Catch Võ Sĩ đạolinh Hồn Của Nhật Bản Generated By Inazō Nitobe Expressed As E-Text
title i'm not going to lie I read this book as i have a general fascination with japan and its sense of morals and values.
This book was immeasurably helpful when it comes to giving an insight into where their beliefs came from and the thinking behind it.
This book contains many quotes from priests and scrolls which give a better understanding of the many ways in which the samurai code can be interpreted.
This was great for understanding, so much so that even though its a small book, it took a long time to read because i was caught for long periods of time in a contemplative spell.
Nitobe specifically wrote this book into comparatively explain bushido to an occidental audience, He wrote it in English, later translated into Japanese, and he breaks down the tenets of bushido or the ways of the warrior, bushi warrior and do way and placed them within the historical context of chivalry and knighthood.
Using analogies that western European readers would be familiar with from ancient Greek philosophers to Nietzsche,
Born before the Meiji Restoration, he brings a syncretic perspective of feudal Japan and modern Japan, The transition, the changes in society greatly affected outward manifestation of bushido ideals, but he alludes to a deeper collective unconscious, the soul of Japan.
He wrote this for his father, for a time that had past, and there is an underlining thread of how these tenets when perverted are problematic.
Very quietly, there are hints that as a Christian Nitobe saw the rising imperial cultism and the intolerance that was manifesting as troubling.
Read as a time coded document it is very interesting, It's value as a depository of Japanese culture, less so,
This book is out of copyright and available to read for free with downloads from Gutenberg Press: sitelinkBushido: The Soul of Japan
The irresistible tide of triumphant democracy, which can tolerate no form or shape of trustand Bushido was a trust organized by those who monopolized reserve capital of intellect and culture, fixing the grades and value of moral qualitiesis alone powerful enough to engulf the remnant of Bushido.
Although I was expecting this to be a book on the basic principles of bushido, it was not what I expected, but still turned out to be worth my time.
The present societary forces are antagonistic to petty class spirit, and Chivalry is, as Freeman severely criticizes, a class spirit.
Modern society, if it pretends to any unity, cannot admit "purely personal obligations devised in the interests of an exclusive class.
"
In a traditional Chinese book binding with lovely Japanese paintings, the author, who wrote it in, is explaining bushido the way of the Samurai to Westerners of that time.
I think that many cultures have groups within that capture the imagination of their members and profoundly influence their ethos and ideals and values for Arabs, the Bedouin for Europeans, the knights for Russians, the Cossacks for Americans, the pioneers and the cowboys and, for the Japanese: the Samurai.
It's an interesting book because, like a time capsule in a way, it gives an idea of how Japanese at this point in Japan's "Renaissance", the Meiji Restoration a watershed in Japanese history saw the ways of their past and what they wanted outsiders to know about them.
It's a fascinating comparison of Oriental vs Occidental, Nitobe examines how Bushido is similar to Western values sometimes in ways that Westerner themselves coming to Japan may not have understood initially and where there are differences.
The presentation of the book is pleasing the traditional binding and the beauty of the Japanese prints and art enhance and illustrate the points made by the author.
Not having been to Japan, I would be interested to know what modern Japanese think of this book, and I would also be interested to know to what extent Nitobe's observations about Japanese society fromstill hold true today.
Obviously, much has changed in Japan since then I would think that Japan is likely more materialistic and cosmopolitan and less insular than it was then, but would still think that vestiges of Japan's bushido ethos still permeate much of it even now.
But that's conjecture on my part,
It is written in the highly educated, sophisticated vernacular common to Victorian Era writers of the time which may seem dated to readers today.
Nevertheless, for those interested in Bushido and in learning about Japanese culture, I think this is a great book for that! I have mixed feelings about this book.
At the time of this review, this book was written over a century before, and while I do think it's a worthwhile read as a study in Japanese history, it's not too impressive on its own.
One thing should be clear this is not a howto guide to Bushido or anything, Rather. it is a long essay broken into chapters of various tenets of Bushido honor, obedience, selfdiscipline, a woman's position, and yes, seppuku/harakiri as viewed/explained by a Japanese man who has had a Western education.
Fortunately, this book is a relatively quick read, and does actually offer Westerners some points and ways to better understand Bushido and Japanese tradition.
A highly interesting essay on the philosophy of Bushido, The author's purpose, in his own words: "My attempt is rather to relate, firstly, the origin and sources of our chivalry secondly, its character and teaching thirdly, its influence among the masses and, fourthly, the continuity and permanence of its influence.
" To my mind, he succeeded on all counts, although the second category certainly received the most indepth treatment of the four.
Given the fact that this essay was less thanpages long, I'd say it was quite impressively handled and well worth reading, an insightful, relatively meticulous primer on samurai ethics.
Some excerpts:
"Valor and honor alike required that we should own as enemies in war only such as prove worthy of being friends in peace.
It was a very interesting book, I really enjoyed exploring the samurai ways of living, I highly recommend it.
"
"It will be long before it will be recognized how many fortunes were wrecked in the attempt to apply Bushido ethics to business methods but it was soon patent to every observing mind that the ways of wealth were not the ways of honor.
"
"Tranquility is courage in repose, "
"Fine manners, therefore, mean power in repose, "
I've read a German version, published by Nikol Verlag and translated by Dr, Hannelore Eisenhofer.
While it was a nice read, it doesn't really tell you anything about Bushido as such, The writer has a spiritual idea about Japan, about Bushido and that is what he speaks about, He uses examples from literature and history Chinese and Western to explain to his readers about Japanese culture, It's clear to see he's widely travelled and very well read, but the case is never truly convincing,
I feel, however, that for the time the book was written ca,this was a milestone and useful to give an insight into Japanese culture, I guess that a historian would find it fascinating for just this reason,
If you like Japanese history and martial arts this is a good book, When men's fowls and dogs are lost, they know to seek for them again, but they lose their mind and do not know to seek for it.
If the author of this book on the way of the Samurai had stopped twothirds of the way through, I would be writing a five star review.
The last third dealt with women and the future of the Japanese warrior, The former was painful the latter verged on cultural chauvinism, sitelinkBushido: The Soul of Japan, A Classic Essay on Samurai Ethics merits about a,star rating.
Author Inazo Nitobe wrote this book inin his ongoing effort to explain traditions of his homeland to American readers.
A Quaker, Nitobe draws heavily on the sayings of Confucius and the writings of Mencius to provide a holistic understanding of the worldview of the warrior society that dominated Japan from aroundtoCE.
I like this type of book and really think the author did a fine job with the exceptions noted above.
A book written by a Westernized Japanese scholar,to answer Westerners' questions about the Japanese mentality and Bushido.
So the book doesn't feel Japanese at all, you will find historical comparisons between the Chivalry of Europe and the Bushido of Japan.
You will find many examples from the European and American cultures describing Bushido, Even when we encounter something against values of the western culture, like ritual suicide, we find him citing examples for it from the Western Culture.
May be this method was what me dislike the book, The following is some parts that caught my attention:
What Japan was she owed to the samurai, They were not only the flower of the nation, but its root as well,
We cannot share the admiration of the Europeans for their roses, which lack the simplicity of our flower.
Then, too, the thorns that are hidden beneath the sweetness of the rose, the tenacity with which she clings to life, as though loth or afraid to die rather than drop untimely, preferring to rot on her stem her showy colours and heavy odoursall these are traits so unlike our flower, which carries no dagger or poison under its beauty, which is ever ready to depart life at the call of nature, whose colours are never gorgeous, and whose light fragrance never palls.
Beauty of colour and of form is limited in its showing it is a fixed quality of existence, whereas fragrance is volatile, ethereal as the breathing of life.
So in all religious ceremonies frankincense and myrrh play a prominent part, There is something spirituelle in redolence,
The swordsmith was not a mere artisan but an inspired artist and his workshop a sanctuary, Daily he commenced his craft with prayer and purification, or, as the phrase was, "he committed his soul and spirit into the forging and tempering of the steel.
" Every swing of the sledge, every plunge into water, every friction on the grindstone, was a religious act of no slight import.
Was it the spirit of the master or of his tutelary god that cast a formidable spell over our sword Perfect as a work of art, setting at defiance its Toledo and Damascus rivals, there was more than art could impart.
Its cold blade, collecting on its surface the moment it is drawn the vapour of the atmosphere its immaculate texture, flashing light of bluish hue its matchless edge, upon which histories and possibilities hang the curve of its back, uniting exquisite grace with utmost strengthall these thrill us with mixed feelings of power and beauty, of awe and terror.
First I should thank my dog for eating this book just the covers and all the pages through the foreword, which prompted me to finally read this book which I have had on my shelves for likeyears.
Bushido The Way of the Samurai gives an interesting insight into Japanese mentality,
Youd think it would be dated, having been written more thanyears ago about a system that was abolished more thanyears ago, but having lived in this fascinating and peculiar country foryears, I found myself nodding a lot and thinking Ahha! Thats why!
Despite popular belief, Japan I fondly refer to it often as Planet Japan progresses very, very slow.
Truly, bushido had become a virtue and part of the soul of Japan and even after it manifested in its most horrific form during WWII, we can still see and appreciate the aspects that make this country so unique today.
This book was really interesting, but hard to understand I read it in English, so that should be why, I'm glad I made to the last page because this book provides the reader with enlightning insights on current Japanese culture.
beautiful, excelent review, explanation and relation with modern Japan
On the whole, people have ambivalent feelings about feudal times.
On the one hand, these were horrible times to be alive for,of the population. Chances are that if you'd lived during that time you'd be toiling ceaselessly on the land with no hope of your lot in life ever improving.
To add insult to injury, everything was determined on a hereditary basis, with merit having little to do with anything.
Therefore, that person you would have to slather obsequiousness on was as likely to be a putz as not,
On the other hand, there is a kind of nostalgia about these times because we can't help but feel that there is a kind of virtue that has been lost.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, we think that society is ever advancing, but, in reality, we advance like a wavelosing as much on the backside as we gain on the front.
Inazo Nitobe's book give us an accounting of the virtue practiced by the samurai, the warrior class of feudal Japan.
Bushido means the way of the warrior, Nitobe lived after the feudal era of Japan, in the lateth and earlyth century, He was and educator, and the book has a feeling of erudition, Interestingly, the author was a Quaker and received education in the West, and, therefore, is able to contrast the Japanese worldview with that of Westerners.
The book is built around
discussion of the seven precepts of bushido: justice, courage, benevolence, politeness, sincerity, honor, and loyalty.
Each of these virtues has a chapter devoted to it Ch,through. The book first introduces bushido as an ethical system, and then it explains the effect that Buddhism, Shintoism, and Confucianism played in the development of this system.
Later chapters outline the education and training of a samurai, the importance of stoicism, the institution of suicide seppuku, the symbolism of the sword in Japanese society, the role of women, the role of bushido as an ethical system in the presentday his present, and its role in the future.
Our views of virtue have changed, but in some sense remain the same, The seven virtues are all still considered virtuous, but we don't regard them in the same way today, In some cases, we are better off with today's views, but it's not always so clear,
Consider the seventh precept, loyalty, We still value loyalty, but in today's society there is a Shakespearean addenda: "to thine own self be true, " In other words, we no longer believe in loyalty that is blind as was valued in the days of old.
Sincerity, which is also referred to as veracity or honesty, is also seen differently today, As depicted in the Jim Carey movie, Liar, Liar, there is a widespread view that it is better the fib and make someone feel better than it is to tell the truth and hurt the other's feelings.
One of the most intriguing chapters is the one that deals with seppuku, This is a concept that has never been wellunderstood in the West, and it's a major point of cultural disconnect.
While the Japanese have tended to see suicide as a means to restore honor that was lost in failure, in the West we tend to see it as a more pathetic and cowardly affair.
I've recently been reading Ian Fleming's You Only Live Twice, and this is one of many points of diverging attitudes between "Tiger" Tanaka and James Bond.
This book is definitely worth a read, It is thoughtprovoking, and is one of those books to be read slowly and conscientiously, .