BUSHIDO
The word 'Bushido' translates to the "the way of the warrior". It is a Japanese word which describes the Samurai life. Bushido is founded upon the 'Samurai Warrior Code'. This code was very strict and it demanded the Samurai to be the following
- Justice
- Courage
- Benevolence or Mercy
- Politeness or Rectitude
- Honesty and Sincerity
- Honor
- Loyalty
- Character and Self-control
Rectitude or justice
Rectitude or Justice is the strongest virtue in Bushido. A well-known Samurai defines Rectitude or Justice by putting it this way Rectitude is one’s power to decide upon a course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering; to die when to die is right, to strike when to strike is right.’ Rectitude
or Justice is the first of the code of conduct that follows in Bushido. This
code is considered to be the most important in the way of the Samurai.
Courage
Bushido mark's bravery and courage differently. To the Samurai, courage was counted by the virtues done by the individual only if the virtue was carried out in the cause of Righteousness and correct behavior and thinking. In short, the code stroked what is Courage by defining it by the ability to do things right.
Benevolence and mercy
Bushido thinks of Benevolence and Mercy with the example of it being that "A man invested with the power to command and the power to kill was expected to demonstrate equally extraordinary powers of benevolence and mercy"
This means that someone with a measurable amount of power is also expected to demonstrate equally extraordinary powers of benevolence and mercy meaning the quality of being well meaning and the quality of being merciful.
This means that someone with a measurable amount of power is also expected to demonstrate equally extraordinary powers of benevolence and mercy meaning the quality of being well meaning and the quality of being merciful.
Politeness
The Samurai approach politeness in the way that it only become's a virtue if the Politeness is not powered by the individual having the fear of offending someone for their works. In it's highest form the Bushido code thinks of politeness at it's highest when it is motivated by love.
Honesty and sincerITY
Bushido approached the code of Sincerity and Honesty by encouraging thrift which was the quality of using money and other resources carefully not wastefully. This is what led to the necessity that the Warrior Class of Japan led lives of severe simplicity which was fully required and expected of them.
Honor
Though Bushido deals with the soldiering aspects of being apart of the Warrior Class of Japan. Samurai concern themselves with non-soldiering behavior. The sense of honor with a characterization of personal dignity and worth characterized the Samurai into what they evolved into and characterized the legacy that followed.
Loyalty
To the Samurai, Loyalty meant that true men remain loyal to the people they were indebted to. An example of the way that the code of Loyalty assumed to the Samurai is that a gang of pickpockets swear allegiance to their lord. In this way Loyalty to a superior was of paramount importance in the Feudal era.
Character and self-control
Bushido teaches that men should behave to an absolute moral standard of behavior. The behavior that Bushido aims to teach is one of logic. The ability to define wrong from wrong and right from right. Put simply, the difference to decide between good or bad. This character is the way of the samurai character.