Customer Reviews

Code of the Samurai

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Code of the Samurai is a book that every martial artist should read at least once. This book demonstrates the character traits that a real warrior should make a part of his being. It gives one the ideals to aim for in his life as a martial artist and a warrior. I consider this a martial arts classic. Although this is not my favorite translation, Sadler does a good job with the translation.

This book is a quick and easy read, but for such a short book it contains a huge amount of wisdom and instruction for anyone who is seeking to live the warrior lifestyle. You can pull many gems of wisdom from this book that will serve you well whether you are a martial artist or just an average everyday guy who want to live a life of character, integrity and honor. This book is useful for one and all. I even use it in teaching my students in history class. I highly recommend reading it and putting the information it contains to use in your life.

Bohdi Sanders, author of Warrior Wisdom: The Heart and Soul of Bushido

This is a 16th century treaty of Daidoji Yuzan, first published in English in 1941, that is a collection of the regulations of Bushido. Originally compiled as a training text for young samurai, the Code details the "honor system" necessary for quality "service".

The book is divided into 3-parts, containing 43 sub-chapters dealing with a broad range of subjects such as morals, ethics, duty, thrift, weapons, bravery, respect, shame, reputation, service, theft, laziness, and death to name a few.

It is written in typical samurai style, "One who is a samurai, even though but a small retainer, certainly ought to provide himself with a suitable instructor and study the traditional military arts so that he knows all there is to be known on the subject." This is a historical masterpiece, but is certainly not a history book full of stories. If you are interested in warrior philosophy, this is a good start.

I came across a copy of this book sitting in a drawer where I used to work. It is a fantastic read for anyone trying to understand the Samurai culture. I understand that some business leaders were actually asking their employees to read this book so that they could become more effective in their jobs. The influence of the Zen Buddhist in the culture of samurai was strong. Probably this book would have been better sold as a book of "Zen" for the warrior within us all. As it is; it is a great read for anyone trying to improve themself, or understand the code of those Samurai.

I was only going to give this 3 stars, until I remembered that it was never intended as a history book. It is a genuine historical example of the Samurai's code of conduct as perceived by one of the most respected of his day.

It's dry. Though a very short book it feels long. It does, however, give a handful or three of insights that will make you reflect for a few minutes, then sit back and say, "Ok, I get that now." In other places the justification for certain views will seem like a desperate stretch, or even childish.

Even regarding that dryness and those few less than impressive explanations, I have to keep reminding myself that this is not "literature", it is an ancient instruction manual that was highly read and highly respected by the people it was aimed at. If it was good enough for them to to live by, it's good enough for me to respect in its proper context.

I didn't enjoy it, but I did learn from it. In fact, I've been through parts of it several times, and likely will go through them again.

So, if you're looking for a snappy read on medevil Japan, look someplace else. If you just want a glimpse into an important sub-culture of that society, grab this book.