Samurai Virtue
In Hagakure, the quintessential book of the samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo encapsulates his views on 'virtue' in the four vows he makes daily:
- Never to be outdone in the way of the samurai or Bushidō.
- To be of good use to the master.
- To be filial to my parents.
- To manifest great compassion and act for the sake of Man.
Tsunetomo goes on to say:
If one dedicates these four vows to the gods and Buddhas every morning, he will have the strength of two men and never slip backward. One must edge forward like the inchworm, bit by bit. The gods and Buddhas, too, first started with a vow.
The Bushidō code is typified by seven virtues^ :
- Rectitude (義,gi)
- Courage (勇,yuu)
- Benevolence (仁,jin)
- Respect (礼,rei)
- Honesty (誠,sei)
- Honor (誉,yo)
- Loyalty (忠,chuu)
Others that are sometimes added to these:
- Filial piety (孝,kō)
- Wisdom (智,chi)
- Care for the aged (悌,tei)
Read more about this topic: Virtue
Famous quotes containing the words samurai and/or virtue:
“I am the scroll of the poet behind which samurai swords are being sharpened.”
—Lester Cole, U.S. screenwriter, Nathaniel Curtis, and Frank Lloyd. Prince Tatsugi (Frank Puglia)
“For it is with the mysteries of our religion, as with wholesome pills for the sick, which swallowed whole, have the virtue to cure; but chewed, are for the most part cast up again without effect.”
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)