Code of the Samurai

To sum up the principles of the Samurai/bushido code...      

   According to the Samurai, honor is one of the seven principals of Bushido, which are seven pillars or values which make up the system by which a Japanese warrior should conduct himself. I shall offer my own personal interpretations of these principals in the following pages.

            Honor. This concerns a basic sense of right and wrong. If one makes a conscious effort to make right decisions, then one will have right actions and will in turn build strength of character. To say that one has honor is almost synonymous to saying that one is of strong character; or, simply put, honor is dedication to right action.

            Justice. Be honest with yourself as much as possible. If you can accomplish this, it becomes easier to recognize the truth of an external situation. If the truth of a matter is unknown, justice will not be served at its conclusion. Truth and justice are closely related. You cannot have one without the other.

            Politeness. This relates to clarity and inner confidence. When one has a sense of these, there is no reason for rudeness or disrespect. A Samurai respects his enemies. If this is the case, then it follows that everyone should be shown polite courtesy and respect; maybe even more so towards someone who is being disrespectful and offensive.

            Benevolence. If one is in a position to help, then it should be done. Love and caring should be the force which propels this helping attitude. There are many forms of love. Pick one that feels appropriate and help. This is not always easy.

            Sincerity. The statement that one makes about what he will do and what is done should be the same. You say what you do; you do what you say. If the act could not be accomplished one should tell of the account with absolute truthfulness. Lying is cowardice.

            Loyalty. A Samurai must be selfless. This is not to say that he does not care for himself, but if one is in the service of another or a group of people, they must be the first consideration before any action. One must guard against the self-interest of outside parties and remain faithful to those he serves.

            Courage. To willingly sacrifice a feeling of safety. To willingly face fear when you have the option to run away. To confront a dangerous situation. To risk whatever you must in the name of a cause. 

                                                                                                                                                                          *I did not personally write this but found it online