A Beginners guide to Japan. An A to Z

B is for Bushido

Literally translated, Bushido, is the Way of the Warrior and is the word associated with Samurai life and the Japanese concept of chivalry. It is typified by the seven virtues of Rectitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour, and Loyalty and developed as an unwritten and unspoken concept from the 9th century until the 20th century.

Born from the concepts of Neo-Confucianism and formalized into fuedal law by the Tokugawa Shogunate (1600-1868), Bushido expanded the earlier code of the Samurai, and under the Bushido ideal, if a Samurai failed to uphold his honour he could only regain it by performing "seppuku" or ritual suicide. 

"In the world of the warrior, seppuku was a deed of bravery that

was admirable in a samurai who knew he was defeated, disgraced or mortally wounded.

It meant he could end his days with his transgressions wiped away and with 

his reputation not merely intact, but actually enhanced."

Samurai:    The Way of the Warrior,  Stephen Turnbull

In 2008, Thomas Cleary translated a collection of 22 writings on Bushido from warriors, scholars, political advisers and educators. The book "Training the Samurai Mind: A Bushido Sourcebook "spans nearly 500 years and highlights the importance of Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism on Samurai ideals.