:ed his uppe) -a)<ents
Bushido: the Soul of Japan M1/95
to slip do:n to his -i)dle& and )e<ained na@ed to the
:aist' 1a)efull;& a==o)din- to =usto<& he tu=@ed his
slee,es unde) his @nees to p)e,ent hi<self f)o< fallin-
>a=@:a)d? fo) a no>le Japanese -entle<an should die
fallin- fo):a)ds' Deli>e)atel;& :ith a stead; hand he
too@ the di)@ that la; >efo)e hi<? he loo@ed at it
:istfull;& al<ost affe=tionatel;? fo) a <o<ent he see<ed
to =olle=t his thou-hts fo) the last ti<e& and then
sta>>in- hi<self deepl; >elo: the :aist in the left8hand
side& he d)e: the di)@ slo:l; a=)oss to his )i-ht side&
and tu)nin- it in the :ound& -a,e a sli-ht =ut up:a)ds'
Du)in- this si=@enin-l; painful ope)ation he ne,e) <o,ed
a <us=le of his fa=e' 5hen he d)e: out the di)@& he
leaned fo):a)d and st)et=hed out his ne=@? an eKp)ession
of pain fo) the fi)st ti<e =)ossed his fa=e& >ut he
utte)ed no sound' t that <o<ent the E@aisha@uE& :ho&
still =)ou=hin- >; his side& had >een @eenl; :at=hin- his
e,e); <o,e<ent& sp)an- to his feet& poised his s:o)d fo)
a se=ond in the ai)? the)e :as a flash& a hea,;& u-l;
thud& a =)ashin- fall? :ith one >lo: the head had >een
se,e)ed f)o< the >od;'
9 dead silen=e follo:ed& >)o@en onl; >; the hideous
noise of the >lood th)o>>in- out of the ine)t head >efo)e
us& :hi=h >ut a <o<ent >efo)e had >een a >)a,e and
=hi,al)ous <an' It :as ho))i>le'
9The E@aisha@uE <ade a lo: >o:& :iped his s:o)d :ith a
pie=e of pape) :hi=h he had )ead; fo) the pu)pose& and
)eti)ed f)o< the )aised floo)? and the stained di)@ :as
sole<nl; >o)ne a:a;& a >lood; p)oof of the eKe=ution'
9The t:o )ep)esentati,es of the (i@ado then left thei)
pla=es& and =)ossin- o,e) to :he)e the fo)ei-n :itnesses
sat& =alled to us to :itness that the senten=e of death
upon Ta@i $enHa>u)o had >een faithfull; =a))ied out' The
=e)e<on; >ein- at an end& :e left the te<ple'9
I <i-ht <ultipl; an; nu<>e) of des=)iptions of Eseppu@uE
f)o< lite)atu)e o) f)o< the )elation of e;e8:itnesses?
>ut one <o)e instan=e :ill suffi=e'
T:o >)othe)s& Sa@on and "ai@i& )espe=ti,el; t:ent;8fou)
and se,enteen ;ea)s of a-e& <ade an effo)t to @ill
I;P;asu in o)de) to a,en-e thei) fathe)*s :)on-s? >ut
>efo)e the; =ould ente) the =a<p the; :e)e <ade
p)isone)s' The old -ene)al ad<i)ed the plu=@ of the
;ouths :ho da)ed an atte<pt on his life and o)de)ed that
the; should >e allo:ed to die an hono)a>le death' Thei)
little >)othe) Ha=hi<a)o& a <e)e infant of ei-ht su<<e)s&
:as =onde<ned to a si<ila) fate& as the senten=e :as
p)onoun=ed on all the <ale <e<>e)s of the fa<il;& and the
th)ee :e)e ta@en to a <onaste); :he)e it :as to >e
eKe=uted' ph;si=ian :ho :as p)esent on the o==asion has
left us a dia); f)o< :hi=h the follo:in- s=ene is
t)anslated' 95hen the; :e)e all seated in a )o: fo) final
despat=h& Sa@on tu)ned to the ;oun-est and said 88 *6o
thou fi)st& fo) I :ish to >e su)e that thou doest it
a)i-ht'* Upon the little one*s )epl;in- that& as he had
ne,e) seen Eseppu@uE pe)fo)<ed& he :ould li@e to see his
>)othe)s do it and then he =ould follo: the<& the olde)
>)othe)s s<iled >et:een thei) tea)s: 88 *5ell said&
little fello:A So =anst thou :ell >oast of >ein- ou)
fathe)*s =hild'* 5hen the; had pla=ed hi< >et:een the<&
Sa@on th)ust the da--e) into the left side of his o:n
a>do<en and as@ed 88 *Loo@& >)othe)A Dost unde)stand no:B
Onl;& don*t push the da--e) too fa)& lest thou fall >a=@'
Lean fo):a)d& )athe)& and @eep th; @nees :ell =o<posed'*
"ai@i did li@e:ise and said to the >o; 88 *4eep th; e;es
open o) else thou <a;st loo@ li@e a d;in- :o<an' If th;
da--e) feels an;thin- :ithin and th; st)en-th fails& ta@e
=ou)a-e and dou>le th; effo)t to =ut a=)oss'* The =hild
loo@ed f)o< one to the othe)& and :hen >oth had eKpi)ed&
he =al<l; half denuded hi<self and follo:ed the eKa<ple
set hi< on eithe) hand'9
The -lo)ifi=ation of Eseppu@uE offe)ed& natu)all; enou-h&
no s<all te<ptation to its un:a))anted =o<<ittal' Fo)
=auses enti)el; in=o<pati>le :ith )eason& o) fo) )easons
enti)el; undese),in- of death& hot headed ;ouths )ushed
into it as inse=ts fl; into fi)e? <iKed and du>ious
<oti,es d)o,e <o)e sa<u)ai to this deed than nuns into
=on,ent -ates' Life :as =heap 88 =heap as )e=@oned >; the
popula) standa)d of hono)' The saddest featu)e :as that
hono)& :hi=h :as al:a;s in the Ea-ioE& so to spea@& :as
not al:a;s solid -old& >ut allo;ed :ith >ase) <etals' "o
one =i)=le in the Infe)no :ill >oast of -)eate) densit;
of Japanese population than the se,enth& to :hi=h Dante
=onsi-ns all ,i=ti<s of self8dest)u=tionA
nd ;et& fo) a t)ue sa<u)ai to hasten death o) to =ou)t
it& :as ali@e =o:a)di=e' t;pi=al fi-hte)& :hen he lost
>attle afte) >attle and :as pu)sued f)o< plain to hill
and f)o< >ush to =a,e)n& found hi<self hun-); and alone
in the da)@ hollo: of a t)ee& his s:o)d >lunt :ith use&
his >o: >)o@en and a))o:s eKhausted 88 did not the
Bushido: the Soul of Japan M./95
no>lest of the +o<ans fall upon his o:n s:o)d in
!hillippi unde) li@e =i)=u<stan=esB 88 dee<ed it =o:a)dl;
to die& >ut :ith a fo)titude app)oa=hin- a 1h)istian
<a)t;)*s& =hee)ed hi<self :ith an i<p)o<ptu ,e)se:
91o<eA e,e)<o)e =o<e&
#e d)ead so))o:s and painsA
nd heap on <; >u)den*d >a=@?
That I not one test <a; la=@
Of :hat st)en-th in <e )e<ainsA9
This& then& :as the Bushido tea=hin- 88 Bea) and fa=e all
=ala<ities and ad,e)sities :ith patien=e and a pu)e
=ons=ien=e? fo) as (en=iusI7/J tau-ht& 95hen Hea,en is
a>out to =onfe) a -)eat offi=e on an;one& it fi)st
eKe)=ises his <ind :ith suffe)in- and his sine:s and
>ones :ith toil? it eKposes his >od; to hun-e) and
su>Fe=ts hi< to eKt)e<e po,e)t;? and it =onfounds his
unde)ta@in-s' In all these :a;s it sti<ulates his <ind&
ha)dens his natu)e& and supplies his in=o<peten=ies'9
T)ue hono) lies in fulfillin- Hea,en*s de=)ee and no
death in=u))ed in so doin- is i-no<inious& :he)eas death
to a,oid :hat Hea,en has in sto)e is =o:a)dl; indeedA In
that Guaint >oo@ of Si) Tho<as B)o:ne*s& E+eli-io (edi=iE
the)e is an eKa=t En-lish eGui,alent fo) :hat is
)epeatedl; tau-ht in ou) !)e=epts' Let <e Guote it: 9It
is a >)a,e a=t of ,alo) to =onte<n death& >ut :he)e life
is <o)e te))i>le than death& it is then the t)uest ,alo)
to da)e to li,e'9 )eno:ned p)iest of the se,enteenth
=entu); sati)i=all; o>se),ed 88 9Tal@ as he <a;& a
sa<u)ai :ho ne*e) has died is apt in de=isi,e <o<ents to
flee o) hide'9 -ain 88 Hi< :ho on=e has died in the
>otto< of his >)east& no spea)s of Sanada no) all the
a))o:s of Ta<eto<o =an pie)=e' Ho: nea) :e =o<e to the
po)tals of the te<ple :hose Builde) tau-ht 9he that
loseth his life fo) <; sa@e shall find itA9 These a)e >ut
a fe: of the nu<e)ous eKa<ples :hi=h tend to =onfi)< the
<o)al identit; of the hu<an spe=ies& not:ithstandin- an
atte<pt so assiduousl; <ade to )ende) the distin=tion
>et:een 1h)istian and !a-an as -)eat as possi>le'
5e ha,e thus seen that the Bushido institution of sui=ide
:as neithe) so i))ational no) >a)>a)ous as its a>use
st)i@es us at fi)st si-ht' 5e :ill no: see :hethe) its
siste) institution of +ed)ess 88 o) =all it +e,en-e& if
;ou :ill 88 has its <iti-atin- featu)es' I hope I =an
dispose of this Guestion in a fe: :o)ds& sin=e a si<ila)
institution& o) =all it =usto<& if that suits ;ou >ette)&
has at so<e ti<e p)e,ailed a<on- all peoples and has not
;et >e=o<e enti)el; o>solete& as attested >; the
=ontinuan=e of duellin- and l;n=hin-' 5h;& has not an
<e)i=an =aptain )e=entl; =hallen-ed Este)haH;& that the
:)on-s of D)e;fus >e a,en-edB <on- a sa,a-e t)i>e :hi=h
has no <a))ia-e& adulte); is not a sin& and onl; the
Fealous; of a lo,e) p)ote=ts a :o<an f)o< a>use: so in a
ti<e :hi=h has no =)i<inal =ou)t& <u)de) is not a =)i<e&
and onl; the ,i-ilant ,en-ean=e of the ,i=ti<*s people
p)ese),es so=ial o)de)' 95hat is the <ost >eautiful thin-
on ea)thB9 said Osi)is to Ho)us' The )epl; :as& 9To
a,en-e a pa)ent*s :)on-s&9 88 to :hi=h a Japanese :ould
ha,e added 9and a <aste)*s'9
In )e,en-e the)e is so<ethin- :hi=h satisfies one*s sense
of Fusti=e' The a,en-e) )easons: 88 9(; -ood fathe) did
not dese),e death' He :ho @illed hi< did -)eat e,il' (;
fathe)& if he :e)e ali,e& :ould not tole)ate a deed li@e
this: Hea,en itself hates :)on-8doin-' It is the :ill of
<; fathe)? it is the :ill of Hea,en that the e,il8doe)
=ease f)o< his :o)@' He <ust pe)ish >; <; hand? >e=ause
he shed <; fathe)*s >lood& I& :ho a< his flesh and >lood&
<ust shed the <u)de)e)*s' The sa<e Hea,en shall not
shelte) hi< and <e'9 The )atio=ination is si<ple and
=hildish Cthou-h :e @no: Ha<let did not )eason <u=h <o)e
deepl;D& ne,e)theless it sho:s an innate sense of eKa=t
>alan=e and eGual Fusti=e 9n e;e fo) an e;e& a tooth fo)
a tooth'9 Ou) sense of )e,en-e is as eKa=t as ou)
<athe<ati=al fa=ult;& and until >oth te)<s of the
eGuation a)e satisfied :e =annot -et o,e) the sense of
so<ethin- left undone'
In Judais<& :hi=h >elie,ed in a Fealous 6od& o) in 6)ee@
<;tholo-;& :hi=h p)o,ided a "e<esis& ,en-ean=e <a; >e
left to supe)hu<an a-en=ies? >ut =o<<on sense fu)nished
Bushido :ith the institution of )ed)ess as a @ind of
ethi=al =ou)t of eGuit;& :he)e people =ould ta@e =ases
not to >e Fud-ed in a==o)dan=e :ith o)dina); la:' The
<aste) of the fo)t;8se,en +onins :as =onde<ned to death?
88 he had no =ou)t of hi-he) instan=e to appeal to? his
faithful )etaine)s add)essed the<sel,es to 3en-ean=e& the
onl; Sup)e<e 1ou)t eKistin-? the; in thei) tu)n :e)e
=onde<ned >; =o<<on la:& 88 >ut the popula) instin=t
passed a diffe)ent Fud-<ent and hen=e thei) <e<o); is
still @ept as -)een and f)a-)ant as a)e thei) -)a,es at
Sen-a@uFi to this da;'
Thou-h Lao8tse tau-ht to )e=o<pense inFu); :ith @indness&
the ,oi=e of 1onfu=ius :as ,e); <u=h loude)& :hi=h
=ounselled that inFu); <ust >e )e=o<pensed :ith Fusti=e?
88 and ;et )e,en-e :as Fustified onl; :hen it :as
unde)ta@en in >ehalf of ou) supe)io)s and >enefa=to)s'
One*s o:n :)on-s& in=ludin- inFu)ies done to :ife and
=hild)en& :e)e to >e >o)ne and fo)-i,en' sa<u)ai =ould
the)efo)e full; s;<pathiHe :ith Hanni>al*s oath to a,en-e
his =ount);*s :)on-s& >ut he s=o)ns Ja<es Ha<ilton fo)
:ea)in- in his -i)dle a handful of ea)th f)o< his :ife*s
-)a,e& as an ete)nal in=enti,e to a,en-e he) :)on-s on
the +e-ent (u))a;'
Both of these institutions of sui=ide and )ed)ess lost
thei) E)aison d*Zt)eE at the p)o<ul-ation of the =)i<inal
=ode' "o <o)e do :e hea) of )o<anti= ad,entu)es of a fai)
<aiden as she t)a=@s in dis-uise the <u)de)e) of he)
pa)ent' "o <o)e =an :e :itness t)a-edies of fa<il;
,endetta ena=ted' The @ni-ht e))ant); of (i;a<oto (usashi
is no: a tale of the past' The :ell8o)de)ed poli=e spies
out the =)i<inal fo) the inFu)ed pa)t; and the la: <etes
out Fusti=e' The :hole state and so=iet; :ill see that
:)on- is )i-hted' The sense of Fusti=e satisfied& the)e
is no need of E@ata@i8u=hiE' If this had <eant that
9hun-e) of the hea)t :hi=h feeds upon the hope of
-luttin- that hun-e) :ith the life8>lood of the ,i=ti<&9
as a "e: En-land di,ine has des=)i>ed it& a fe:
pa)a-)aphs in the 1)i<inal 1ode :ould not so enti)el;
ha,e <ade an end of it'
s to Eseppu@uE& thou-h it too has no eKisten=e Ede
Fu)eE& :e still hea) of it f)o< ti<e to ti<e& and shall
=ontinue to hea)& I a< af)aid& as lon- as the past is
)e<e<>e)ed' (an; painless and ti<e8sa,in- <ethods of
self8i<<olation :ill =o<e in ,o-ue& as its ,ota)ies a)e
in=)easin- :ith fea)ful )apidit; th)ou-hout the :o)ld?
>ut !)ofesso) (o)selli :ill ha,e to =on=ede to Eseppu@uE
an a)isto=)ati= position a<on- the<' He <aintains that
9:hen sui=ide is a==o<plished >; ,e); painful <eans o) at
the =ost of p)olon-ed a-on;& in ninet;8nine =ases out of
a hund)ed& it <a; >e assi-ned as the a=t of a <ind
diso)de)ed >; fanati=is<& >; <adness& o) >; <o)>id
eK=ite<ent'9I71J But a no)<al Eseppu@uE does not sa,o) of
fanati=is<& o) <adness o) eK=ite<ent& ut<ost Esan- f)oidE
>ein- ne=essa); to its su==essful a==o<plish<ent' Of the
t:o @inds into :hi=h D)' St)ahanI77J di,ides sui=ide& the
+ational o) Quasi& and the I))ational o) T)ue& Eseppu@uE
is the >est eKa<ple of the fo)<e) t;pe'
Bushido: the Soul of Japan MM/95
F)o< these >lood; institutions& as :ell as f)o< the
-ene)al teno) of Bushido& it is eas; to infe) that the
s:o)d pla;ed an i<po)tant pa)t in so=ial dis=ipline and
life' The sa;in- passed as an aKio< :hi=h =alled
Bushido: the Soul of Japan MN/95
THE S5O+D THE SOUL OF THE S(U+I&
and <ade it the e<>le< of po:e) and p)o:ess' 5hen (aho<et
p)o=lai<ed that 9The s:o)d is the @e; of Hea,en and of
Hell&9 he onl; e=hoed a Japanese senti<ent' 3e); ea)l;
the sa<u)ai >o; lea)ned to :ield it' It :as a <o<entous
o==asion fo) hi< :hen at the a-e of fi,e he :as
appa)elled in the pa)aphe)nalia of sa<u)ai =ostu<e&
pla=ed upon a E-oE8>oa)dI7.J and initiated into the
)i-hts of the <ilita); p)ofession >; ha,in- th)ust into
his -i)dle a )eal s:o)d& instead of the to; di)@ :ith
:hi=h he had >een pla;in-' fte) this fi)st =e)e<on; of
Eadoptio pe) a)<aE& he :as no <o)e to >e seen outside his
fathe)*s -ates :ithout this >ad-e of his status& e,en if
it :as usuall; su>stituted fo) e,e);8da; :ea) >; a -ilded
:ooden di)@' "ot <an; ;ea)s pass >efo)e he :ea)s
=onstantl; the -enuine steel& thou-h >lunt& and then the
sha< a)<s a)e th)o:n aside and :ith enFo;<ent @eene) than
his ne:l; a=Gui)ed >lades& he <a)=hes out to t); thei)
ed-e on :ood and stone' 5hen >e )ea=hes <an*s estate at
the a-e of fifteen& >ein- -i,en independen=e of a=tion&
he =an no: p)ide hi<self upon the possession of a)<s
sha)p enou-h fo) an; :o)@' The ,e); possession of the
dan-e)ous inst)u<ent i<pa)ts to hi< a feelin- and an ai)
of self8)espe=t and )esponsi>ilit;' 9He >ea)eth not his
s:o)d in ,ain'9 5hat he =a))ies in his >elt is a s;<>ol
of :hat he =a))ies in his <ind and hea)t 88 Lo;alt; and
Hono)' The t:o s:o)ds& the lon-e) and the sho)te) 88
=alled )espe=ti,el; EdaitoE and EshotoE o) E@atanaE and
E:a@iHashiE 88 ne,e) lea,e his side' 5hen at ho<e& the;
-)a=e the <ost =onspi=uous pla=e in stud; o) pa)lo)? >;
ni-ht the; -ua)d his pillo: :ithin eas; )ea=h of his
hand' 1onstant =o<panions& the; a)e >elo,ed& and p)ope)
na<es of endea)<ent -i,en the<' Bein- ,ene)ated& the; a)e
:ell8ni-h :o)shiped' The Fathe) of Histo); has )e=o)ded
as a =u)ious pie=e of info)<ation that the S=;thians
sa=)ifi=ed to an i)on s=i<ita)' (an; a te<ple and <an; a
fa<il; in Japan hoa)ds a s:o)d as an o>Fe=t of ado)ation'
E,en the =o<<onest di)@ has due )espe=t paid to it' n;
insult to it is tanta<ount to pe)sonal aff)ont' 5oe to
hi< :ho =a)elessl; steps o,e) a :eapon l;in- on the
floo)A
So p)e=ious an o>Fe=t =annot lon- es=ape the noti=e and
the s@ill of a)tists no) the ,anit; of its o:ne)&
espe=iall; in ti<es of pea=e& :hen it is :o)n :ith no
<o)e use than a =)osie) >; a >ishop o) a s=ept)e >; a
@in-' Sha)@8s@in and finest sil@ fo) hilt& sil,e) and
-old fo) -ua)d& la=Gue) of ,a)ied hues fo) s=a>>a)d&
)o>>ed the deadliest :eapon of half its te))o)? >ut these
appu)tenan=es a)e pla;thin-s =o<pa)ed :ith the >lade
itself'
The s:o)ds<ith :as not a <e)e a)tisan >ut an inspi)ed
a)tist and his :o)@shop a san=tua);' Dail; he =o<<en=ed
his =)aft :ith p)a;e) and pu)ifi=ation& o)& as the ph)ase
:as& 9he =o<<itted his soul and spi)it into the fo)-in-
and te<pe)in- of the steel'9 E,e); s:in- of the sled-e&
e,e); plun-e into :ate)& e,e); f)i=tion on the
-)indstone& :as a )eli-ious a=t of no sli-ht i<po)t' 5as
it the spi)it of the <aste) o) of his tutela); -od that
=ast a fo)<ida>le spell o,e) ou) s:o)dB !e)fe=t as a :o)@
of a)t& settin- at defian=e its Toledo and Da<as=us
)i,als& the)e is <o)e than a)t =ould i<pa)t' Its =old
>lade& =olle=tin- on its su)fa=e the <o<ent it is d)a:n
the ,apo)s of the at<osphe)e? its i<<a=ulate teKtu)e&
flashin- li-ht of >luish hue? its <at=hless ed-e& upon
:hi=h histo)ies and possi>ilities han-? the =u),e of its
>a=@& unitin- eKGuisite -)a=e :ith ut<ost st)en-th? 88
all these th)ill us :ith <iKed feelin-s of po:e) and
>eaut;& of a:e and te))o)' Ha)<less :e)e its <ission& if
it onl; )e<ained a thin- of >eaut; and Fo;A But& e,e)
:ithin )ea=h of the hand& it p)esented no s<all
te<ptation fo) a>use' Too often did the >lade flash fo)th
f)o< its pea=eful sheath' The a>use so<eti<es :ent so fa)
as to t); the a=Gui)ed steel on so<e ha)<less =)eatu)e*s
ne=@'
The Guestion that =on=e)ns us <ost is& ho:e,e)& 88 Did
Bushido Fustif; the p)o<is=uous use of the :eaponB The
ans:e) is uneGui,o=all;& noA s it laid -)eat st)ess on
its p)ope) use& so did it denoun=e and a>ho) its <isuse'
dasta)d o) a >)a--a)t :as he :ho >)andished his :eapon
on undese),ed o==asions' self8possessed <an @no:s the
)i-ht ti<e to use it& and su=h ti<es =o<e >ut )a)el;' Let
us listen to the late 1ount 4atsu& :ho passed th)ou-h one
of the <ost tu)>ulent ti<es of ou) histo);& :hen
assassinations& sui=ides& and othe) san-uina); p)a=ti=es
:e)e the o)de) of the da;' Endo:ed as he on=e :as :ith
al<ost di=tato)ial po:e)s& )epeatedl; <a)@ed out as an
o>Fe=t fo) assassination& he ne,e) ta)nished his s:o)d
:ith >lood' In )elatin- so<e of his )e<inis=en=es to a
f)iend he sa;s& in a Guaint& ple>eian :a; pe=ulia) to
hi<: 88 9I ha,e a -)eat disli@e fo) @illin- people and so
I ha,en*t @illed one sin-le <an' I ha,e )eleased those
:hose heads should ha,e >een =hopped off' f)iend said
to <e one da;& *#ou don*t @ill enou-h' Don*t ;ou eat
peppe) and e--8plantsB* 5ell& so<e people a)e no >ette)A
But ;ou see that fello: :as slain hi<self' (; es=ape <a;
>e due to <; disli@e of @illin-' I had the hilt of <;
s:o)d so ti-htl; fastened to the s=a>>a)d that it :as
ha)d to d)a: the >lade' I <ade up <; <ind that thou-h
the; =ut <e& I :ill not =ut' #es& ;esA so<e people a)e
t)ul; li@e fleas and <osGuitoes and the; >ite 88 >ut :hat
does thei) >itin- a<ount toB It it=hes a little& that*s
all? it :on*t endan-e) life'9 These a)e the :o)ds of one
:hose Bushido t)ainin- :as t)ied in the fie); fu)na=e of
ad,e)sit; and t)iu<ph' The popula) apothe-< 88 9To >e
>eaten is to =onGue)&9 <eanin- t)ue =onGuest =onsists in
not opposin- a )iotous foe? and 9The >est :on ,i=to); is
that o>tained :ithout sheddin- of >lood&9 and othe)s of
si<ila) i<po)t 88 :ill sho: that afte) all the ulti<ate
ideal of @ni-hthood :as !ea=e'
It :as a -)eat pit; that this hi-h ideal :as left
eK=lusi,el; to p)iests and <o)alists to p)ea=h& :hile the
sa<u)ai :ent on p)a=ti=in- and eKtollin- <a)tial t)aits'
In this the; :ent so fa) as to tin-e the ideals of
:o<anhood :ith <aHonian =ha)a=te)' He)e :e <a;
p)ofita>l; de,ote a fe: pa)a-)aphs to the su>Fe=t of
Bushido: the Soul of Japan N//95
THE T+I"I"6 "D !OSITIO" OF 5O("'
The fe<ale half of ou) spe=ies has so<eti<es >een =alled
the pa)a-on of pa)adoKes& >e=ause the intuiti,e :o)@in-
of its <ind is >e;ond the =o<p)ehension of <en*s
9a)ith<eti=al unde)standin-'9 The 1hinese ideo-)a<
denotin- 9the <;ste)ious&9 9the un@no:a>le&9 =onsists of
t:o pa)ts& one <eanin- 9;oun-9 and the othe) 9:o<an&9
>e=ause the ph;si=al =ha)<s and deli=ate thou-hts of the
fai) seK a)e a>o,e the =oa)se <ental =ali>)e of ou) seK
to eKplain'
In the Bushido ideal of :o<an& ho:e,e)& the)e is little
<;ste); and onl; a see<in- pa)adoK' I ha,e said that it
:as <aHonian& >ut that is onl; half the t)uth'
Ideo-)aphi=all; the 1hinese )ep)esent :ife >; a :o<an
holdin- a >)oo< 88 =e)tainl; not to >)andish it
offensi,el; o) defensi,el; a-ainst he) =onFu-al all;&
neithe) fo) :it=h=)aft& >ut fo) the <o)e ha)<less uses
fo) :hi=h the >eso< :as fi)st in,ented 88 the idea
in,ol,ed >ein- thus not less ho<el; than the et;<olo-i=al
de)i,ation of the En-lish :ife C:ea,e)D and dau-hte)
CEduhita)E& <il@<aidD' 5ithout =onfinin- the sphe)e of
:o<an*s a=ti,it; to E4O=he& 4i)=he& 4inde)E& as the
p)esent 6e)<an 4aise) is said to do& the Bushido ideal of
:o<anhood :as p)ee<inentl; do<esti=' These see<in-
=ont)adi=tions 88 Do<esti=it; and <aHonian t)aits 88 a)e
not in=onsistent :ith the !)e=epts of 4ni-hthood& as :e
shall see'
Bushido >ein- a tea=hin- p)i<a)il; intended fo) the
<as=uline seK& the ,i)tues it p)iHed in :o<an :e)e
natu)all; fa) f)o< >ein- distin=tl; fe<inine' 5in=@el<ann
)e<a)@s that 9the sup)e<e >eaut; of 6)ee@ a)t is )athe)
<ale than fe<ale&9 and Le=@; adds that it :as t)ue in the
<o)al =on=eption of the 6)ee@s as in thei) a)t' Bushido
si<ila)l; p)aised those :o<en <ost 9:ho e<an=ipated
the<sel,es f)o< the f)ailt; of thei) seK and displa;ed an
he)oi= fo)titude :o)th; of the st)on-est and the >)a,est
of <en'9I72J #oun- -i)ls the)efo)e& :e)e t)ained to
)ep)ess thei) feelin-s& to indu)ate thei) ne),es& to
<anipulate :eapons& 88 espe=iall; the lon-8handled s:o)d
=alled Ena-i8nataE& so as to >e a>le to hold thei) o:n
a-ainst uneKpe=ted odds' #et the p)i<a); <oti,e fo)
eKe)=ises of this <a)tial =ha)a=te) :as not fo) use in
the field? it :as t:ofold 88 pe)sonal and do<esti=' 5o<an
o:nin- no suHe)ain of he) o:n& fo)<ed he) o:n >od;-ua)d'
Bushido: the Soul of Japan N1/95
5ith he) :eapon she -ua)ded he) pe)sonal san=tit; :ith as
<u=h Heal as he) hus>and did his <aste)*s' The do<esti=
utilit; of he) :a)li@e t)ainin- :as in the edu=ation of
he) sons& as :e shall see late)'
Fen=in- and si<ila) eKe)=ises& if )a)el; of p)a=ti=al
use& :e)e a :holeso<e =ounte)>alan=e to the othe):ise
sedenta); ha>its of :o<an' But these eKe)=ises :e)e not
follo:ed onl; fo) h;-ieni= pu)poses' The; =ould >e tu)ned
into use in ti<es of need' 6i)ls& :hen the; )ea=hed
:o<anhood& :e)e p)esented :ith di)@s CE@ai8@enE& po=@et
ponia)dsD& :hi=h <i-ht >e di)e=ted to the >oso< of thei)
assailants& o)& if ad,isa>le& to thei) o:n' The latte)
:as ,e); often the =ase: and ;et I :ill not Fud-e the<
se,e)el;' E,en the 1h)istian =ons=ien=e :ith its ho))o)
of self8i<<olation& :ill not >e ha)sh :ith the<& seein-
!ela-ia and Do<nina& t:o sui=ides& :e)e =anoniHed fo)
thei) pu)it; and piet;' 5hen a Japanese 3i)-inia sa: he)
=hastit; <ena=ed& she did not :ait fo) he) fathe)*s
da--e)' He) o:n :eapon la; al:a;s in he) >oso<' It :as a
dis-)a=e to he) not to @no: the p)ope) :a; in :hi=h she
had to pe)pet)ate self8dest)u=tion' Fo) eKa<ple& little
as she :as tau-ht in anato<;& she <ust @no: the eKa=t
spot to =ut in he) th)oat: she <ust @no: ho: to tie he)
lo:e) li<>s to-ethe) :ith a >elt so that& :hate,e) the
a-onies of death <i-ht >e& he) =o)pse >e found in ut<ost
<odest; :ith the li<>s p)ope)l; =o<posed' Is not a
=aution li@e this :o)th; of the 1h)istian !e)petua o) the
3estal 1o)neliaB I :ould not put su=h an a>)upt
inte))o-ation& :e)e it not fo) a <is=on=eption& >ased on
ou) >athin- =usto<s and othe) t)ifles& that =hastit; is
un@no:n a<on- us'I75J On the =ont)a);& =hastit; :as a
p)e8e<inent ,i)tue of the sa<u)ai :o<an& held a>o,e life
itself' ;oun- :o<an& ta@en p)isone)& seein- he)self in
dan-e) of ,iolen=e at the hands of the )ou-h soldie);&
sa;s she :ill o>e; thei) pleasu)e& p)o,ided she >e fi)st
allo:ed to :)ite a line to he) siste)s& :ho< :a) has
dispe)sed in e,e); di)e=tion' 5hen the epistle is
finished& off she )uns to the nea)est :ell and sa,es he)
hono) >; d)o:nin-' The lette) she lea,es >ehind ends :ith
these ,e)ses? 88
9Fo) fea) lest =louds <a; di< he) li-ht&
Should she >ut -)aHe this nethe) sphe)e&
The ;oun- <oon poised a>o,e the hei-ht
Doth hastil; >eta@e to fli-ht'9
It :ould >e unfai) to -i,e <; )eade)s an idea that
<as=ulinit; alone :as ou) hi-hest ideal fo) :o<an' Fa)
f)o< itA ==o<plish<ents and the -entle) -)a=es of life
:e)e )eGui)ed of the<' (usi=& dan=in- and lite)atu)e :e)e
not ne-le=ted' So<e of the finest ,e)ses in ou)
lite)atu)e :e)e eKp)essions of fe<inine senti<ents? in
fa=t& :o<en pla;ed an i<po)tant )ole in the histo); of
Japanese E>elles lett)esE' Dan=in- :as tau-ht CI a<
spea@in- of sa<u)ai -i)ls and not of E-eishaED onl; to
s<ooth the an-ula)it; of thei) <o,e<ents' (usi= :as to
)e-ale the :ea); hou)s of thei) fathe)s and hus>ands?
hen=e it :as not fo) the te=hniGue& the a)t as su=h& that
<usi= :as lea)ned? fo) the ulti<ate o>Fe=t :as
pu)ifi=ation of hea)t& sin=e it :as said that no ha)<on;
of sound is attaina>le :ithout the pla;e)*s hea)t >ein-
in ha)<on; :ith he)self' He)e a-ain :e see the sa<e idea
p)e,ailin- :hi=h :e noti=e in the t)ainin- of ;ouths 88
that a==o<plish<ents :e)e e,e) @ept su>se),ient to <o)al
:o)th' Just enou-h of <usi= and dan=in- to add -)a=e and
>)i-htness to life& >ut ne,e) to foste) ,anit; and
eKt)a,a-an=e' I s;<pathiHe :ith the !e)sian p)in=e& :ho&
:hen ta@en into a >all8)oo< in London and as@ed to ta@e
pa)t in the <e))i<ent& >luntl; )e<a)@ed that in his
=ount); the; p)o,ided a pa)ti=ula) set of -i)ls to do
that @ind of >usiness fo) the<'
The a==o<plish<ents of ou) :o<en :e)e not a=Gui)ed fo)
sho: o) so=ial as=enden=;' The; :e)e a ho<e di,e)sion?
and if the; shone in so=ial pa)ties& it :as as the
att)i>utes of a hostess& 88 in othe) :o)ds& as a pa)t of
the household =ont)i,an=e fo) hospitalit;' Do<esti=it;
-uided thei) edu=ation' It <a; >e said that the
a==o<plish<ents of the :o<en of Old Japan& >e the;
<a)tial o) pa=ifi= in =ha)a=te)& :e)e <ainl; intended fo)
the ho<e? and& ho:e,e) fa) the; <i-ht )oa<& the; ne,e)
lost si-ht of the hea)th as the =ente)' It :as to
<aintain its hono) and inte-)it; that the; sla,ed&
d)ud-ed and -a,e up thei) li,es' "i-ht and da;& in tones
at on=e fi)< and tende)& >)a,e and plainti,e& the; san-
to thei) little nests' s dau-hte)& :o<an sa=)ifi=ed
he)self fo) he) fathe)& as :ife fo) he) hus>and& and as
<othe) fo) he) son' Thus f)o< ea)liest ;outh she :as
tau-ht to den; he)self' He) life :as not one of
independen=e& >ut of dependent se),i=e' (an*s help<eet&
if he) p)esen=e is helpful she sta;s on the sta-e :ith
hi<: if it hinde)s his :o)@& she )eti)es >ehind the
=u)tain' "ot inf)eGuentl; does it happen that a ;outh
>e=o<es ena<o)ed of a <aiden :ho )etu)ns his lo,e :ith
eGual a)do)& >ut& :hen she )ealiHes his inte)est in he)
Bushido: the Soul of Japan N./95
<a@es hi< fo)-etful of his duties& disfi-u)es he) pe)son
that he) att)a=tions <a; =ease' dHu<a& the ideal :ife in
the <inds of sa<u)ai -i)ls& finds he)self lo,ed >; a <an
:ho& in o)de) to :in he) affe=tion& =onspi)es a-ainst he)
hus>and' Upon p)eten=e of Foinin- in the -uilt; plot& she
<ana-es in the da)@ to ta@e he) hus>and*s pla=e& and the
s:o)d of the lo,e) assassin des=ends upon he) o:n de,oted
head'
The follo:in- epistle :)itten >; the :ife of a ;oun-
dai<io& >efo)e ta@inhe) o:n life& needs no =o<<ent: 88
9Oft ha,e I hea)d that no a==ident o) =han=e e,e) <a)s
the <a)=h of e,ents he)e >elo:& and that all <o,es in
a==o)dan=e :ith a plan' To ta@e shelte) unde) a =o<<on
>ou-h o) a d)in@ of the sa<e )i,e)& is ali@e o)dained
f)o< a-es p)io) to ou) >i)th' Sin=e :e :e)e Foined in
ties of ete)nal :edlo=@& no: t:o sho)t ;ea)s a-o& <;
hea)t hath follo:ed thee& e,en as its shado: follo:eth an
o>Fe=t& insepa)a>l; >ound hea)t to hea)t& lo,in- and
>ein- lo,ed' Lea)nin- >ut )e=entl;& ho:e,e)& that the
=o<in- >attle is to >e the last of th; la>o) and life&
ta@e the fa)e:ell -)eetin- of th; lo,in- pa)tne)' I ha,e
hea)d that 4V8u& the <i-ht; :a))io) of an=ient 1hina&
lost a >attle& loth to pa)t :ith his fa,o)ite 6u'
#oshina@a& too& >)a,e as he :as& >)ou-ht disaste) to his
=ause& too :ea@ to >id p)o<pt fa)e:ell to his :ife' 5h;
should I& to :ho< ea)th no lon-e) offe)s hope o) Fo; 88
:h; should I detain thee o) th; thou-hts >; li,in-B 5h;
should I not& )athe)& a:ait thee on the )oad :hi=h all
<o)tal @ind <ust so<eti<e t)eadB "e,e)& p)ithee& ne,e)
fo)-et the <an; >enefits :hi=h ou) -ood <aste) Hide;o)i
hath heaped upon thee' The -)atitude :e o:e hi< is as
deep as the sea and as hi-h as the hills'9
5o<an*s su))ende) of he)self to the -ood of he) hus>and&
ho<e and fa<il;& :as as :illin- and hono)a>le as the
<an*s self8su))ende) to the -ood of his lo)d and =ount);'
Self8)enun=iation& :ithout :hi=h no life8eni-<a =an >e
sol,ed& :as the @e;note of the Lo;alt; of <an as :ell as
of the Do<esti=it; of :o<an' She :as no <o)e the sla,e of
<an than :as he) hus>and of his lie-e8lo)d& and the pa)t
she pla;ed :as )e=o-niHed as E"aiFoE& 9the inne) help'9
In the as=endin- s=ale of se),i=e stood :o<an& :ho
annihilated he)self fo) <an& that he <i-ht annihilate
hi<self fo) the <aste)& that he in tu)n <i-ht o>e;
hea,en' I @no: the :ea@ness of this tea=hin- and that the
supe)io)it; of 1h)istianit; is no:he)e <o)e <anifest than
he)e& in that it )eGui)es of ea=h and e,e); li,in- soul
di)e=t )esponsi>ilit; to its 1)eato)' "e,e)theless& as
fa) as the do=t)ine of se),i=e 88 the se),in- of a =ause
hi-he) than one*s o:n self& e,en at the sa=)ifi=e of
one*s indi,idualit;? I sa; the do=t)ine of se),i=e& :hi=h
is the -)eatest that 1h)ist p)ea=hed and is the sa=)ed
@e;note of his <ission 88 as fa) as that is =on=e)ned&
Bushido is >ased on ete)nal t)uth'
(; )eade)s :ill not a==use <e of undue p)eFudi=e in fa,o)
of sla,ish su))ende) of ,olition' I a==ept in a la)-e
<easu)e the ,ie: ad,an=ed :ith >)eadth of lea)nin- and
defended :ith p)ofundit; of thou-ht >; He-el& that
histo); is the unfoldin- and )ealiHation of f)eedo<' The
point I :ish to <a@e is that the :hole tea=hin- of
Bushido :as so tho)ou-hl; i<>ued :ith the spi)it of self8
sa=)ifi=e& that it :as )eGui)ed not onl; of :o<an >ut of
<an' Hen=e& until the influen=e of its !)e=epts is
enti)el; done a:a; :ith& ou) so=iet; :ill not )ealiHe the
,ie: )ashl; eKp)essed >; an <e)i=an eKponent of :o<an*s
)i-hts& :ho eK=lai<ed& 9(a; all the dau-hte)s of Japan
)ise in )e,olt a-ainst an=ient =usto<sA9 1an su=h a
)e,olt su==eedB 5ill it i<p)o,e the fe<ale statusB 5ill
the )i-hts the; -ain >; su=h a su<<a); p)o=ess )epa; the
loss of that s:eetness of disposition& that -entleness of
<anne)& :hi=h a)e thei) p)esent he)ita-eB 5as not the
loss of do<esti=it; on the pa)t of +o<an <at)ons follo:ed
>; <o)al =o))uption too -)oss to <entionB 1an the
<e)i=an )efo)<e) assu)e us that a )e,olt of ou)
dau-hte)s is the t)ue =ou)se fo) thei) histo)i=al
de,elop<ent to ta@eB These a)e -)a,e Guestions' 1han-es
<ust and :ill =o<e :ithout )e,oltsA In the <eanti<e let
us see :hethe) the status of the fai) seK unde) the
Bushido )e-i<en :as )eall; so >ad as to Fustif; a )e,olt'
5e hea) <u=h of the out:a)d )espe=t Eu)opean @ni-hts paid
to 96od and the ladies&9 88 the in=on-)uit; of the t:o
te)<s <a@in- 6i>>on >lush? :e a)e also told >; Halla<
that the <o)alit; of 1hi,al); :as =oa)se& that -allant);
i<plied illi=it lo,e' The effe=t of 1hi,al); on the
:ea@e) ,essel :as food fo) )efle=tion on the pa)t of
philosophe)s& (' 6uiHot =ontendin- that Feudalis< and
1hi,al); :)ou-ht :holeso<e influen=es& :hile ()' Spen=e)
tells us that in a <ilitant so=iet; Cand :hat is feudal
so=iet; if not <ilitantBD the position of :o<an is
ne=essa)il; lo:& i<p)o,in- onl; as so=iet; >e=o<es <o)e
indust)ial' "o: is (' 6uiHot*s theo); t)ue of Japan& o)
is ()' Spen=e)*sB In )epl; I <i-ht a,e) that >oth a)e
)i-ht' The <ilita); =lass in Japan :as )est)i=ted to the
sa<u)ai& =o<p)isin- nea)l; 7&///&/// souls' >o,e the<
:e)e the <ilita); no>les& the Edai<ioE& and the =ou)t
no>les& the E@u-PE 88 these hi-he)& s;>a)iti=al no>les
>ein- fi-hte)s onl; in na<e' Belo: the< :e)e <asses of
the =o<<on people 88 <e=hani=s& t)ades<en& and peasants
88 :hose life :as de,oted to a)ts of pea=e' Thus :hat
He)>e)t Spen=e) -i,es as the =ha)a=te)isti=s of a
<ilitant t;pe of so=iet; <a; >e said to ha,e >een
eK=lusi,el; =onfined to the sa<u)ai =lass& :hile those of
the indust)ial t;pe :e)e appli=a>le to the =lasses a>o,e
and >elo: it' This is :ell illust)ated >; the position of
:o<an? fo) in no =lass did she eKpe)ien=e less f)eedo<
than a<on- the sa<u)ai' St)an-e to sa;& the lo:e) the
so=ial =lass 88 as& fo) instan=e& a<on- s<all a)tisans 88
the <o)e eGual :as the position of hus>and and :ife'
<on- the hi-he) no>ilit;& too& the diffe)en=e in the
)elations of the seKes :as less <a)@ed& =hiefl; >e=ause
the)e :e)e fe: o==asions to >)in- the diffe)en=es of seK
into p)o<inen=e& the leisu)el; no>le<an ha,in- >e=o<e
lite)all; effe<inate' Thus Spen=e)*s di=tu< :as full;
eKe<plified in Old Japan' s to 6uiHot*s& those :ho )ead
his p)esentation of a feudal =o<<unit; :ill )e<e<>e) that
he had the hi-he) no>ilit; espe=iall; unde)
=onside)ation& so that his -ene)aliHation applies to the
Edai<ioE and the E@u-PE'
I shall >e -uilt; of -)oss inFusti=e to histo)i=al t)uth
if <; :o)ds -i,e one a ,e); lo: opinion of the status of
:o<an unde) Bushido' I do not hesitate to state that she
:as not t)eated as <an*s eGual? >ut until :e lea)n to
dis=)i<inate >et:een diffe)en=e and ineGualities& the)e
:ill al:a;s >e <isunde)standin-s upon this su>Fe=t'
5hen :e thin@ in ho: fe: )espe=ts <en a)e eGual a<on-
the<sel,es& Ee'-'E& >efo)e la: =ou)ts o) ,otin- polls& it
see<s idle to t)ou>le ou)sel,es :ith a dis=ussion on the
eGualit; of seKes' 5hen& the <e)i=an De=la)ation of
Independen=e said that all <en :e)e =)eated eGual& it had
no )efe)en=e to thei) <ental o) ph;si=al -ifts: it si<pl;
)epeated :hat Ulpian lon- a-o announ=ed& that >efo)e the
la: all <en a)e eGual' Le-al )i-hts :e)e in this =ase the
<easu)e of thei) eGualit;' 5e)e the la: the onl; s=ale >;
:hi=h to <easu)e the position of :o<an in a =o<<unit;& it
:ould >e as eas; to tell :he)e she stands as to -i,e he)
a,oi)dupois in pounds and oun=es' But the Guestion is: Is
the)e a =o))e=t standa)d in =o<pa)in- the )elati,e so=ial
position of the seKesB Is it )i-ht& is it enou-h& to
=o<pa)e :o<an*s status to <an*s as the ,alue of sil,e) is
Bushido: the Soul of Japan NM/95
=o<pa)ed :ith that of -old& and -i,e the )atio
nu<e)i=all;B Su=h a <ethod of =al=ulation eK=ludes f)o<
=onside)ation the <ost i<po)tant @ind of ,alue :hi=h a
hu<an >ein- possesses? na<el;& the int)insi=' In ,ie: of
the <anifold ,a)iet; of )eGuisites fo) <a@in- ea=h seK
fulfil its ea)thl; <ission& the standa)d to >e adopted in
<easu)in- its )elati,e position <ust >e of a =o<posite
=ha)a=te)? o)& to >o))o: f)o< e=ono<i= lan-ua-e& it <ust
>e a <ultiple standa)d' Bushido had a standa)d of its o:n
and it :as >ino<ial' It t)ied to -ua-e the ,alue of :o<an
on the >attle8field and >; the hea)th' The)e she =ounted
fo) ,e); little? he)e fo) all' The t)eat<ent a==o)ded he)
=o))esponded to this dou>le <easu)e<ent? 88 as a so=ial8
politi=al unit not <u=h& :hile as :ife and <othe) she
)e=ei,ed hi-hest )espe=t and deepest affe=tion' 5h; a<on-
so <ilita); a nation as the +o<ans& :e)e thei) <at)ons so
hi-hl; ,ene)atedB 5as it not >e=ause the; :e)e E<at)onaE&
<othe)sB "ot as fi-hte)s o) la:8-i,e)s& >ut as thei)
<othe)s did <en >o: >efo)e the<' So :ith us' 5hile
fathe)s and hus>ands :e)e a>sent in field o) =a<p& the
-o,e)n<ent of the household :as left enti)el; in the
hands of <othe)s and :i,es' The edu=ation of the ;oun-&
e,en thei) defen=e& :as ent)usted to the<' The :a)li@e
eKe)=ises of :o<en& of :hi=h I ha,e spo@en& :e)e
p)i<a)il; to ena>le the< intelli-entl; to di)e=t and
follo: the edu=ation of thei) =hild)en'
I ha,e noti=ed a )athe) supe)fi=ial notion p)e,ailin-
a<on- half8info)<ed fo)ei-ne)s& that >e=ause the =o<<on
Japanese eKp)ession fo) one*s :ife is 9<; )usti= :ife9
and the li@e& she is despised and held in little estee<'
5hen it is told that su=h ph)ases as 9<; foolish fathe)&9
9<; s:inish son&9 9<; a:@:a)d self&9 et='& a)e in =u))ent
use& is not the ans:e) =lea) enou-hB
To <e it see<s that ou) idea of <a)ital union -oes in
so<e :a;s fu)the) than the so8=alled 1h)istian' 9(an and
:o<an shall >e one flesh'9 The indi,idualis< of the
n-lo8SaKon =annot let -o of the idea that hus>and and
:ife a)e t:o pe)sons? 88 hen=e :hen the; disa-)ee& thei)
sepa)ate E)i-htsE a)e )e=o-niHed& and :hen the; a-)ee&
the; eKhaust thei) ,o=a>ula); in all so)ts of sill; pet8
na<es and 88 nonsensi=al >landish<ents' It sounds hi-hl;
i))ational to ou) ea)s& :hen a hus>and o) :ife spea@s to
a thi)d pa)t; of his othe) half 88 >ette) o) :o)se 88 as
>ein- lo,el;& >)i-ht& @ind& and :hat not' Is it -ood
taste to spea@ of one*s self as 9<; >)i-ht self&9 9<;
lo,el; disposition&9 and so fo)thB 5e thin@ p)aisin-
Bushido: the Soul of Japan NN/95
one*s o:n :ife o) one*s o:n hus>and is p)aisin- a pa)t of
one*s o:n self& and self8p)aise is )e-a)ded& to sa; the
least& as >ad taste a<on- us& 88 and I hope& a<on-
1h)istian nations tooA I ha,e di,e)-ed at so<e len-th
>e=ause the polite de>ase<ent of one*s =onso)t :as a
usa-e <ost in ,o-ue a<on- the sa<u)ai'
The Teutoni= )a=es >e-innin- thei) t)i>al life :ith a
supe)stitious a:e of the fai) seK Cthou-h this is )eall;
:ea)in- off in 6e)<an;AD& and the <e)i=ans >e-innin-
thei) so=ial life unde) the painful =ons=iousness of the
nu<e)i=al insuffi=ien=; of :o<enI7MJ C:ho& no:
in=)easin-& a)e& I a< af)aid& fast losin- the p)esti-e
thei) =olonial <othe)s enFo;edD& the )espe=t <an pa;s to
:o<an has in 5este)n =i,iliHation >e=o<e the =hief
standa)d of <o)alit;' But in the <a)tial ethi=s of
Bushido& the <ain :ate)8shed di,idin- the -ood and the
>ad :as sou-ht else:he)e' It :as lo=ated alon- the line
of dut; :hi=h >ound <an to his o:n di,ine soul and then
to othe) souls& in the fi,e )elations I ha,e <entioned in
the ea)l; pa)t of this pape)' Of these :e ha,e >)ou-ht to
ou) )eade)*s noti=e& Lo;alt;& the )elation >et:een one
<an as ,assal and anothe) as lo)d' Upon the )est& I ha,e
onl; d:elt in=identall; as o==asion p)esented itself?
>e=ause the; :e)e not pe=ulia) to Bushido' Bein- founded
on natu)al affe=tions& the; =ould >ut >e =o<<on to all
<an@ind& thou-h in so<e pa)ti=ula)s the; <a; ha,e >een
a==entuated >; =onditions :hi=h its tea=hin-s indu=ed' In
this =onne=tion& the)e =o<es >efo)e <e the pe=ulia)
st)en-th and tende)ness of f)iendship >et:een <an and
<an& :hi=h often added to the >ond of >)othe)hood a
)o<anti= atta=h<ent dou>tless intensified >; the
sepa)ation of the seKes in ;outh& 88 a sepa)ation :hi=h
denied to affe=tion the natu)al =hannel open to it in
5este)n =hi,al); o) in the f)ee inte)=ou)se of n-lo8
SaKon lands' I <i-ht fill pa-es :ith Japanese ,e)sions of
the sto); of Da<on and !;thias o) =hilles and !at)o=los&
o) tell in Bushido pa)lan=e of ties as s;<patheti= as
those :hi=h >ound Da,id and Jonathan'
It is not su)p)isin-& ho:e,e)& that the ,i)tues and
tea=hin-s uniGue in the !)e=epts of 4ni-hthood did not
)e<ain =i)=u<s=)i>ed to the <ilita); =lass' This <a@es us
hasten to the =onside)ation of
THE I"FLUE"1E OF BUSHIDO
on the nation at la)-e'
5e ha,e >)ou-ht into ,ie: onl; a fe: of the <o)e
p)o<inent pea@s :hi=h )ise a>o,e the )an-e of @ni-htl;
,i)tues& in the<sel,es so <u=h <o)e ele,ated than the
-ene)al le,el of ou) national life' s the sun in its
)isin- fi)st tips the hi-hest pea@s :ith )usset hue& and
then -)aduall; =asts its )a;s on the ,alle; >elo:& so the
ethi=al s;ste< :hi=h fi)st enli-htened the <ilita); o)de)
d)e: in =ou)se of ti<e follo:e)s f)o< a<on-st the <asses'
De<o=)a=; )aises up a natu)al p)in=e fo) its leade)& and
a)isto=)a=; infuses a p)in=el; spi)it a<on- the people'
3i)tues a)e no less =onta-ious than ,i=es' 9The)e needs
>ut one :ise <an in a =o<pan;& and all a)e :ise& so )apid
is the =onta-ion&9 sa;s E<e)son' "o so=ial =lass o) =aste
=an )esist the diffusi,e po:e) of <o)al influen=e'
!)ate as :e <a; of the t)iu<phant <a)=h of n-lo8SaKon
li>e)t;& )a)el; has it )e=ei,ed i<petus f)o< the <asses'
5as it not )athe) the :o)@ of the sGui)es and
E-entle<enEB 3e); t)ul; does (' Taine sa;& 9These th)ee
s;lla>les& as used a=)oss the =hannel& su<<a)iHe the
histo); of En-lish so=iet;'9 De<o=)a=; <a; <a@e self8
=onfident )eto)ts to su=h a state<ent and flin- >a=@ the
Guestion 88 95hen da< del,ed and E,e span& :he)e then
:as the -entle<anB9 ll the <o)e pit; that a -entle<an
:as not p)esent in EdenA The fi)st pa)ents <issed hi<
so)el; and paid a hi-h p)i=e fo) his a>sen=e' Had he >een
the)e& not onl; :ould the -a)den ha,e >een <o)e
tastefull; d)essed& >ut the; :ould ha,e lea)ned :ithout
painful eKpe)ien=e that diso>edien=e to Jeho,ah :as
dislo;alt; and dishono)& t)eason and )e>ellion'
5hat Japan :as she o:ed to the sa<u)ai' The; :e)e not
onl; the flo:e) of the nation >ut its )oot as :ell' ll
the -)a=ious -ifts of Hea,en flo:ed th)ou-h the<' Thou-h
the; @ept the<sel,es so=iall; aloof f)o< the popula=e&
the; set a <o)al standa)d fo) the< and -uided the< >;
thei) eKa<ple' I ad<it Bushido had its esote)i= and
eKote)i= tea=hin-s? these :e)e eude<onisti=& loo@in-
afte) the :elfa)e and happiness of the =o<<onalt;& :hile
those :e)e a)etai=& e<phasiHin- the p)a=ti=e of ,i)tues
fo) thei) o:n sa@e'
In the <ost =hi,al)ous da;s of Eu)ope& 4ni-hts fo)<ed
nu<e)i=all; >ut a s<all f)a=tion of the population& >ut&
as E<e)son sa;s 88 9In En-lish Lite)atu)e half the d)a<a
and all the no,els& f)o< Si) !hilip Sidne; to Si) 5alte)
S=ott& paint this fi-u)e C-entle<anD'9 5)ite in pla=e of
Sidne; and S=ott& 1hi@a<atsu and Ba@in& and ;ou ha,e in a
nutshell the <ain featu)es of the lite)a); histo); of
Japan'
The innu<e)a>le a,enues of popula) a<use<ent and
inst)u=tion 88 the theat)es& the sto);8telle)*s >ooths&
the p)ea=he)*s dais& the <usi=al )e=itations& the no,els
88 ha,e ta@en fo) thei) =hief the<e the sto)ies of the
sa<u)ai' The peasants )ound the open fi)e in thei) huts
ne,e) ti)e of )epeatin- the a=hie,e<ents of #oshitsunP
and his faithful )etaine) Ben@ei& o) of the t:o >)a,e
So-a >)othe)s? the dus@; u)=hins listen :ith -apin-
<ouths until the last sti=@ >u)ns out and the fi)e dies
in its e<>e)s& still lea,in- thei) hea)ts a-lo: :ith the
tale that is told' The =le)@s and the shop8>o;s& afte)
thei) da;*s :o)@ is o,e) and the Ea<adoEI7NJ of the sto)e
a)e =losed& -athe) to-ethe) to )elate the sto); of
"o>una-a and HidP;oshi fa) into the ni-ht& until slu<>e)
o,e)ta@es thei) :ea); e;es and t)anspo)ts the< f)o< the
d)ud-e); of the =ounte) to the eKploits of the field' The
,e); >a>e Fust >e-innin- to toddle is tau-ht to lisp the
ad,entu)es of (o<ota)o& the da)in- =onGue)o) of o-)e8
land' E,en -i)ls a)e so i<>ued :ith the lo,e of @ni-htl;
deeds and ,i)tues that& li@e Desde<ona& the; :ould
se)iousl; in=line to de,ou) :ith -)eed; ea) the )o<an=e
of the sa<u)ai'
The sa<u)ai -)e: to >e the E>eau idealE of the :hole
)a=e' 9s a<on- flo:e)s the =he)); is Gueen& so a<on- <en
the sa<u)ai is lo)d&9 so san- the popula=e' De>a))ed f)o<
=o<<e)=ial pu)suits& the <ilita); =lass itself did not
aid =o<<e)=e? >ut the)e :as no =hannel of hu<an a=ti,it;&
no a,enue of thou-ht& :hi=h did not )e=ei,e in so<e
<easu)e an i<petus f)o< Bushido' Intelle=tual and <o)al
Japan :as di)e=tl; o) indi)e=tl; the :o)@ of 4ni-hthood'
()' (allo=@& in his eK=eedin-l; su--esti,e >oo@&
9)isto=)a=; and E,olution&9 has eloGuentl; told us that
9so=ial e,olution& in so fa) as it is othe) than
>iolo-i=al& <a; >e defined as the unintended )esult of
the intentions of -)eat <en?9 fu)the)& that histo)i=al
p)o-)ess is p)odu=ed >; a st)u--le 9not a<on- the
=o<<unit; -ene)all;& to li,e& >ut a st)u--le a<on-st a
s<all se=tion of the =o<<unit; to lead& to di)e=t& to
e<plo;& the <aFo)it; in the >est :a;'9 5hate,e) <a; >e
said a>out the soundness of his a)-u<ent& these
state<ents a)e a<pl; ,e)ified in the pa)t pla;ed >; >ushi
in the so=ial p)o-)ess& as fa) as it :ent& of ou) E<pi)e'
Ho: the spi)it of Bushido pe)<eated all so=ial =lasses is
also sho:n in the de,elop<ent of a =e)tain o)de) of <en&
@no:n as Eoto@o8datPE& the natu)al leade)s of de<o=)a=;'
Staun=h fello:s :e)e the;& e,e); in=h of the< st)on- :ith
the st)en-th of <assi,e <anhood' t on=e the spo@es<en
and the -ua)dians of popula) )i-hts& the; had ea=h a
follo:in- of hund)eds and thousands of souls :ho
p)offe)ed in the sa<e fashion that sa<u)ai did to dai<io&
the :illin- se),i=e of 9li<> and life& of >od;& =hattels
and ea)thl; hono)'9 Ba=@ed >; a ,ast <ultitude of )ash
and i<petuous :o)@in-8<en& those >o)n 9>osses9 fo)<ed a
fo)<ida>le =he=@ to the )a<pan=; of the t:o8s:o)ded
o)de)'
In <anifold :a;s has Bushido filte)ed do:n f)o< the
so=ial =lass :he)e it o)i-inated& and a=ted as lea,en
a<on- the <asses& fu)nishin- a <o)al standa)d fo) the
:hole people' The !)e=epts of 4ni-hthood& >e-un at fi)st
as the -lo); of the elite& >e=a<e in ti<e an aspi)ation
and inspi)ation to the nation at la)-e? and thou-h the
popula=e =ould not attain the <o)al hei-ht of those
loftie) souls& ;et E#a<ato Da<ashiiE& the Soul of Japan&
ulti<atel; =a<e to eKp)ess the E3ol@s-eistE of the Island
+eal<' If )eli-ion is no <o)e than 9(o)alit; tou=hed >;
e<otion&9 as (atthe: )nold defines it& fe: ethi=al
s;ste<s a)e >ette) entitled to the )an@ of )eli-ion than
Bushido' (otoo)i has put the <ute utte)an=e of the nation
into :o)ds :hen he sin-s: 88
9Isles of >lest JapanA
Should ;ou) #a<ato spi)it
St)an-e)s see@ to s=an&
Sa; 88 s=entin- <o)n*s sun8lit ai)&
Blo:s the =he)); :ild and fai)A9
#es& the Esa@u)aEI70J has fo) a-es >een the fa,o)ite of
ou) people and the e<>le< of ou) =ha)a=te)' (a)@
pa)ti=ula)l; the te)<s of definition :hi=h the poet uses&
the :o)ds the E:ild =he)); flo:e) s=entin- the <o)nin-
sunE'
The #a<ato spi)it is not a ta<e& tende) plant& >ut a :ild
88 in the sense of natu)al 88 -)o:th? it is indi-enous to
the soil? its a==idental Gualities it <a; sha)e :ith the
flo:e)s of othe) lands& >ut in its essen=e it )e<ains the
o)i-inal& spontaneous out-)o:th of ou) =li<e' But its
nati,it; is not its sole =lai< to ou) affe=tion' The
)efine<ent and -)a=e of its >eaut; appeal to Eou)E
aestheti= sense as no othe) flo:e) =an' 5e =annot sha)e
the ad<i)ation of the Eu)opeans fo) thei) )oses& :hi=h
la=@ the si<pli=it; of ou) flo:e)' Then& too& the tho)ns
that a)e hidden >eneath the s:eetness of the )ose& the
tena=it; :ith :hi=h she =lin-s to life& as thou-h loth o)
af)aid to die )athe) than d)op unti<el;& p)efe))in- to
)ot on he) ste<? he) sho:; =olo)s and hea,; odo)s 88 all
these a)e t)aits so unli@e ou) flo:e)& :hi=h =a))ies no
da--e) o) poison unde) its >eaut;& :hi=h is e,e) )ead; to
depa)t life at the =all of natu)e& :hose =olo)s a)e ne,e)
-o)-eous& and :hose li-ht f)a-)an=e ne,e) palls' Beaut;
of =olo) and of fo)< is li<ited in its sho:in-? it is a
fiKed Gualit; of eKisten=e& :he)eas f)a-)an=e is
,olatile& ethe)eal as the >)eathin- of life' So in all
)eli-ious =e)e<onies f)an@in=ense and <;))h pla; a
p)o<inent pa)t' The)e is so<ethin- spi)ituelle in
)edolen=e' 5hen the deli=ious pe)fu<e of the Esa@u)aE
Gui=@ens the <o)nin- ai)& as the sun in its =ou)se )ises
to illu<ine fi)st the isles of the Fa) East& fe:
sensations a)e <o)e se)enel; eKhila)atin- than to inhale&
as it :e)e& the ,e); >)eath of >eauteous da;'
5hen the 1)eato) hi<self is pi=tu)ed as <a@inne:
)esolutions in his hea)t upon s<ellin- a s:eet sa,o)
C6en' 3III& 71D& is it an; :onde) that the s:eet8s<ellin-
season of the =he)); >losso< should =all fo)th the :hole
nation f)o< thei) little ha>itationsB Bla<e the< not& if
fo) a ti<e thei) li<>s fo)-et thei) toil and <oil and
thei) hea)ts thei) pan-s and so))o:s' Thei) >)ief
pleasu)e ended& the; )etu)n to thei) dail; tas@s :ith ne:
st)en-th and ne: )esolutions' Thus in :a;s <o)e than one
is the sa@u)a the flo:e) of the nation'
Is& then& this flo:e)& so s:eet and e,anes=ent& >lo:n
:hithe)soe,e) the :ind listeth& and& sheddin- a puff of
pe)fu<e& )ead; to ,anish fo)e,e)& is this flo:e) the t;pe
of the #a<ato spi)itB Is the Soul of Japan so f)aill;
<o)talB
IS BUSHIDO STILL LI3EB
O) has 5este)n =i,iliHation& in its <a)=h th)ou-h the
land& al)ead; :iped out e,e); t)a=e of its an=ient
dis=iplineB
It :e)e a sad thin- if a nation*s soul =ould die so fast'
That :e)e a poo) soul that =ould su==u<> so easil; to
eKt)aneous influen=es' The a--)e-ate of ps;=holo-i=al
ele<ents :hi=h =onstitute a national =ha)a=te)& is as
tena=ious as the 9i))edu=i>le ele<ents of spe=ies& of the
fins of fish& of the >ea@ of the >i)d& of the tooth of
the =a)ni,o)ous ani<al'9 In his )e=ent >oo@& full of
shallo: asse,e)ations and >)illiant -ene)aliHations& ('
LeBonI79J sa;s& 9The dis=o,e)ies due to the intelli-en=e
a)e the =o<<on pat)i<on; of hu<anit;? Gualities o)
defe=ts of =ha)a=te) =onstitute the eK=lusi,e pat)i<on;
of ea=h people: the; a)e the fi)< )o=@ :hi=h the :ate)s
<ust :ash da; >; da; fo) =entu)ies& >efo)e the; =an :ea)
a:a; e,en its eKte)nal aspe)ities'9 These a)e st)on-
:o)ds and :ould >e hi-hl; :o)th ponde)in- o,e)& p)o,ided
the)e :e)e Gualities and defe=ts of =ha)a=te) :hi=h
E=onstitute the eK=lusi,e pat)i<on;E of ea=h people'
S=he<atiHin- theo)ies of this so)t had >een ad,an=ed lon-
>efo)e LeBon >e-an to :)ite his >oo@& and the; :e)e
eKploded lon- a-o >; Theodo) 5aitH and Hu-h (u))a;' In
stud;in- the ,a)ious ,i)tues instilled >; Bushido& :e
ha,e d)a:n upon Eu)opean sou)=es fo) =o<pa)ison and
illust)ations& and :e ha,e seen that no one Gualit; of
=ha)a=te) :as its EeK=lusi,eE pat)i<on;' It is t)ue the
a--)e-ate of <o)al Gualities p)esents a Guite uniGue
aspe=t' It is this a--)e-ate :hi=h E<e)son na<es a
9=o<pound )esult into :hi=h e,e); -)eat fo)=e ente)s as
an in-)edient'9 But& instead of <a@in- it& as LeBon does&
an eK=lusi,e pat)i<on; of a )a=e o) people& the 1on=o)d
philosophe) =alls it 9an ele<ent :hi=h unites the <ost
fo)=i>le pe)sons of e,e); =ount);? <a@es the<
intelli-i>le and a-)eea>le to ea=h othe)? and is so<e:hat
so p)e=ise that it is at on=e felt if an indi,idual la=@
the (asoni= si-n'9
The =ha)a=te) :hi=h Bushido sta<ped on ou) nation and on
the sa<u)ai in pa)ti=ula)& =annot >e said to fo)< 9an
i))edu=i>le ele<ent of spe=ies&9 >ut ne,e)theless as to
the ,italit; :hi=h it )etains the)e is no dou>t' 5e)e
Bushido a <e)e ph;si=al fo)=e& the <o<entu< it has -ained
in the last se,en hund)ed ;ea)s =ould not stop so
a>)uptl;' 5e)e it t)ans<itted onl; >; he)edit;& its
influen=e <ust >e i<<ensel; :idesp)ead' Just thin@& as ('
1he;sson& a F)en=h e=ono<ist& has =al=ulated& that
supposin- the)e >e th)ee -ene)ations in a =entu);& 9ea=h
of us :ould ha,e in his ,eins the >lood of at least
t:ent; <illions of the people li,in- in the ;ea) 1///
'D'9 The <e)est peasant that -)u>s the soil& 9>o:ed >;
the :ei-ht of =entu)ies&9 has in his ,eins the >lood of
a-es& and is thus a >)othe) to us as <u=h as 9to the oK'9
n un=ons=ious and i))esisti>le po:e)& Bushido has >een
<o,in- the nation and indi,iduals' It :as an honest
=onfession of the )a=e :hen #oshida Shoin& one of the
<ost >)illiant pionee)s of (ode)n Japan& :)ote on the e,e
of his eKe=ution the follo:in- stanHa? 88
9Full :ell I @ne: this =ou)se <ust end in death?
It :as #a<ato spi)it u)-ed <e on
To da)e :hate*e) >etide'9
Unfo)<ulated& Bushido :as and still is the ani<atin-
spi)it& the <oto) fo)=e of ou) =ount);'
()' +anso<e sa;s that 9the)e a)e th)ee distin=t Japans in
eKisten=e side >; side to8da;& 88 the old& :hi=h has not
:holl; died out? the ne:& ha)dl; ;et >o)n eK=ept in
spi)it? and the t)ansition& passin- no: th)ou-h its <ost
=)iti=al th)oes'9 5hile this is ,e); t)ue in <ost
)espe=ts& and pa)ti=ula)l; as )e-a)ds tan-i>le and
=on=)ete institutions& the state<ent& as applied to
funda<ental ethi=al notions& )eGui)es so<e <odifi=ation?
fo) Bushido& the <a@e) and p)odu=t of Old Japan& is still
the -uidin- p)in=iple of the t)ansition and :ill p)o,e
the fo)<ati,e fo)=e of the ne: e)a'
The -)eat states<en :ho stee)ed the ship of ou) state
th)ou-h the hu))i=ane of the +esto)ation and the
:hi)lpool of national )eFu,enation& :e)e <en :ho @ne: no
othe) <o)al tea=hin- than the !)e=epts of 4ni-hthood'
So<e :)ite)sI./J ha,e latel; t)ied to p)o,e that the
1h)istian <issiona)ies =ont)i>uted an app)e=ia>le Guota
to the <a@in- of "e: Japan' I :ould fain )ende) hono) to
:ho< hono) is due: >ut this hono) =an ha)dl; >e a==o)ded
to the -ood <issiona)ies' (o)e fittin- it :ill >e to
thei) p)ofession to sti=@ to the s=)iptu)al inFun=tion of
p)efe))in- one anothe) in hono)& than to ad,an=e a =lai<
in :hi=h the; ha,e no p)oofs to >a=@ the<' Fo) <;self& I
>elie,e that 1h)istian <issiona)ies a)e doin- -)eat
thin-s fo) Japan 88 in the do<ain of edu=ation& and
espe=iall; of <o)al edu=ation: 88 onl;& the <;ste)ious
thou-h not the less =e)tain :o)@in- of the Spi)it is
still hidden in di,ine se=)e=;' 5hate,e) the; do is still
of indi)e=t effe=t' "o& as ;et 1h)istian <issions ha,e
effe=ted >ut little ,isi>le in <ouldin- the =ha)a=te) of
"e: Japan' "o& it :as Bushido& pu)e and si<ple& that
u)-ed us on fo) :eal o) :oe' Open the >io-)aphies of the
<a@e)s of (ode)n Japan 88 of Sa@u<a& of Sai-o& of O@u>o&
of 4ido& not to <ention the )e<inis=en=es of li,in- <en
su=h as Ito& O@u<a& Ita-a@i& et=': 88 and ;ou :ill find
that it :as unde) the i<petus of sa<u)aihood that the;
thou-ht and :)ou-ht' 5hen ()' Hen); "o)<an de=la)ed&
afte) his stud; and o>se),ation of the Fa) East&I.1J that
onl; the )espe=t in :hi=h Japan diffe)ed f)o< othe)
o)iental despotis<s la; in 9the )ulin- influen=e a<on-
he) people of the st)i=test& loftiest& and the <ost
pun=tilious =odes of hono) that <an has e,e) de,ised&9 he
tou=hed the <ain sp)in- :hi=h has <ade ne: Japan :hat she
is and :hi=h :ill <a@e he) :hat she is destined to >e'
The t)ansfo)<ation of Japan is a fa=t patent to the :hole
:o)ld' In a :o)@ of su=h <a-nitude ,a)ious <oti,es
natu)all; ente)ed? >ut if one :e)e to na<e the p)in=ipal&
one :ould not hesitate to na<e Bushido' 5hen :e opened
the :hole =ount); to fo)ei-n t)ade& :hen :e int)odu=ed
the latest i<p)o,e<ents in e,e); depa)t<ent of life& :hen
:e >e-an to stud; 5este)n politi=s and s=ien=es& ou)
-uidin- <oti,e :as not the de,elop<ent of ou) ph;si=al
)esou)=es and the in=)ease of :ealth? <u=h less :as it a
>lind i<itation of 5este)n =usto<s' =lose o>se),e) of
o)iental institutions and peoples has :)itten: 88 95e a)e
told e,e); da; ho: Eu)ope has influen=ed Japan& and
fo)-et that the =han-e in those islands :as enti)el;
self8-ene)ated& that Eu)opeans did not tea=h Japan& >ut
that Japan of he)self =hose to lea)n f)o< Eu)ope <ethods
of o)-aniHation& =i,il and <ilita);& :hi=h ha,e so fa)
p)o,ed su==essful' She i<po)ted Eu)opean <e=hani=al
s=ien=e& as the Tu)@s ;ea)s >efo)e i<po)ted Eu)opean
a)tille);' That is not eKa=tl; influen=e&9 =ontinues ()'
To:nsend& 9unless& indeed& En-land is influen=ed >;
pu)=hasin- tea of 1hina' 5he)e is the Eu)opean apostle&9
as@s ou) autho)& 9o) philosophe) o) states<an o) a-itato)
:ho has )e8<ade JapanB9I.7J ()' To:nsend has :ell
pe)=ei,ed that the sp)in- of a=tion :hi=h >)ou-ht a>out
the =han-es in Japan la; enti)el; :ithin ou) o:n sel,es?
and if he had onl; p)o>ed into ou) ps;=holo-;& his @een
po:e)s of o>se),ation :ould easil; ha,e =on,in=ed hi<
that that sp)in- :as no othe) than Bushido' The sense of
hono) :hi=h =annot >ea) >ein- loo@ed do:n upon as an
infe)io) po:e)& 88 that :as the st)on-est of <oti,es'
!e=unia); o) indust)ial =onside)ations :e)e a:a@ened
late) in the p)o=ess of t)ansfo)<ation'
The influen=e of Bushido is still so palpa>le that he :ho
)uns <a; )ead' -li<pse into Japanese life :ill <a@e it
<anifest' +ead Hea)n& the <ost eloGuent and t)uthful
inte)p)ete) of the Japanese <ind& and ;ou see the :o)@in-
of that <ind to >e an eKa<ple of the :o)@in- of Bushido'
The uni,e)sal politeness of the people& :hi=h is the
le-a=; of @ni-htl; :a;s& is too :ell @no:n to >e )epeated
ane:' The ph;si=al endu)an=e& fo)titude and >)a,e); that
9the little Jap9 possesses& :e)e suffi=ientl; p)o,ed in
the 1hina8Japanese :a)'I..J 9Is the)e an; nation <o)e
lo;al and pat)ioti=B9 is a Guestion as@ed >; <an;? and
fo) the p)oud ans:e)& 9The)e is not&9 :e <ust than@ the
!)e=epts of 4ni-hthood'
On the othe) hand& it is fai) to )e=o-niHe that fo) the
,e); faults and defe=ts of ou) =ha)a=te)& Bushido is
la)-el; )esponsi>le' Ou) la=@ of a>st)use philosoph; 88
:hile so<e of ou) ;oun- <en ha,e al)ead; -ained
inte)national )eputation in s=ientifi= )esea)=hes& not
one has a=hie,ed an;thin- in philosophi=al lines 88 is
t)a=ea>le to the ne-le=t of <etaph;si=al t)ainin- unde)
Bushido*s )e-i<en of edu=ation' Ou) sense of hono) is
)esponsi>le fo) ou) eKa--e)ated sensiti,eness and
tou=hiness? and if the)e is the =on=eit in us :ith :hi=h
so<e fo)ei-ne)s =ha)-e us& that& too& is a patholo-i=al
out=o<e of hono)'
Ha,e ;ou seen in ;ou) tou) of Japan <an; a ;oun- <an :ith
un@e<pt hai)& d)essed in sha>>iest -a)>& =a));in- in his
hand a la)-e =ane o) a >oo@& stal@in- a>out the st)eets
:ith an ai) of utte) indiffe)en=e to <undane thin-sB He
is the EshoseiE CstudentD& to :ho< the ea)th is too s<all
and the Hea,ens a)e not hi-h enou-h' He has his o:n
theo)ies of the uni,e)se and of life' He d:ells in
=astles of ai) and feeds on ethe)eal :o)ds of :isdo<' In
his e;es >ea<s the fi)e of a<>ition? his <ind is athi)st
fo) @no:led-e' !enu); is onl; a sti<ulus to d)i,e hi<
on:a)d? :o)ldl; -oods a)e in his si-ht sha=@les to his
=ha)a=te)' He is the )eposito); of Lo;alt; and
!at)iotis<' He is the self8i<posed -ua)dian of national
hono)' 5ith all his ,i)tues and his faults& he is the
last f)a-<ent of Bushido'
Deep8)ooted and po:e)ful as is still the effe=t of
Bushido& I ha,e said that it is an un=ons=ious and <ute
influen=e' The hea)t of the people )esponds& :ithout
@no:in- the )eason :h;& to an; appeal <ade to :hat it has
inhe)ited& and hen=e the sa<e <o)al idea eKp)essed in a
ne:l; t)anslated te)< and in an old Bushido te)<& has a
,astl; diffe)ent de-)ee of effi=a=;' >a=@slidin-
1h)istian& :ho< no pasto)al pe)suasion =ould help f)o<
do:n:a)d tenden=;& :as )e,e)ted f)o< his =ou)se >; an
appeal <ade to his lo;alt;& the fidelit; he on=e s:o)e to
his (aste)' The :o)d 9Lo;alt;9 )e,i,ed all the no>le
senti<ents that :e)e pe)<itted to -)o: lu@e:a)<' >and
of un)ul; ;ouths en-a-ed in a lon- =ontinued 9students*
st)i@e9 in a =olle-e& on a==ount of thei) dissatisfa=tion
:ith a =e)tain tea=he)& dis>anded at t:o si<ple Guestions
put >; the Di)e=to)& 88 9Is ;ou) p)ofesso) a >la<eless
=ha)a=te)B If so& ;ou ou-ht to )espe=t hi< and @eep hi<
in the s=hool' Is he :ea@B If so& it is not <anl; to push
a fallin- <an'9 The s=ientifi= in=apa=it; of the
p)ofesso)& :hi=h :as the >e-innin- of the t)ou>le&
d:indled into insi-nifi=an=e in =o<pa)ison :ith the <o)al
issues hinted at' B; a)ousin- the senti<ents nu)tu)ed >;
Bushido& <o)al )eno,ation of -)eat <a-nitude =an >e
a==o<plished'
One =ause of the failu)e of <ission :o)@ is that <ost of
the <issiona)ies a)e -)ossl; i-no)ant of ou) histo); 88
95hat do :e =a)e fo) heathen )e=o)dsB9 so<e sa; 88 and
=onseGuentl; est)an-e thei) )eli-ion f)o< the ha>its of
thou-ht :e and ou) fo)efathe)s ha,e >een a==usto<ed to
fo) =entu)ies past' (o=@in- a nation*s histo);A 88 as
thou-h the =a)ee) of an; people 88 e,en of the lo:est
f)i=an sa,a-es possessin- no )e=o)d 88 :e)e not a pa-e
in the -ene)al histo); of <an@ind& :)itten >; the hand of
6od Hi<self' The ,e); lost )a=es a)e a pali<psest to >e
de=iphe)ed >; a seein- e;e' To a philosophi= and pious
<ind& the )a=es the<sel,es a)e <a)@s of Di,ine
=hi)o-)aph; =lea)l; t)a=ed in >la=@ and :hite as on thei)
s@in? and if this si<ile holds -ood& the ;ello: )a=e
fo)<s a p)e=ious pa-e ins=)i>ed in hie)o-l;phi=s of -oldA
I-no)in- the past =a)ee) of a people& <issiona)ies =lai<
that 1h)istianit; is a ne: )eli-ion& :he)eas& to <; <ind&
it is an 9old& old sto);&9 :hi=h& if p)esented in
intelli-i>le :o)ds& 88 that is to sa;& if eKp)essed in
the ,o=a>ula); fa<ilia) in the <o)al de,elop<ent of a
people 88 :ill find eas; lod-<ent in thei) hea)ts&
i))espe=ti,e of )a=e o) nationalit;' 1h)istianit; in its
<e)i=an o) En-lish fo)< 88 :ith <o)e of n-lo8SaKon
f)ea@s and fan=ies than -)a=e and pu)it; of its founde)
88 is a poo) s=ion to -)aft on Bushido sto=@' Should the
p)opa-ato) of the ne: faith up)oot the enti)e sto=@& )oot
and >)an=hes& and plant the seeds of the 6ospel on the
)a,a-ed soilB Su=h a he)oi= p)o=ess <a; >e possi>le 88 in
Ha:aii& :he)e& it is alle-ed& the =hu)=h <ilitant had
=o<plete su==ess in a<assin- spoils of :ealth itself& and
in annihilatin- the a>o)i-inal )a=e: su=h a p)o=ess is
<ost de=idedl; i<possi>le in Japan 88 na;& it is a
p)o=ess :hi=h Jesus hi<self :ould ne,e) ha,e e<plo;ed in
foundin- his @in-do< on ea)th' It >ehoo,es us to ta@e
<o)e to hea)t the follo:in- :o)ds of a saintl; <an&
de,out 1h)istian and p)ofound s=hola): 88 9(en ha,e
di,ided the :o)ld into heathen and 1h)istian& :ithout
=onside)in- ho: <u=h -ood <a; ha,e >een hidden in the
one& o) ho: <u=h e,il <a; ha,e >een <in-led :ith the
othe)' The; ha,e =o<pa)ed the >est pa)t of the<sel,es
:ith the :o)st of thei) nei-h>o)s& the ideal of
1h)istianit; :ith the =o))uption of 6)ee=e o) the East'
The; ha,e not ai<ed at i<pa)tialit;& >ut ha,e >een
=ontented to a==u<ulate all that =ould >e said in p)aise
of thei) o:n& and in disp)aise of othe) fo)<s of
)eli-ion'9I.2J
But& :hate,e) <a; >e the e))o) =o<<itted >; indi,iduals&
the)e is little dou>t that the funda<ental p)in=iple of
the )eli-ion the; p)ofess is a po:e) :hi=h :e <ust ta@e
into a==ount in )e=@onin-
THE FUTU+E OF BUSHIDO&
:hose da;s see< to >e al)ead; nu<>e)ed' O<inous si-ns a)e
in the ai)& that >eto@en its futu)e' "ot onl; si-ns& >ut
)edou>ta>le fo)=es a)e at :o)@ to th)eaten it'
Fe: histo)i=al =o<pa)isons =an >e <o)e Fudi=iousl; <ade
than >et:een the 1hi,al); of Eu)ope and the Bushido of
Japan& and& if histo); )epeats itself& it =e)tainl; :ill
do :ith the fate of the latte) :hat it did :ith that of
the fo)<e)' The pa)ti=ula) and lo=al =auses fo) the de=a;
of 1hi,al); :hi=h St' !ala;e -i,es& ha,e& of =ou)se&
little appli=ation to Japanese =onditions? >ut the la)-e)
and <o)e -ene)al =auses that helped to unde)<ine
4ni-hthood and 1hi,al); in and afte) the (iddle -es a)e
as su)el; :o)@info) the de=line of Bushido'
One )e<a)@a>le diffe)en=e >et:een the eKpe)ien=e of
Eu)ope and of Japan is& that& :he)eas in Eu)ope :hen
1hi,al); :as :eaned f)o< Feudalis< and :as adopted >; the
1hu)=h& it o>tained a f)esh lease of life& in Japan no
)eli-ion :as la)-e enou-h to nou)ish it? hen=e& :hen the
<othe) institution& Feudalis<& :as -one& Bushido& left an
o)phan& had to shift fo) itself' The p)esent ela>o)ate
<ilita); o)-aniHation <i-ht ta@e it unde) its pat)ona-e&
>ut :e @no: that <ode)n :a)fa)e =an affo)d little )oo<
fo) its =ontinuous -)o:th' Shintois<& :hi=h foste)ed it
in its infan=;& is itself supe)annuated' The hoa); sa-es
of an=ient 1hina a)e >ein- supplanted >; the intelle=tual
pa),enu of the t;pe of Bentha< and (ill' (o)al theo)ies
of a =o<fo)ta>le @ind& flatte)in- to the 1hau,inisti=
tenden=ies of the ti<e& and the)efo)e thou-ht :ell8
adapted to the need of this da;& ha,e >een in,ented and
p)opounded? >ut as ;et :e hea) onl; thei) sh)ill ,oi=es
e=hoin- th)ou-h the =olu<ns of ;ello: Fou)nalis<'
!)in=ipalities and po:e)s a)e a))a;ed a-ainst the
!)e=epts of 4ni-hthood' l)ead;& as 3e>len sa;s& 9the
de=a; of the =e)e<onial =ode 88 o)& as it is othe):ise
=alled& the ,ul-a)iHation of life 88 a<on- the indust)ial
=lasses p)ope)& has >e=o<e one of the =hief eno)<ities of
latte)8da; =i,iliHation in the e;es of all pe)sons of
deli=ate sensi>ilities'9 The i))esisti>le tide of
t)iu<phant de<o=)a=;& :hi=h =an tole)ate no fo)< o) shape
of t)ust 88 and Bushido :as a t)ust o)-aniHed >; those
:ho <onopoliHed )ese),e =apital of intelle=t and =ultu)e&
fiKin- the -)ades and ,alue of <o)al Gualities 88 is
alone po:e)ful enou-h to en-ulf the )e<nant of Bushido'
The p)esent so=ieta); fo)=es a)e anta-onisti= to pett;
=lass spi)it& and 1hi,al); is& as F)ee<an se,e)el;
=)iti=iHes& a =lass spi)it' (ode)n so=iet;& if it
p)etends to an; unit;& =annot ad<it 9pu)el; pe)sonal
o>li-ations de,ised in the inte)ests of an eK=lusi,e
=lass'9I.5J dd to this the p)o-)ess of popula)
inst)u=tion& of indust)ial a)ts and ha>its& of :ealth and
=it;8life& 88 then :e =an easil; see that neithe) the
@eenest =uts of sa<u)ai*s s:o)d no) the sha)pest shafts
shot f)o< Bushido*s >oldest >o:s =an au-ht a,ail' The
state >uilt upon the )o=@ of Hono) and fo)tified >; the
sa<e 88 shall :e =all it the EEh)enstaatE o)& afte) the
<anne) of 1a)l;le& the He)oa)=h;B 88 is fast fallin- into
the hands of Gui>>lin- la:;e)s and -i>>e)in- politi=ians
a)<ed :ith lo-i=8=hoppin- en-ines of :a)' The :o)ds :hi=h
a -)eat thin@e) used in spea@in- of The)esa and nti-one
<a; aptl; >e )epeated of the sa<u)ai& that 9the <ediu< in
:hi=h thei) a)dent deeds too@ shape is fo)e,e) -one'9
las fo) @ni-htl; ,i)tuesA alas fo) sa<u)ai p)ideA
(o)alit; ushe)ed into the :o)ld :ith the sound of >u-les
and d)u<s& is destined to fade a:a; as 9the =aptains and
the @in-s depa)t'9
If histo); =an tea=h us an;thin-& the state >uilt on
<a)tial ,i)tues 88 >e it a =it; li@e Spa)ta o) an E<pi)e
li@e +o<e 88 =an ne,e) <a@e on ea)th a 9=ontinuin- =it;'9
Uni,e)sal and natu)al as is the fi-htin- instin=t in <an&
f)uitful as it has p)o,ed to >e of no>le senti<ents and
<anl; ,i)tues& it does not =o<p)ehend the :hole <an'
Beneath the instin=t to fi-ht the)e lu)@s a di,ine)
instin=t to lo,e' 5e ha,e seen that Shintois<& (en=ius
and 5an #an- (in-& ha,e all =lea)l; tau-ht it? >ut
Bushido and all othe) <ilitant s=hools of ethi=s&
en-)ossed& dou>tless& :ith Guestions of i<<ediate
p)a=ti=al need& too often fo)-ot dul; to e<phasiHe this
fa=t' Life has -)o:n la)-e) in these latte) ti<es'
1allin-s no>le) and >)oade) than a :a))io)*s =lai< ou)
attention to8da;' 5ith an enla)-ed ,ie: of life& :ith the
-)o:th of de<o=)a=;& :ith >ette) @no:led-e of othe)
peoples and nations& the 1onfu=ian idea of Bene,olen=e 88
da)e I also add the Buddhist idea of !it;B 88 :ill eKpand
into the 1h)istian =on=eption of Lo,e' (en ha,e >e=o<e
<o)e than su>Fe=ts& ha,in- -)o:n to the estate of
=itiHens: na;& the; a)e <o)e than =itiHens& >ein- <en'
Thou-h :a) =louds han- hea,; upon ou) ho)iHon& :e :ill
>elie,e that the :in-s of the an-el of pea=e =an dispe)se
the<' The histo); of the :o)ld =onfi)<s the p)ophe=; the
9the <ee@ shall inhe)it the ea)th'9 nation that sells
its >i)th)i-ht of pea=e& and >a=@slides f)o< the f)ont
)an@ of Indust)ialis< into the file of Fili>uste)is<&
<a@es a poo) >a)-ain indeedA
5hen the =onditions of so=iet; a)e so =han-ed that the;
ha,e >e=o<e not onl; ad,e)se >ut hostile to Bushido& it
is ti<e fo) it to p)epa)e fo) an hono)a>le >u)ial' It is
Fust as diffi=ult to point out :hen =hi,al); dies& as to
dete)<ine the eKa=t ti<e of its in=eption' D)' (ille)
sa;s that 1hi,al); :as fo)<all; a>olished in the ;ea)
1559& :hen Hen); II' of F)an=e :as slain in a tou)na<ent'
5ith us& the edi=t fo)<all; a>olishin- Feudalis< in 10N/
:as the si-nal to toll the @nell of Bushido' The edi=t&
issued t:o ;ea)s late)& p)ohi>itin- the :ea)in- of
s:o)ds& )an- out the old& 9the un>ou-ht -)a=e of life&
the =heap defen=e of nations& the nu)se of <anl;
senti<ent and he)oi= ente)p)ise&9 it )an- in the ne: a-e
of 9sophiste)s& e=ono<ists& and =al=ulato)s'9
It has >een said that Japan :on he) late :a) :ith 1hina
>; <eans of (u)ata -uns and 4)upp =annon? it has >een
said the ,i=to); :as the :o)@ of a <ode)n s=hool s;ste<?
>ut these a)e less than half8t)uths' Does e,e) a piano&
>e it of the =hoi=est :o)@<anship of Eh)>a) o) Stein:a;&
>u)st fo)th into the +hapsodies of LisHt o) the Sonatas
of Beetho,en& :ithout a <aste)*s handB O)& if -uns :in
>attles& :h; did not Louis "apoleon >eat the !)ussians
:ith his E(it)ailleuseE& o) the Spania)ds :ith thei)
(ause)s the Filipinos& :hose a)<s :e)e no >ette) than the
old8fashioned +e<in-tonsB "eedless to )epeat :hat has
-)o:n a t)ite sa;in- that it is the spi)it that
Gui=@eneth& :ithout :hi=h the >est of i<ple<ents
p)ofiteth >ut little' The <ost i<p)o,ed -uns and =annon
do not shoot of thei) o:n a==o)d? the <ost <ode)n
edu=ational s;ste< does not <a@e a =o:a)d a he)o' "oA
5hat :on the >attles on the #alu& in 1o)ea and (an=hu)ia&
:as the -hosts of ou) fathe)s& -uidin- ou) hands and
>eatin- in ou) hea)ts' The; a)e not dead& those -hosts&
the spi)its of ou) :a)li@e an=esto)s' To those :ho ha,e
e;es to see& the; a)e =lea)l; ,isi>le' S=)at=h a Japanese
of the <ost ad,an=ed ideas& and he :ill sho: a sa<u)ai'
The -)eat inhe)itan=e of hono)& of ,alo) and of all
<a)tial ,i)tues is& as !)ofesso) 1)a<> ,e); fitl;
eKp)esses it& 9>ut ou)s on t)ust& the fief inaliena>le of
the dead and of the -ene)ation to =o<e&9 and the su<<ons
of the p)esent is to -ua)d this he)ita-e& no) to >ate one
Fot of the an=ient spi)it? the su<<ons of the futu)e :ill
>e so to :iden its s=ope as to appl; it in all :al@s and
)elations of life'
It has >een p)edi=ted 88 and p)edi=tions ha,e >een
=o))o>o)ated >; the e,ents of the last half =entu); 88
that the <o)al s;ste< of Feudal Japan& li@e its =astles
and its a)<o)ies& :ill =)u<>le into dust& and ne: ethi=s
)ise phoeniK8li@e to lead "e: Japan in he) path of
p)o-)ess' Desi)a>le and p)o>a>le as the fulfil<ent of
su=h a p)ophe=; is& :e <ust not fo)-et that a phoeniK
)ises onl; f)o< its o:n ashes& and that it is not a >i)d
of passa-e& neithe) does it fl; on pinions >o))o:ed f)o<
othe) >i)ds' 9The 4in-do< of 6od is :ithin ;ou'9 It does
not =o<e )ollin- do:n the <ountains& ho:e,e) loft;? it
does not =o<e sailin- a=)oss the seas& ho:e,e) >)oad'
96od has -)anted&9 sa;s the 4o)an& 9to e,e); people a
p)ophet in its o:n ton-ue'9 The seeds of the 4in-do<& as
,ou=hed fo) and app)ehended >; the Japanese <ind&
>losso<ed in Bushido' "o: its da;s a)e =losin- 88 sad to
sa;& >efo)e its full f)uition 88 and :e tu)n in e,e);
di)e=tion fo) othe) sou)=es of s:eetness and li-ht& of
st)en-th and =o<fo)t& >ut a<on- the< the)e is as ;et
nothin- found to ta@e its pla=e' The p)ofit and loss
philosoph; of Utilita)ians and (ate)ialists finds fa,o)
a<on- lo-i=8=hoppe)s :ith half a soul' The onl; othe)
ethi=al s;ste< :hi=h is po:e)ful enou-h to =ope :ith
Utilita)ianis< and (ate)ialis< is 1h)istianit;& in
=o<pa)ison :ith :hi=h Bushido& it <ust >e =onfessed& is
li@e 9a di<l; >u)nin- :i=@9 :hi=h the (essiah :as
p)o=lai<ed not to Guen=h >ut to fan into a fla<e' Li@e
His He>)e: p)e=u)so)s& the p)ophets 88 nota>l; Isaiah&
Je)e<iah& <os and Ha>a@@u@ 88 Bushido laid pa)ti=ula)
st)ess on the <o)al =ondu=t of )ule)s and pu>li= <en and
of nations& :he)eas the Ethi=s of 1h)ist& :hi=h deal
al<ost solel; :ith indi,iduals and His pe)sonal
follo:e)s& :ill find <o)e and <o)e p)a=ti=al appli=ation
as indi,idualis<& in its =apa=it; of a <o)al fa=to)&
-)o:s in poten=;' The do<inee)in-& self8asse)ti,e& so8
=alled <aste)8<o)alit; of "ietHs=he& itself a@in in so<e
)espe=ts to Bushido& is& if I a< not -)eatl; <ista@en& a
passin- phase o) te<po)a); )ea=tion a-ainst :hat he
te)<s& >; <o)>id disto)tion& the hu<>le& self8den;in-
sla,e8<o)alit; of the "aHa)ene'
1h)istianit; and (ate)ialis< Cin=ludin- Utilita)ianis<D
88 o) :ill the futu)e )edu=e the< to still <o)e a)=hai=
fo)<s of He>)ais< and Hellenis<B 88 :ill di,ide the :o)ld
>et:een the<' Lesse) s;ste<s of <o)als :ill all;
the<sel,es on eithe) side fo) thei) p)ese),ation' On
:hi=h side :ill Bushido enlistB Ha,inno set do-<a o)
fo)<ula to defend& it =an affo)d to disappea) as an
entit;? li@e the =he)); >losso<& it is :illin- to die at
the fi)st -ust of the <o)nin- >)eeHe' But a total
eKtin=tion :ill ne,e) >e its lot' 5ho =an sa; that
stoi=is< is deadB It is dead as a s;ste<? >ut it is ali,e
as a ,i)tue: its ene)-; and ,italit; a)e still felt
th)ou-h <an; =hannels of life 88 in the philosoph; of
5este)n nations& in the Fu)isp)uden=e of all the
=i,iliHed :o)ld' "a;& :he)e,e) <an st)u--les to )aise
hi<self a>o,e hi<self& :he)e,e) his spi)it <aste)s his
flesh >; his o:n eKe)tions& the)e :e see the i<<o)tal
dis=ipline of $eno at :o)@'
Bushido as an independent =ode of ethi=s <a; ,anish& >ut
its po:e) :ill not pe)ish f)o< the ea)th? its s=hools of
<a)tial p)o:ess o) =i,i= hono) <a; >e de<olished& >ut its
li-ht and its -lo); :ill lon- su),i,e thei) )uins' Li@e
its s;<>oli= flo:e)& afte) it is >lo:n to the fou) :inds&
it :ill still >less <an@ind :ith the pe)fu<e :ith :hi=h
it :ill en)i=h life' -es afte)& :hen its =usto<a)ies
shall ha,e >een >u)ied and its ,e); na<e fo)-otten& its
odo)s :ill =o<e floatin- in the ai) as f)o< a fa)8off
unseen hill& 9the :a;side -aHe >e;ond?9 88 then in the
>eautiful lan-ua-e of the Qua@e) poet&
9The t)a,ele) o:ns the -)ateful sense
Of s:eetness nea) he @no:s not :hen=e&
nd& pausin-& ta@es :ith fo)ehead >a)e
The >enedi=tion of the ai)'9
FOOT"OTES
IFootnote 1: !)onoun=ed EBo[8shee8doh*E' In puttin-
Japanese :o)ds and na<es into En-lish& Hep>u)n*s )ule is
follo:ed& that the ,o:els should >e used as in Eu)opean
lan-ua-es& and the =onsonants as in En-lish'J
IFootnote 7: EHisto); !hilosophi=all; Illust)atedE& C.)d
Ed' 105.D& 3ol' II& p' 7'J
IFootnote .: +us@in :as one of the <ost -entle8hea)ted
and pea=e lo,in- <en that e,e) li,ed' #et he >elie,ed in
:a) :ith all the fe),o) of a :o)shipe) of the st)enuous
life' 95hen I tell ;ou&9 he sa;s in the E1)o:n of 5ild
Oli,eE& 9that :a) is the foundation of all the a)ts& I
<ean also that it is the foundation of all the hi-h
,i)tues and fa=ulties of <en' It is ,e); st)an-e to <e to
dis=o,e) this& and ,e); d)eadful& >ut I sa: it to >e
Guite an undenia>le fa=t' X X X I found in >)ief& that
all -)eat nations lea)ned thei) t)uth of :o)d and
st)en-th of thou-ht in :a)? that the; :e)e nou)ished in
:a) and :asted >; pea=e& tau-ht >; :a) and de=ei,ed >;
pea=e? t)ained >; :a) and >et)a;ed >; pea=e? in a :o)d&
that the; :e)e >o)n in :a) and eKpi)ed in pea=e'9J
IFootnote 2: Laf=adio Hea)n& EEKoti=s and
+et)ospe=ti,esE& p' 02'J
IFootnote 5: EThe En-lish !eopleE& p' 100'J
IFootnote M: 9EFeudal and (ode)n JapanE9 3ol' I& p' 10.'J
IFootnote N: (i:a Shissai'J
IFootnote 0: Bu)@e& EF)en=h +e,olutionE'J
IFootnote 9: <usi=al inst)u<ent& )ese<>lin- the
-uita)'J
IFootnote 1/: The u-uisu o) :a)>le)& so<eti<es =alled the
ni-htin-ale of Japan'J
IFootnote 11: ETheo); of the Leisu)e 1lassE& "'#' 1099&
p' 2M'J
IFootnote 17: Et;<olo-i=all; E:ell8seatednessE'J
IFootnote 1.: Han-in- s=)olls& :hi=h <a; >e eithe)
paintin-s o) ideo-)a<s& used fo) de=o)ati,e pu)poses'J
IFootnote 12: !ee);& EThe 6ist of JapanE& p' 0M'J
IFootnote 15: 4napp& EFeudal and (ode)n JapanE& 3ol' I&
1h' I3' +anso<e& EJapan in T)ansitionE& 1h' 3III'J
IFootnote 1M: E!hilosoph; of Histo);E CEn-' t)ans' >;
Si>)eeD& !t' I3& Se=' II& 1h' I'J
IFootnote 1N: E+eli-ions of JapanE'J
IFootnote 10: E!)in=iples of Ethi=sE& 3ol' I& !t' II& 1h'
\'J
IFootnote 19: Seated hi<self 88 that is& in the Japanese
fashion& his @nees and toes tou=hin- the -)ound and his
>od; )estin- on his heels' In this position& :hi=h is one
of )espe=t& he )e<ained until his death'J
IFootnote 7/: I use D)' Le--e*s t)anslation ,e)>ati<'J
IFootnote 71: (o)selli& ESui=ideE& p' .12'J
IFootnote 77: ESui=ide and Insanit;E'J
IFootnote 7.: The -a<e of E-oE is so<eti<es =alled
Japanese =he=@e)s& >ut is <u=h <o)e int)i=ate than the
En-lish -a<e' The E-o8E>oa)d =ontains .M1 sGua)es and is
supposed to )ep)esent a >attle8field 88 the o>Fe=t of the
-a<e >ein- to o==up; as <u=h spa=e as possi>le'J
IFootnote 72: Le=@;& EHisto); of Eu)opean (o)alsE II& p'
.0.'J
IFootnote 75: Fo) a ,e); sensi>le eKplanation of nudit;
and >athin- see Fin=@*s ELotos Ti<e in JapanE& pp' 70M8
79N'J
IFootnote 7M: I )efe) to those da;s :hen -i)ls :e)e
i<po)ted f)o< En-land and -i,en in <a))ia-e fo) so <an;
pounds of to>a==o& et='J
IFootnote 7N: Outside shutte)s'J
IFootnote 70: E1e)asus pseudo8=e)asusE& Lindle;'J
IFootnote 79: EThe !s;=holo-; of !eoplesE& p' ..'J
IFootnote ./: Spee)? E(issions and !oliti=s in siaE&
Le=tu)e I3& pp' 109819/? Dennis: E1h)istian (issions and
So=ial !)o-)essE& 3ol' I& p' .7& 3ol' II& p' N/& et='J
IFootnote .1: EThe Fa) EastE& p' .N5'J
IFootnote .7: (e)edith To:nsend& Esia and Eu)opeE& "'#'&
19//& 70'J
IFootnote ..: <on- othe) :o)@s on the su>Fe=t& )ead
Eastla@e and #a<ada on EHe)oi= JapanE& and Dios; on EThe
"e: Fa) EastE'J
IFootnote .2: Jo:ett& ESe)<ons on Faith and Do=t)ineE&
II'J
IFootnote .5: E"o)<an 1onGuestE& 3ol' 3& p' 207'J

Bushido The Soul of Juapan

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Bushido The Soul of Juapan

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Bushido: the Soul of Japan 1/95

BUSHIDO: THE SOUL OF J!"

You might also like