Bushido - Influences in Development

by Tatu

The word Bushido, in Japanese means, the "Way of The Warrior". The system is somewhat similar to what was taking place in midieval Europe, with the codes of chivalry. Bushido way a system that developed in Japan between the 9th and 12th centuries, which became a way of life for the Samurai class.  This system was a result of the influences of Shintoism, Confucianism and Zen Buddhism.  Like the knights in Europe, the system was structured over concepts like honor, loyalty, purity, modesty, a sense of shame, justice, courtesies, the  warrior spirit and self-sacrifice.

The Shinto influence is seen in the sense of patriotic loyalty and sense of shame. Shintoism also holds to a system of respect to ancestors, to the extreme of ancestor and emperor worship.  With these influences we see the loyalty of Samurai to the emperor and their regional feudal lords (daiymo). Add to this patriotism, a value placed upon their land which is seen as sacred home to the gods and their ancestors. Unbalanced this this patriotic loyalty becomes a radical ferver  which is what led Japan in to World War in the 20th Century.

The Buddhist influence is seen is the way the Samurai view death. Since it is a system of reincarnation, there is the belief that one will live again on this earth, hence they do not fear death.  One school of Budhism is the Zen school, which brings to Budo, the influence of meditation and reaching a higher plane of existence, to find a harmony, a balance, a knowledge of oneself, which offered an unlimited path of accomplishment. The Zen influence helped the warrior to live without fear, and with the ability to fight a perfect battle, and ultimately experience victory.

The Confucianist philosophy was all about relationships.  It taught that there were 5 basic relationship combinations:

Master and servant

Father and son

Husband and wife

Older and younger brother

and among friend to friend.

The samurai struggled and rebelled against many of the teachings of Confucius, however.

The highest virtues in the system of Budo were seen as justice, benevolence, love, sincerity, honesty, and self-control.

With this code a samurai's word was his bond, no need for anything written. To have to write something down was an insult. The virtue of self-control led to the samurai showing no emotion, no response to pain or passion, a calmness and composure was the way of the warrior.

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