Bushido is a set of moral principles that samurai must abide by. The word "samurai" or "Bushi" is a term used in ancient Japan to denote the noble class of soldiers.
“Bushido is a set of moral principles that samurai must follow. This is not a written law; at best, it consists of a few words that were passed on by word of mouth or put down in writing by some famous warriors and scholars. It is mostly a set of unspoken and unwritten rules.”
“Samurai” is derived from the ancient Japanese word “Saburau” meaning “to serve”. War occupies an important place in Japanese culture. The samurai took the philosophy of "Bushido" as their basis. Bushido means "Warrior's Way". There is no room for fear in the Bushido philosophy. A samurai is someone who has overcome the fear of death. Overcoming the fear of death brings calmness to the person and also provides loyalty to the ruler.
Bushidō ("the way of the warrior") is a moral code concerning samurai attitudes, behavior and lifestyle, formalized in the Edo period (1603–1868). There are multiple types of bushido which evolved significantly through history. Contemporary forms of bushido are still used in the social and economic organization of Japan. Bushido is also used as an overarching term for all the codes, practices, philosophies and principles of samurai culture. It is loosely analogous to the European concept of chivalry, but there are major differences.
The most important book on bushido was written by Inazo Nitobe. Inazo Nitobe (1862-1933) was an educator, agricultural economist, and diplomat. After Sapporo Agricultural College, he continued his education in the USA. Following his return to Japan, he started an academic life and served as a professor for a long time. She dedicates a large part of her life to the education of women and conducts research on this subject. In 1901, he was appointed to the Japanese colonial government in Taiwan. After the First World War, he joined the "Institute of Pacific Relations" and after retiring from there he took office in the "Imperial Japanese Parliament".
Samurai philosophy
Overcoming the fear of death causes one to feel free in every way, and to become a very cruel person if he does not replace it with something new. An education system that teaches how to overcome the fear of death must have deep-rooted and unforgettable moral rules that must be followed throughout life. Bushido is a set of moral rules developed out of such a need. The samurai tradition was destroyed by Emperor Meiji in 1876. Emperor Meiji changed the laws of carrying swords, making the samurai history a thing of the past. During the Second World War, all high-ranking soldiers and kamikaze pilots are seen carrying swords, the reason behind this is the desire to indicate that the Bushido spirit and moral philosophy continue even though the samurai has been abolished.
“The samurai is as unique to the Japanese land as the cherry blossom, which is the symbol of the country; In this respect, it is far from being an outdated, dry example of virtue preserved in the herb collection of our history. He is a powerful and beautiful creature that still lives among us. Even though it has no tangible shape or form, it surrounds us with moral feelings and shows us that we are under its powerful spell even today... The light of the samurai, which is the product of feudalism, is trying to enlighten us on our moral journey, leaving behind the system in which it was born. in progress." (page 13)