Paper Topic:

Bushido

Bushido the soul of Japan

Introduction

The book Bushido the soul of Japan presented the various aspects of the Japanese society when there was the emergence of close interaction between the western and eastern civilizations . In this essay , an attempt is made to discuss the major themes and significance of this book

Analysis

Inazo Nitobe , the author of the book , Bushido the soul of Japan intended to provide information regarding the basis of Japanese doctrines of knighthood to the western scholars . Perhaps his interaction with the western scholars must have

inspired him to write a book , which discussed regarding the main features of the Japanese feudal society

This is not a huge book . The book , however , has ambitious motives in the sense that through this small book attempt is made by the author Nitobe to reveal the complete essence of Japanese culture to the western audience . However , it simplifies the basic features of Japanese culture to make it more comprehendible to the western audience . To achieve this objective , several examples are given from the eastern and western literature . Consequently , this book has attracted the attention of several western scholars who wished to learn about the cultural aspects of the Japanese society . This book attempts to explain the basic features of the Japanese culture for the western audience by the use of English language

This book has been translated into different languages such as German Polish , Marathi , and Chinese . This fact indicates the popularity of this work among both western and eastern readers . In the following pages , we try to give the details regarding the information that we gather from this book

The author obtained the information regarding the martial code from the elders when he was young . During those days , the author avers that there still existed few features of feudalism . The book Bushido argues that among the variety of doctrines of the Japanese culture , the most important are the samurai ways of life

The book deals with an attempt to trace the traditional Japanese martial code , which is not preserved in a written mode but it spread from one generation to the other through the oral means . This book tries to reveal the past and present status of this martial code , which has been safeguarded by the Japanese martial arts experts for several years . This book is very essential to comprehend the real soul of Japan . The book traces the origin of this martial code to the Buddhist and Confucian thinkers and practitioners of this martial code . The followers of Zen Buddhism and Shintoism who have discussed regarding this code in their writings also developed it . This book comprises different chapters which provide information regarding the principles and the various aspects such as the ethical system , sources of Bushido , justice , courage benevolence , politeness , truthfulness , honor , duty of loyalty , training of samurai , self control , institutions of suicide and redress , the soul of samurai , influence of bushido , and the future of bushido (Nitobe 1908

The Japanese warrior was expected to follow...

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