Bushido: The Seven Virtues of the Samurai

First, the seven virtues:


義 - Gi - Rectitude (Right Decisions)

勇 - Yu - Courage

仁 - Jin - Benevolence

礼 - Rei - Respect

誠 - Makoto - Honesty

名誉 - Meiyo - Honor

尽忠 - Chugi - Loyalty

First, the bushido code most of westerners have been exposed to is one written by a Japanese who had not been an actual samurai, i.e. the dual sword wielding kind who we would consider Musashi like. I am not a "koryu" practitioner nor am I any expert on this other than my understandings and perceptions as a westerner.

Today I read a group of posts on "honor." Some spoke directly from an interpretation of honor or Meiyo as to the bushido virtues while others spoke of the military, etc. All from their personal exposure and perceptions - like mine. I would ask, who's honor? Who's interpretation? Who's perceptions?

I can speak from a military view as a Marine. I can also speak toward it some what as a martial artists, i.e. karate-jutsu-do of Okinawa. I can also speak from my views as a person influenced by all the above. To a point ......

I even created my own code for me. The real trick as with all things of martial origins is to actually "live" the code not just know the code. Then where does this code enter into the picture when your confronted with violence? Would your belief in this "code" open you to damage or would you then subvert that code by dropping it off at the front door in return for "permission" to do what is required to remove damage and reach safety?

Another view, does the code cover things like social and anti-social violence and what they entails, i.e. damage or even death, arrest and prosecution, civil suits, medical bills, disabilities, etc.?

Is this code merely a selling point or some rhetoric that allows you to sound cool to those not in the know? If you feel a need to adapt a code then using these as a source to begin may be beneficial but remember that the code must be "today's code," not some ancient code of feudal samurai that may or may not apply to today's societal bindings. Just because you can recite them or have them read to you in training does not make one a samurai or one of the code, the seven virtues of the samurai, Bushido.