Samurai

The ruling warrior class of Japan that was formed in the 800s. They were fighters: trained in martial arts, marksmanship, the katana, and horse riding.
Unique fighting manner: One on one honorable combat

Most had disappeared by the late 1800s, but many traditions remained.

Seppuku
Also known as Hara-kiri or Ritual Suicide Involved self disembowelment at the abdomen followed by beheading at the hands of a trusted friend or kinsman. Suicide was a way to:
Avoid capture Atone for mistakes and reclaim family honor Disapprove of ones lord (Rare)

Bushido
Known as the code of the samurai Shares many practices with Buddhism:
Not showing emotion Compliance with the inevitable Self-Control Poverty Hailing of death as an equal to life

Passed on from generation to generation and focuses on filial piety (Respect for ones ancestors)

The Seven Principles

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Gi: Justice / Decision Making Yu: Bravery / Courage Jin: Benevolence / Compassion Rei: Courtesy / Respect Makoto: Honesty / Truthfulness Melyo: Honor / Glory Chugo: Devotion / Loyalty

The Seven Principles

The Samurai Creed

I have no parents; I make the heavens and the earth my parents,

I have no home;
I make 'saika tanden' (abdominal region) my home. I have no divine power; I make honesty my divine power. I have no means; I make docility my means. I have no magic power; I make personality my magic power. I have neither life nor death; I make 'a um' (art of regulating one's breath) my life and death. I have no body; I make stoicism my body. I have no eyes; I make the flash of lightening my eyes. I have no ears; I make sensibility my ears. I have no limbs; I make promtitude my limbs. I have no laws; I make self - protection my laws. I have no strategy; I make 'sakkatsu jizai' (free to kill and free to restore life) my strategy. I have no designs; I make 'kisan' (taking opportunity by the forelock ) my designs. I have no miracles; I make righteous laws my miracles. I have no principles; I make 'rinkiohen' (adaptablility to all circumstances my principles. I have no tactic; I make 'kyojitsu' (emptiness and fullness) my tactics. I have no talent; I make 'toi skumyo' (ready wit) my talent. I have no friends; I make my mind my friend. I have no enemy; I make incautiousness my enemy. I have no armor; I make 'jin-gi' (benevolence and righteousness) my armor. I have no castle; I make ' fudoshin' (immovable mind) my castle. I have no sword; I make 'mushin' (absence of mind) my sword

Modern Bushido
Kamikaze pilots during WWII were influenced by Bushido as a means of finding an honorable death by serving their emperor. Yukio Mishima hailed from a samurai family
Died via seppuku in protest of the westernized Japanese government.

Discussion Question
Most formal practice of Bushido died off as Japan was westernized. How does Mishima portray Bushido and its seven principles in the story despite this, and what does he mean to convey by doing so?