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Loyalty, Justice, Courage, Benevolence, Politeness, Truthfulness, & Honor


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Virtues of Bushido



Bushido literally means: Military-Knight-Ways
Bushido (AKA, "the way of the warrior"), is code of ethics observed by the warrior noblemen, or samurai, of feudal Japan. Like the rules of chivalry that prevailed in medieval Europe, Bushido was based on such virtues as rectitude, endurance, frugality, courage, politeness, veracity, and, especially, loyalty to ruler and country. Only through the exercise of these virtues could a knight maintain his honor, and one who had forfeited honor was compelled to commit suicide by hara-kiri, (or seppuku.) Fully developed by the late 12th century, Bushido became a written code in the 16th century. When feudalism was abolished about mid-19th century, the code was abandoned, but its influence, mainly on the army, persisted.



1. COURAGE.
Courage is tot live when it is right to live and to die when it is right to die. To rush into battle half heartedly, not making the full effort because you "know" you won’t live anyway, lacks real courage. To engage in a seemingly hopeless battle and not give up till your time is up, is courageous. It is also courage to do what you know is morally right, when it is right to do it. It is also courage to bear life’s hardships without complaining and maintain composure under adverse circumstances, approaching good and bad times in life with equal composure, dignity and patience.

2. ENDURANCE.
The ability to withstand hardship or adversity. The ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity.


3. FRUGALITY.

Sparingly.  Be wise with your money and investments.


4. POLITENESS.
Politeness should be as a result of your consideration for the feelings of others. It should not be a result of fear of offending good taste or convention. The more it is practiced, the greater becomes your consideration for others and your understanding of other peoples points of view. As a typical example, you don’t mar the pleasure or serenity of others with expressions of your own pain or sorrow.

5. RECTITUDE.
The quality or state of being straight; moral integrity.

6. VERACITY AND SINCERITY.
While lying was not condemned as a sin, it was viewed as a weakness. While westerners will tell "little white lies", the samurai, (who believed that their high social position required high moral standards), would regard these lies as "deception by sweet words." Like the phrase, "the word of a gentleman", the word of the samurai was always accepted because everyone knew that the Samurai would not dishonor himself by lying.


7. LOYALTY.
Loyalty was one of the main foundations of the Bushido system. Loyalty to family, samurai, and lords was given freely and the entire Bushido system is built around it.

 

 

 

Last Update: 5/02/03
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