Japan And The Bushido Code example essay topic

It is the Bushido Code and the militaristic beliefs of the ancient Japanese that shaped them as one of the most fierce and admirable civilizations in recorded history. Through their respect and honour for their enemy, the fearlessness of their warriors and their vast learning skills, beliefs and techniques, they were able to win numerous battles and succeed with not only physical skill but religious practice and derivation from Japan's main religious belief system Zen Buddhism. The Bushido Code was on hiatus over the 18th and 19th century (Halvorsen) due to the lack of battles that the Japanese Samurai where fighting. The world saw the reemergence of the Bushido code recently in Japan during World War II. Japanese pilots were often very loyal to the emperor of Japan, to the point where a comparison could be made between the Japanese Kamikaze pilots and the samurai of ancient Japan. Kamikazes were Japanese pilots that gave their lives for their loyalty to the emperor.

Although every country has a religious practice that they worship or believe in and it would be wrong of other religions to criticize. I am not saying that what the Japanese did to Pearl Harbor was right and they had the right to do so but what I am saying is that the Japanese Air Force obeyed their religion and beliefs by fighting ruthlessly to the end and doing whatever it takes to succeed (Sakelanigia 233). "Bushido" unfortunately invokes images of Japanese soldiers dashing off into suicidal missions against the enemy and committing atrocities of every kind, take World War 2 for example. The pilots of the Japanese air force where often considered Kamikaze especially in the brutal attacks on Pearl Harbor, USA. Kamikaze and fearlessness are not the man focus of Bushido, it requires so much more than that, it requires being gifted in humanistic arts, i. e., poetry, painting, calligraphy and music.

Warriors of Ancient Japan where raised through the ethics of Systematic training of mind and body, emphasizing absolute loyalty, spontaneity, collective responsibility and personal sacrifice are the key aspects in believing and practicing Bushido (Solo). Through these ethics the Ancient Japanese Samurai Warriors were able to compete loyally in battle but have the controlled fearlessness to demolish other armies. During battle the Samurai where able to keep there composure by obeying the Bushido Code which taught them a significant amount and ultimately lead to their victory. That is why they are considered to be one of the greatest militaristic civilizations in recorded history. "Respect for your enemy" was one of the most significant aspects that the Bushido Code offered (Kagan). As we recall on December 7th, 1941 in Pearl Harbor USA the world watched as Japan and the Bushido code failed to comprehend the notion of respecting your enemy but they did live up to the virtue of C hugo (Aspect of the Bushido Code that shows the tenacity and ruthlessness of the Samurai).

The "respect for your enemy" notion was flawless up until WWII in history. Many battles where fought hard and under no circumstances would there be any arrogance or over-confidence from the Samurai warriors for that was considered to be a travesty to Bushido. To prove that the previous statements are true take the battle of Nagashino for example when the forces of Takeda Katsuyori clashed with the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu on the Shitaragahara plain near Nagashino Castle, located in central Japan, in what was said to be one of the worlds most ruthless yet respectful battles that has ever been fought (Sakalenigia, 245). Both armies were strong believers in Bushido and therefore obeyed each and every single code that Bushido offered.

Although the Oda / Tokugawa forces won the battle it was the respect that each army portrayed towards their enemy that was to be commended (Sakalenigia 246). During course of the battle each army took time out to pray and have admirable respect for their apposing army. After Oda / Tokugawa declared victory, it was customary of the Bushido Code to assist your enemy in rejuvenating their lifestyles by attending mass ceremonies of spiritual revival and numerous funeral ceremonies for the fallen warriors of the apposing army. Of course the ceremonies and funeral / burials for the fallen comrades of your army were far greater in attendance and spiritual concept (Applenby, 94). Through Bushido each army were able to fight flawlessly but have the intensity and physical endurance (another trait if Bushido) to battle for what was said to be "seven years of gruesome yet tasteful and honourable battle" (Kagan). With the invention of the first printing press in 1436 in Germany it gave the Japanese ca.

140 to manufacture their own version of Gutenberg's first printing press, one that was familiar with Japanese tongue. 140 years was based on the first successful printing machine (1436) and the beginning of the Battle of Nagashino (1575). Having this new technology available the apposing armies developed a more technological way for sowing their belief of the notion of respecting your enemy. Both the Oda / Tokugawa and Takeda forces devised an agreement where their enemies would designate a reporter to print a monthly telegram or bulletin and distribute it amongst the community (Applenby, 95). The telegram was to state the attributes and innovations of the apposing army during the course of a month. During the years in which Bushido was at its peak of greatness many battle were fought throughout Japan whether it be between Japanese forces or other countries / regions invading like the Mongols in the late 13th century.

The respect that the Bushi Warriors showed for their enemies spanned for an extremely long time, each time a battle was fought the Japanese Samurai Warriors exemplified there respect and honour by completing the same routine as that in the battle of Nagashino. World War 2 was the only instance where the Japanese showed no honour or courage, some may disagree but taking part in a suicide mission and exploding one of USA's biggest ports / harbours. The Japanese Generals and head military figures where so decisive with their instructions that in some situations they killed the returning pilots because they felt that they had betrayed the Code of Bushido and that they failed the emperor (Sakalenigia 247). Bushido has many codes and systematic beliefs and all are to be obeyed under any circumstance. Very few religions or rituals have a code that force one to have the utter most respect for your enemy. The fearlessness that the Samurai warriors showed hadn't been exemplified since the great warriors Sparta (Applenby, 66).

Practicing the code of Bushido requires a great deal of audaciousness which the Samurai gained by studying and obeying Bushido. Their tenacity was controlled though. They could relinquish their rage and tenacious ways in a blink of an eye. Having rage and tenacity was a necessity and if a Samurai where to use their fighting methods in a situation other than battle than they were punished severely and in some instances death by hanging or decapitating.

This aspect of Bushido is similar to what a qualified United States Naval Marine, soldier, Navy Seal and similar military figures must obey (Creolin) qualified Navy Seal for example, if he / she were to use any methods of their fighting techniques in everyday society unless it's a life or death situation. Because a Navy Seal is a considered a deadly weapon serious legal action could be taken if he / she were to disobey the SEAL In-treatment Law (the oath that a qualified seal must sign) then they could be tried and in some cases sentenced to a life time in prison of course every act of indiscretion has its own penalty. When in battle Bushido requires complete and utter audaciousness and tenacity, failing to do so may lead to death or organized suicide. The Samurai where so reliant and believed so strongly in Bushido that in instances where a Samurai army fought tentatively or made a mockery of themselves it was customary for them to commit suicide.

The Samurai where taught not to fear the afterworld and death in fact in some circumstances they relied on it for spiritual up lifting. The Bushido Code has a huge reliance from Zen Buddhism and it broadened the Bushido Code by interpreting some key religious aspects into it. It incorporated the faithfulness of the afterworld and in fact "loyalty to death was so strongly believed in that a fallen Samurai was expected to commit jun shi (admirable afterlife) and follow a deceased lord to the afterworld" (Halvorsen). It is the Samurais duty as well as some aspects of the Bushido Code to please the emperor.

A true believer in Bushido is one who is willing to do whatever it takes granted the consequences (Halvorsen). Although in the Second World War the fearlessness aspect of Bushido was blown way out of proportion but the Japanese air-force did fulfill their loyalty to the emperor by doing what was needed to prove victorious, unfortunately they may have won the battle but they lost the war and suffered great consequences, consequences that have lead to deformities generations after the nukes were dropped so that being said that was one of the only occasions where Bushido failed. Comparing the appreciation of the Bushido Code from when it was first derived and at its peak, to the 1940's when Bushido wasn't as respected and in fact it was second to Kendo is almost impossible so much changes in that many years. As the legacies and great civilizations grow and pass the fearlessness, audaciousness and determination of the Samurai will be forever remembered as one of the greatest armies to ever graze green earth. The "Way of the Warrior" had so much more meaning that just fearlessness and complete and utter tenacity, the Bushido Code offered an exceptional amount of learning skills spanning from art to literature. Modern day samurai lives on in the martial arts form of kendo, or way of the sword.

Kendo is a popular martial arts form that is based off of traditional Samurai teachings. In Kendo, mental discipline is equally, if not more important than physical prowess (Halvorsen). Kendo teachings are always preceded by a brief Zen meditation to clear the mind of thoughts. Meditation is used in the same way it was in ancient times of the samurai in order to clear the mind improving speed, accuracy, and alertness. Most of these practices where performed first through Bushido. The difference between the Samurai and for example the great Spartan army was the mental skill.

The Samurai had not only the physical and tenacity to be a great army but they were able to out smart opposing forces through formation and tactics. What the Samurai excelled in is understanding and analyzing their opposition before engaging in battle (Kagan). Another characteristic of the Samurai was that the teachings of the Bushido Code stated that if one were warrior that they should devote their life to war and battle although it should be their main focus. The Code stated that the Warrior should have a perception of the natural world (Sakalenigia 306) which included art, architecture and literature.

Through the study of art the samurai where able to create a drawing that symbolizes their loyalty to the emperor and their attributes during battle the drawing was created at the end of the invasion of the Mongols and it perfectly symbolizes what Japanese art was like. The picture is somewhat abstract and it shows a basic samurai warrior committing suicide which in my opinion is to represent the honour and loyalty to the emperor it shows that they do whatever they have to do in order to succeed regardless of it being a kamikaze mission. The picture also shows the warrior flying through air with a sword in his hand which is supposed to illustrate his boldness and recklessness on the battlefield. One of the main reasons for Japans success on the battlefield is due to their broad knowledge of the natural world (Thames, 14).

The reason for the Samurai and the Bushido Codes success was based simply on their extensiveness. The Samurai flourished during the years when Bushido was at its peak, the Samurai we so much more learned than any other competing forces which is why the had so much success. Few armies possessed any knowledge of the natural world and lived under no sense of appreciation for their enemy. Some people say that no other civilization had more success on the battlefield than the Samurai (Thames, 16) the reason for that is also a matter of opinion but could it possibly be because of their ruthlessness, maybe in this situation the group with the most tenacity and sheer brute prevails, maybe it's a situation that not even Hollywood can depict for that would defeat the purpose of letting the underdog prevail, maybe in this story David gets slaughtered by Goliath. People have different views on everything but as I see it the Bushido Code was one of the most respected and flawless codes or beliefs systems of all time.