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112 reviews for:
Art Of The Samurai: Yamamoto Tsunetomo's Hagakure
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Barry D. Steben
3.64 AVERAGE
112 reviews for:
Art Of The Samurai: Yamamoto Tsunetomo's Hagakure
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Barry D. Steben
3.64 AVERAGE
Very interesting read but be forewarned, this is an EXTREMELY abridged version -- more like a Cliff Notes than an actual guide.
Your annoying boomer grandpa dumping unsolicited advice on your ass and ranting about "the kids these days" - expect he's a samurai and it's 1716. Contains a bunch of spiritual wisdom, more or less amusing samurai stories, a totally disgusting level of violence, irreverent Buddhism, and a lot of random bullshit about drinking horse piss and guys getting boiled alive in soy sauce.
If you're not interested in the subject, you should probably pass it off as a potentially entertaining, but ultimately unnecessary curiosity. Must-read if you're interested in bushido, Japanese philosophy & history - or are just really into Tarantino movies. Probably also works as a source of inspiration for wannabe writers and similar nerds.
If you're not interested in the subject, you should probably pass it off as a potentially entertaining, but ultimately unnecessary curiosity. Must-read if you're interested in bushido, Japanese philosophy & history - or are just really into Tarantino movies. Probably also works as a source of inspiration for wannabe writers and similar nerds.
The samurai spirit is something that will always be relevant to daily life. It is concise and elegantly written.
নামেই বলে দিচ্ছে বইটার বিষয়বস্তু কী।
বইটার ফিলোসফি ডিস্টার্বিং তবে জাপানিজ মননের বেশ ভালো ইনসাইট দেয়। সামুরাইদের, এবং সর্বপরি জাপানিজদের চিনামাটির পাত্রের মত ঠুনকো সম্মানবোধ এবং বলতে গেলে চর্চা করে ধরে রাখা মারকুটে ভাবের পরিচয় পাওয়া যায় বইটায়। এবং তাদের অসম্ভবরকমের বাঁকা করে চিন্তা করার ক্ষমতায় তারা বৌদ্ধধর্মের সাথেও সামুরাইদের পথ সামঞ্জস্যপূর্ণ করতে চেয়েছে।
সামুরাইদের 'অনার', 'শেম', এবং কম্প্লিট অবিডিয়েন্স মডার্ন মানুষের জন্য না। ওদের ভারী স্কেল আর্মার আর কাটানা ভেতরে লুকানো নির্বুদ্ধিতাকে অস্ত্র করে শোগুনরা কোরিয়ায় আর চীনে ভয়াবহতা নামিয়ে এনেছে।
বইটার ফিলোসফি ডিস্টার্বিং তবে জাপানিজ মননের বেশ ভালো ইনসাইট দেয়। সামুরাইদের, এবং সর্বপরি জাপানিজদের চিনামাটির পাত্রের মত ঠুনকো সম্মানবোধ এবং বলতে গেলে চর্চা করে ধরে রাখা মারকুটে ভাবের পরিচয় পাওয়া যায় বইটায়। এবং তাদের অসম্ভবরকমের বাঁকা করে চিন্তা করার ক্ষমতায় তারা বৌদ্ধধর্মের সাথেও সামুরাইদের পথ সামঞ্জস্যপূর্ণ করতে চেয়েছে।
সামুরাইদের 'অনার', 'শেম', এবং কম্প্লিট অবিডিয়েন্স মডার্ন মানুষের জন্য না। ওদের ভারী স্কেল আর্মার আর কাটানা ভেতরে লুকানো নির্বুদ্ধিতাকে অস্ত্র করে শোগুনরা কোরিয়ায় আর চীনে ভয়াবহতা নামিয়ে এনেছে।
Culture learning indeed.
Hmm, I can imagine I would understand this book more if I was well-versed in Japanese culture and with little of historical background on this. From the beginning to the end was little back and forth plus with a lot of cutting down people and seppukus. At first, I thought it was more of samurais’ notes or journal rather than ton pieces of stories. Some did catch my eyes so that counted for something.
Hmm, I can imagine I would understand this book more if I was well-versed in Japanese culture and with little of historical background on this. From the beginning to the end was little back and forth plus with a lot of cutting down people and seppukus. At first, I thought it was more of samurais’ notes or journal rather than ton pieces of stories. Some did catch my eyes so that counted for something.
There's some good samurai wisdom here and some good anecdotes (a guy gets boiled alive in soy sauce), but it's overshadowed by its own stupid samurai wisdom.
I like the idea about always living as if you're already dead (I read an interview where Houellebecq offers it as writing advice). It feels stoic, until you realize these guys were ready to throw their lives away over petty slights. Revenge plays a huge role for the samurai, but there's nothing about the emptiness it leaves with you.
Best lines:
1. Furthermore, drinking a decoction of the feces from a dappled horse is the way to stop bleeding from an injury received by falling off a horse. ... "Life is dear to me. How can I drink horse feces?" Tozo heard this and said, "What an admirably brave warrior! What you say is reasonable. However, the basic meaning of loyalty requires us to preserve our lives and gain victory on the battlefield. Well, then, I'll drink some for you." Then he drank some himself and handed over the cup to the man, who took the medicine and gratefully recovered.
2. Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead.
3. My own vows are the following:
Never to be outdone in the Way of the Samurai.
To be of good use to the master.
To be filial to my parents.
To manifest great compassion, and to act for the sake of Man.
4. If you cut a face lengthwise, urinate on it, and trample on it with straw sandals, it is said that the skin will come off. This was head by the priest Gyojaku when he was in Kyoto. It is information to be treasured.
5. Also, in addition to having spoken sufficiently it is the highest sort of victory to teach your opponent something that will be to his benefit. This is in accordance with the Way.
6. Last year I went to the Kase Execution Grounds to try my hand at beheading, and I found it to be an extremely good feeling. To think that it is unnerving is a symptom of cowardice.
7. The late Jin'emon said that it is better not to bring up daughters. They are a blemish to the family name and a shame to the parents. The eldest daughter is special, but it is better to disregard the others.
8. Above all, the Way of the Samurai should be in being aware that you do no know what will happen next, and in querying every item day and night. Victory and defeat are matters of the temporary force of circumstances. The way of avoiding shame is different. It is simply in death.
Even if it seems certain that you will lose, retaliate. Neither wisdom nor technique has a place in this. A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death. By doing this, you will awaken from your dreams.
9. The bit where he says men's pulses have become womanly, and now men can use women's medicine to cure them. Or the bit about the chinese dragon. Also he says a samurai should have powdered rouge on him at all times, because it's good for your complexion. Or to wear badger underwear to avoid lice.
I like the idea about always living as if you're already dead (I read an interview where Houellebecq offers it as writing advice). It feels stoic, until you realize these guys were ready to throw their lives away over petty slights. Revenge plays a huge role for the samurai, but there's nothing about the emptiness it leaves with you.
Best lines:
1. Furthermore, drinking a decoction of the feces from a dappled horse is the way to stop bleeding from an injury received by falling off a horse. ... "Life is dear to me. How can I drink horse feces?" Tozo heard this and said, "What an admirably brave warrior! What you say is reasonable. However, the basic meaning of loyalty requires us to preserve our lives and gain victory on the battlefield. Well, then, I'll drink some for you." Then he drank some himself and handed over the cup to the man, who took the medicine and gratefully recovered.
2. Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead.
3. My own vows are the following:
Never to be outdone in the Way of the Samurai.
To be of good use to the master.
To be filial to my parents.
To manifest great compassion, and to act for the sake of Man.
4. If you cut a face lengthwise, urinate on it, and trample on it with straw sandals, it is said that the skin will come off. This was head by the priest Gyojaku when he was in Kyoto. It is information to be treasured.
5. Also, in addition to having spoken sufficiently it is the highest sort of victory to teach your opponent something that will be to his benefit. This is in accordance with the Way.
6. Last year I went to the Kase Execution Grounds to try my hand at beheading, and I found it to be an extremely good feeling. To think that it is unnerving is a symptom of cowardice.
7. The late Jin'emon said that it is better not to bring up daughters. They are a blemish to the family name and a shame to the parents. The eldest daughter is special, but it is better to disregard the others.
8. Above all, the Way of the Samurai should be in being aware that you do no know what will happen next, and in querying every item day and night. Victory and defeat are matters of the temporary force of circumstances. The way of avoiding shame is different. It is simply in death.
Even if it seems certain that you will lose, retaliate. Neither wisdom nor technique has a place in this. A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death. By doing this, you will awaken from your dreams.
9. The bit where he says men's pulses have become womanly, and now men can use women's medicine to cure them. Or the bit about the chinese dragon. Also he says a samurai should have powdered rouge on him at all times, because it's good for your complexion. Or to wear badger underwear to avoid lice.
First off, I have to say how impressed I was by this translation. I've read various books translated from Japanese as well as other Asian languages that were clunky and made it difficult to read. This translation of the first two books of the Hagakure, on the other hand, was a much welcomed deviation from the norm (I chuckled whenever I came across a British phrase like "jolly good").
The text itself is interesting as Yamamoto Tsunetomo (referred to as Jocho in the text) constantly reiterates his beliefs about selfless service to one's lord, to the point of sacrificing one's life even other what we would consider today as trivial matters. Reading the introduction as well as the timeline of important events at the end of the book provide much needed context to better understand Jocho's philosophy. Although the glory days of the samurai were over by the time of these writings, Jocho still sought to maintain the same level of honor and integrity of past warriors, especially as he viewed the next generation of noblemen as being soft and increasingly immoral.
This book is essentially a guide on how to be a selfless servant - a tool really - for one's lord; death is a consistent theme, as Jocho pushes the reader to always be willing to plunge oneself head-first into death for the sake of those they serve. It's a little disconcerting due to our modern ego-centric views on self-preservation, so it's not easy to connect to these beliefs. However, the general sense of selflessness is a worthy teaching that I think ought to be further pursued.
The text itself is interesting as Yamamoto Tsunetomo (referred to as Jocho in the text) constantly reiterates his beliefs about selfless service to one's lord, to the point of sacrificing one's life even other what we would consider today as trivial matters. Reading the introduction as well as the timeline of important events at the end of the book provide much needed context to better understand Jocho's philosophy. Although the glory days of the samurai were over by the time of these writings, Jocho still sought to maintain the same level of honor and integrity of past warriors, especially as he viewed the next generation of noblemen as being soft and increasingly immoral.
This book is essentially a guide on how to be a selfless servant - a tool really - for one's lord; death is a consistent theme, as Jocho pushes the reader to always be willing to plunge oneself head-first into death for the sake of those they serve. It's a little disconcerting due to our modern ego-centric views on self-preservation, so it's not easy to connect to these beliefs. However, the general sense of selflessness is a worthy teaching that I think ought to be further pursued.
Japanese samurai were some of the noblest warriors in history. This 17th century manifesto codifies the rituals that define the zenith of battlefield achievement; however, the specific lessons are presented with a spiritual basis that transcends its own time. It is an immensely popular piece of literature that continues to influence security procedures around the world. The edict glorifies the role of skilled combatants in a feudalistic age, but the samurai saga is riddled with inspirational advice that can be applied to any lone ranger security personnel.
Beyond its focus on the moral rules of a fighter, the text encapsulates a cognitive acceptance of one’s own preeminence. The self-awareness of death is considered a primary tool for warriors by Tsunetomo, who was a distinguished samurai that bolstered his legacy with the release of these profound dialogues. Self-sacrifice is considered a chief virtue within this context because it signifies the preservation of a greater purpose. By lacking a reluctance to face death, warriors lose any inhibitions of fear that would otherwise compromise their ability to be completely committed to the battle.
Beyond its focus on the moral rules of a fighter, the text encapsulates a cognitive acceptance of one’s own preeminence. The self-awareness of death is considered a primary tool for warriors by Tsunetomo, who was a distinguished samurai that bolstered his legacy with the release of these profound dialogues. Self-sacrifice is considered a chief virtue within this context because it signifies the preservation of a greater purpose. By lacking a reluctance to face death, warriors lose any inhibitions of fear that would otherwise compromise their ability to be completely committed to the battle.
I'm probably not the only one who bought this book after watching Ghost Dog by Jim Jarmusch. Liked the book. Read it years ago and I still remember the part about making decisions within seven breaths and that matters of small concern should be treated very seriously, while matters of great concern should be treated lightly.