Bushido

The traditional code of the Japanese samurai, stressing honor, self-discipline, bravery, and simple living.

[Japanese bushidō : bushi, warrior (from Middle Chinese wushi, knight, warrior : wə, wu, military + shi, brave warrior) + dō, way; see aikido.]

Bushido (Jap.: bushi + dō, the way of the warrior) refers to the set of concepts, traditions, and precedents that provide an overall framework for the behaviour of the samurai, particularly regarding their relationship with the lower classes of society. Its earliest expression is ‘kyūba no michi’ (the way of horse and bow), referring to the most important accomplishments of the samurai when they fought as mounted archers. Many ideas which were to become bushido were drawn from the house laws of the feudal lords, who drew up rules of behaviour for their followers on the battlefield and in the domain, but most written accounts date from the peaceful Tokugawa Period (1603-1867). One of its most important principles was that of loyalty, an idea often honoured more in the breach than the observance, but given expression by such men as Torii Mototada, who committed suicide defending Fushimi castle for Tokugawa Ieyasu just prior to the battle of Sekigahara. In a letter Mototada explains how his action is motivated by his duty of loyalty to his master which is in accordance with bushido. While the samurai rendered loyalty to his master, the master responded with ‘benevolence’ to his followers, showing how bushido was a two-way process. Other writers stressed the need for a samurai to set an example to the lower orders of society by his conduct. A samurai had to be ready to fight as his master required, but such opportunities should not be squandered. It was not in accordance with bushido for a samurai to lose his life in a street brawl. Nor should he be ostentatious in his dress or his appearance, but self-controlled and restrained. The symbol of this restraint, as it was of the samurai status, was the possession of two swords.

— Stephen Turnbull

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(Japanese). A term meaning ‘the Way of the Warrior-Gentleman’. More of a general outlook on life than a formal ethic, it was born in the opening years of the Tokugawa Period (1603-1868) (see Japan), when a prolonged peace made members of the samurai class nostalgic for former military campaigns and forced them to rethink their role in civil society. This outlook stressed frugality, honour, loyalty, mastery of martial arts, readiness for combat at a moment's notice, and, above all, a willingess to die at any time. Many samurai found that zen training helped to inculcate the austerity, detachment, and presence of mind needed both in combat situations and in daily life. See also martial arts.