A review by char9222
Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

2.0

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 heard by the priest Gyōjaku when he was in Kyoto. It is information to be treasured.

This was - without a doubt - the weirdest book I've read this year. And last year. It was not what I expected.

Human life is truly a short affair. It is better to live doing the things that you like. (...) But it is important never to tell this to young people as it is something that would be harmful if incorrectly understood.

Hagakure consists of a lot of anecdotes and short stories and stuff about how to be the best retainer (kinda like a personal servant to a Master) and living as the Way of the Samurai suggests. A lot of it was something that I didn't understand or couldn't relate to (none of my brothers or male friends have been trained in decapitating condemned men for the sole purpose of getting better at decapitation (which will come in handy in a war or in an argument (because cutting someone down is the solution to everything in the Way of the Samurai: Act first, think later, as seen in the following quote))).

Indeed, one may be blamed later in an investigation as a confederate of the killer, or as someone who had a grudge against him. But at that time one should think only of cutting the man down and not anticipate later blame.

I also wasn't particularly fond of the view on women (one woman was accused of adultery as she let a man passing by use the toilet in her house (they were both sentenced to death, of course, as no man should take off his trousers near a woman)). I know that Yamamoto Tsunetomo lived in the 17th century - but still. Women and daughters weren't appreciated at all.

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.

Though I didn't like the stomach-cutting (which happened very often), I did like the occasional make-up and behavioural tips:

It is good to carry some powdered rouge in one's sleeve. It may happen that when one is sobering up or waking from sleep, his complexion may be poor. At such a time it is good to take out and apply some powdered rouge.

One should constantly give the impression that he is doing something exceptional.

Even if one’s head were to be suddenly cut off, he should be able to do one more action with certainty.

One should constantly give the impression that he is doing something exceptional.

Even if one’s head were to be suddenly cut off, he should be able to do One more action with certainty.

Human life is truly a short affair. It is better to live doing the things that you like. (...) But it is important never to tell this to young people as it is something that would be harmful if incorrectly understood.

And also the tips on the usefulness of wind-bells in terms of attacking someone:

Wind-bells are things that are used during campaigns in order to know the direction of the wind. For night attacks, fire can be set windward while the attack can be carried out from the opposite direction. Your allies should be mindful of this also. One should always hang wind-bells in order to know the direction of the wind.