#2 Myths, folklore and facts. 武士道 Bushido

Bushido and its role in Japanese culture intrigued for centuries. All along the way it underwent changes, nonetheless, its core-stone role is still the same. The verbatim meaning is “the way of the warrior”. Bushido determined the way a samurai, warriors were about to behave, it literally described the life of the warriors and the samurai. Not everyone agrees, yet, Bushido might be loosely combined to well-known chivalry code.

This modern notion concentrates on values and virtues, moral sets of how to behave and how to live. The most important and restrictive values were of frugality – the samurai and the warrior, both, were ordered to be prudent, not prone to extravagance, loyalty was another one, as well as, martial arts, the honor and sense of responsibility till the death.

Noe-Confucianism brought Bushido to life, Japan was a very tranquil country at that time, marked by Edo period, known as Tokugawa period, at the same time. It must be underlined that Tokugawa Shogunate was very prosperous, it brought economic prosperity, strict social order, the development and support of the art and culture. The shogunate was officially established in 1603, 24^th of March, it lasted till Restoration period and the fall of Edo period in 1863. The code followed Confucian texts, Shinto and Zen Buddhism. The texts showed violent and difficult way samurai must have undergone to achieve wisdom and tranquility. Bushido bloomed throughout 16^th till 20^th century. Mustn't it be forgotten that warriors' values had become one with the Japanese feudal law. Bushido indeed, became a soul of Japan.

“... the code of moral principles which the samurai were required to observe. More often it is a code un-uttered and unwritten. It was always an organic growth of decades and centuries of military order. In order to become a samurai this code has to mastered and obeyed...” by Nitobe Inazo. 1899

The etiquette of self-immolation was very restrictively obeyed and respected. To kill oneself as a sacrifice was a traumatic experience to undergo, in Japanese culture it is known under the name 'seppuku'. The martyrdom of the act for act sake is overwhelming. The historical, etymological meaning of  it is – killing due to sacrifice “destruction made by fire”. Latin meaning is mola-salsa.

“... seppuku was a deed of bravery that was admirable in a samurai who knew he was deflated (…) it was an extremely painful and unpleasant way to die, an agony (…) ...”

The very early literary texts mention military virtues, describe the self-image of the warrior, the oath given to the sword and the master. The chronicle known as “Kojiki” or “An Account of Ancient Matters” - as first described the Bushido code. Not surprisingly, namely, it is the oldest chronicle in Japan that registered the ancient world. The chronicle consists of myths, poems and songs. Bushido must have evolved mostly because the role of the samurai changed, eventually, both, disappeared.