Bushido
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"Get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of Man."
- Miyamoto Musashi
Bushido, literally translated, means "the way of the warrior" (1). Historically, Bushido was a one-word, comprehensive term encapsulating the philosophies, codes, and practices of the samurai, a military and officer caste that existed in Japan for centuries.
Bushido is sometimes referred to as the Japanese version of chivalry, a European code of conduct followed by knights (chivalry translates to "horse soldiery" but later became used to refer to knightly ideals) (2). Chivalry arose out of Christianity, with the church believing it had a duty to guide knights into a more orderly (that is, less unruly) code of social conduct. Bushido, on the other hand, was shaped by melding the traditional practices of Zen Buddhism with Japan's indigenous, nature-based religion of Shinto, along with an appreciable dosage of the philosophy and ethics of Confucianism. |
Chivalry was a European code of conduct pertaining to knights. |
Both chivalry and Bushido emphasized physical prowess, loyalty, courage, justice for the wronged, and mercy for the defenceless, amongst other values (3). However, the concept of chivalry is now virtually non-existent, whereas Bushido remains alive and well both in and outside of modern-day Japan. Although the reasons for this are likely many and varied, the essential difference probably lies in the fact that Bushido has expanded well beyond its original meaning.
To understand this transition, a brief history of Bushido is necessary.
A (Very) Brief History Of Bushido
Although the term "Bushido" did not actually appear until 1616, the values of Bushido had been evolving for at least 500 years prior to this date, and probably even longer.
The ancient roots of Bushido started growing in the 700s and initally focused on martial abilities, including the use of overwhelming force to protect and govern regions of Japan. Thus, the origins of Bushido initially revolved, almost purely, around physical combat and the various different styles of fighting. It was not until the 1300s that the concept of the comprehensive warrior expanded to include moral principles as well as a wider array of practices such as Zen meditation, painting, flower arrnagement, the tea ceremony, and poetry, which included an emphasis on the death poem in which a warrior reflected on his imminent death, such as this one:
Empty-handed I entered the world
Barefoot I leave it.
My coming, my going -
Two simple happenings
That got entangled.
- Kozan Ichikyo
Bushido was formally born during the relatively peaceful Edo period, which lasted from the 1600s to the late 1800s. During this time, the significance of the samurai above and beyond battle grew even further to encapsulate a more general concept pertaining to personal growth and development, with the main goal and interest lying in creating value for others, as opposed to just following Bushido for personal reasons. This form of Bushido included methods on how to cultivate one's personality, raise children, care for finances, and treat family and other people, many of which are examplified in the quote below from this period: |
Bushido originally provided a "way of the warrior" for samurai. |
"The essence of Bushidō is:
Do not lie, do not be insincere, do not be obsequious, do not be superficial, do not be greedy, do not be rude, do not be boastful, do not be arrogant, do not slander, do not be unfaithful, be on good terms with comrades, do not be overly concerned with events, show concern for one another, be compassionate, with a strong sense of duty.
Being a good samurai takes more than merely a willingness to lay down one's life."
- Saitō Chikamori
In the Meiji and Showa eras of 1868 to 1945, Bushido altered slightly again to incorporate a veneration and worship for one's emperor, especially with regards to loyalty and self-sacrifice. These alterations were probably made in the interests of the emperor and ruling class (and, it could be argued, were of questionable significance for the essence of Bushido). Unsurprisingly, this form of Bushido was associated with Japan's vast military expansion, which peaked in World War 2. In fact, during the war, Bushido was further modified by the rulers of Japan to stress that war was purifying, and death was a duty.
Since Japan's defeat in 1945, Bushido has again altered into its more contemporary form.
Modern-Day Bushido
Today, Bushido has achieved a generalistic apex in that it now refers to a more general way of life. Importantly, the combat-relevant aspects of Bushido have not been lost - they still endure, particularly in the Japanese martial arts. However, they are no longer restricted to martial abilities, or even to personal growth and development. In fact, modern-day Bushido can be used to describe a "warrior" as anyone fighting for a goal or ideal, which need not involve weapons or conflict in any physical sense. Bushido is now a term that can be meaningfully applicable to a vast number of different situations.
Why did chivalry die? Most likely, it failed to grow past its original meaning, failed to expand beyond its knightly ideals to encompass a broader set of concepts and practices. Bushido, on the other hand, retained its essence whilst expanding in meaning...ever the same, yet ever-changing. Certainly more than just "Japanese chivalry."
Living in every moment, honourably and honestly, with life in every breath, and for the good of humanity - that is Bushido.
Solace.
References
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido.
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry.
(3) https://chivalryandbushidotoday.weebly.com/comparison.html.
(4) https://kids.britannica.com/students/assembly/view/119094.
(5) https://paintingvalley.com/old-japanese-samurai-painting.
