A Wisdom Archive on Bushido

Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. Photograph by Felice Beato. Bushido (Japanese: 武士道; bushidō, "way of the warrior"), is a way of life, somewhat analogous to the European concept of chivalry. It includes elements of a philosophy, except that is it generally not textual in nature, and it involves, but is not equivalent to, a code of conduct. Bushido developed between the 11th to 14th centuries and was formalized during the opening years of the Tokugawa shogunate for the members of the Samurai class. According to t ... Including:

• Bushido - History
• Bushido - Bushido ethics
• Bushido - Seven virtues associated with bushido
• Bushido - Major figures associated with bushido

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In the year 1256 CE, the Shogunal Deputy in Kyoto, Hojo Shigetoki (1198-1261 CE) wrote a letter to his son and house elders of his clan. The letter, now known as "The Message Of Master Gokurakuji," emphasized the importance of loyalty to one's master: When one is serving officially or in the master's court, he should not think of a hundred or a thousand people, but should consider only the importance of the master. Nor should he draw the line at his own life or anything else he considers valuable. Even if the master is being phlegmatic and one goes unrecognized, he should know that he will surely have the divine protect ...

Read more here: » Bushido: Encyclopedia II - Bushido - History

"One should have restraint and deep sympathy in all things." In the year 1256, the Shogunal Deputy in Kyoto, Hojo Shigetoki (1198-1261) wrote a letter to his son and house elders of his clan. The letter, now known as "The Message Of Master Gokurakuji," emphasized the importance of loyalty to one's master: When one is serving officially or in the master's court, he should not think of a hundred or a thousand people, but should consider only the importance of the master. Nor should he draw the line at his own life or anythi ...

Read more here: » Bushido: Encyclopedia II - Bushido - History

bushido
(Japanese) Way of the warrior, samurai code.

 
(See also: Bushido, Body Mind and Soul )

For more dictionary entries, see » bushido dictionary

Zanshin (Japanese: 残心) is a martial art term used in Aikido, Karate, Kendo, Iaido, Kyudo and other Japanese martial arts, referring to a state of awareness - a state of relaxed alertness. The literal translation is remaining mind. In Kyudo it means the remaining body posture after the shooting of an arrow as a result of working body forces as well as the remaining state of mind. See also. Martial arts Bushido Fudoshin Mushin Shoshin

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Zen at War is a book written by Brian Daizen Victoria, published in 1998. The book gives a critical insight on the history of Zen Buddhism and Japanese militarism from the time of the Meiji Restoration to the Second World War and the post-War period. It describes the influence of state policy on Japanese Buddhism, focusing on Zen but also including other sects. It also describes the influence of Zen philosophy on the Japanese military. The book also contains a chapter on the actions of Japanes ...

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For the Lagos, Nigeria suburb, see Mushin, Nigeria Mushin (無心) is a state into which very highly trained martial artists are said to enter during combat. The term is shortened from mushin no shin (無心の心}, a Zen expression meaning "mind of no mind". That is, a mind not fixed or occupied by thought or emotion and thus open to everything. Mushin is achieved when a fighter feels no anger, fear or ego during combat. There is an absence of discursive thought, and so the fighter is totally free t ...

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Budo (武道) is a term for Japanese martial arts. Traditional budo (from before the Meiji Restoration) is often referred to as koryu bujutsu, while more modern budo arts are called gendai budo. Budo is a compound of the kanji 武 (bu)—meaning war, warrior, fight, or fighter—and 道 (do)— meaning path or way. Similarly, Bujutsu is a coumpound of the kanji characters 武 (bu) and 術 ...

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Unlike China, which developed its own ethnocentric beliefs, Japan was, for most of its history, divided between scores of regional warlords. Its geographical isolation and political instability resulted in a culture that was both insular and expansionistic. During the Meiji period, Japan became an industrialized power, capable of extending its influence beyond its borders. Japan was arguably the first non-European nation to possess this capability, and following the defeat of Russia i ...

Read more here: » Japanocentrism: Encyclopedia II - Japanocentrism - Industrialization and Expansionism