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Samurai Wisdom: Lessons from Japan's Warrior Culture
The ancient warrior culture of Japan produced a sophisticated martial philosophy that we know today as Bushido—the Way of the Warrior. In Samurai Wisdom , author Thomas Clearly provides five important new translations of major Japanese works on Bushido.
The writings of the scholar Yamaga Soko and his disciples are among the clearest expositions we have of the core ideals and philosophy underlying the Samurai's disciplined way of life and outlook. Together they provide an in-depth, practical guide to character building and conduct according to the precepts of Bushido—a code for professional warriors that retains as much relevance in today's world as it had when these works were written 400 years ago.
Yamaga's writings inspired the transformation of the Samurai from a feudal class of warriors under the command of the Shogun to a group of powerful individuals with great intellectual, political and moral leadership and influence. The works translated in Samurai Wisdom for the very first time are as timeless and important today as the works of Sun Tzu, Musashi and Clausewitz.
The five Japanese works on Bushido translated in Samurai Wisdom
The writings of the scholar Yamaga Soko and his disciples are among the clearest expositions we have of the core ideals and philosophy underlying the Samurai's disciplined way of life and outlook. Together they provide an in-depth, practical guide to character building and conduct according to the precepts of Bushido—a code for professional warriors that retains as much relevance in today's world as it had when these works were written 400 years ago.
Yamaga's writings inspired the transformation of the Samurai from a feudal class of warriors under the command of the Shogun to a group of powerful individuals with great intellectual, political and moral leadership and influence. The works translated in Samurai Wisdom for the very first time are as timeless and important today as the works of Sun Tzu, Musashi and Clausewitz.
The five Japanese works on Bushido translated in Samurai Wisdom
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2009
28 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Cleary
248 books281 followersDr. Thomas Francis Cleary, Ph.D. (East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University; J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley), was a prolific translator of Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, and Muslim classics, with a particular emphasis on popular translations of Mahāyāna works relevant to the Chan, Zen, and Soen systems.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 10, 2021
This is a book that is full of wisdom of the how's to become and live as a warrior. There are so much lesson in every sentence of this text that reading it once is not enough. It is best to be read and practice those that works in your life. The discipline is profound and rightful. Being an Asian, it is relatable and provided understanding of why we do things in such manners.
"A warrior is worthless unless he rises above others and stands strong in the midst of a storm."
~ Yamamoto Tsunetomo
"Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price."
~ Sun Tzu
"A warrior is worthless unless he rises above others and stands strong in the midst of a storm."
~ Yamamoto Tsunetomo
"Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price."
~ Sun Tzu
January 29, 2023
It's been about 6-7 months that i took Seneca's advice into account: "Be careful, however, lest this reading of many authors and books of every sort may tend to make you discursive and unsteady. You must linger among a limited number of master-thinkers, and digest their works, if you would derive ideas which shall win firm hold in your mind. Everywhere means nowhere."
These months i have been mainly re-reading books on Bushido. Again and again, so that these ideas would be planted firmly in mind. This book is excellent account of Bushido. There are different accounts of Bushido code, since it is not systematized, so in Hagakure, in this work, in work of Inazo Nitobe and others there are some differences, but what it essentially comes down to, is serving your lord with piety, honoring norms and doing your duty.
Values of Bushido are not foreign for Confucian societies of North East Asia, but in the west and in countries of Orthodox civilization liberal thinking has shaken adherence to norms and doing your duty. This book encompasses several works of different Japanese writers, most thorough among them being "The Way of the Knight" by Yamaga Soko. Soko stresses the importance of not only having aspiration to the way, but practicing the way. I would say that this way is on par with Stoic compatibilism. Each and every one of us has a certain role to do and living wisely means doing that role. God is like a captain who tells one to be soldier, another architect, somebody else needs to be a monk and so on. Man needs to have backbone to do his duty, otherwise he will shame himself with his own pitiful existence. This is stressed heavily and Soko has a chapter on "likes and dislikes." Stoics would call this impressions. I might have an impression that alcohol is good, so i drink so much alcohol that at the end i vomit. If i wasn't following my impressions and followed righteousness instead, i wouldn't fall into that trap.
In addition to everything, Soko also stresses the importance of having solid understanding of things. But he doesn't mean things that are of no importance or learning things only in order to appear smart, as sometimes those familiar with Freud, Schopenhauer or other thinkers think that they have unraveled secrets of the universe, while having no knowledge of evolutionary psychology, neuroscience or any other field that actually give solid understanding. This attitude is near to Zen mindset, which is not intellectual and instead stresses direct, decisive action and being in the present moment, having achieved "no-mind" state.
Overall, Bushido code as it is exemplified in work of Yamaga Soko, Tsugaru Kodo-shi and Yamaga Takatsune, can be used as a guide to direct one's life and find contentment.
These months i have been mainly re-reading books on Bushido. Again and again, so that these ideas would be planted firmly in mind. This book is excellent account of Bushido. There are different accounts of Bushido code, since it is not systematized, so in Hagakure, in this work, in work of Inazo Nitobe and others there are some differences, but what it essentially comes down to, is serving your lord with piety, honoring norms and doing your duty.
Values of Bushido are not foreign for Confucian societies of North East Asia, but in the west and in countries of Orthodox civilization liberal thinking has shaken adherence to norms and doing your duty. This book encompasses several works of different Japanese writers, most thorough among them being "The Way of the Knight" by Yamaga Soko. Soko stresses the importance of not only having aspiration to the way, but practicing the way. I would say that this way is on par with Stoic compatibilism. Each and every one of us has a certain role to do and living wisely means doing that role. God is like a captain who tells one to be soldier, another architect, somebody else needs to be a monk and so on. Man needs to have backbone to do his duty, otherwise he will shame himself with his own pitiful existence. This is stressed heavily and Soko has a chapter on "likes and dislikes." Stoics would call this impressions. I might have an impression that alcohol is good, so i drink so much alcohol that at the end i vomit. If i wasn't following my impressions and followed righteousness instead, i wouldn't fall into that trap.
In addition to everything, Soko also stresses the importance of having solid understanding of things. But he doesn't mean things that are of no importance or learning things only in order to appear smart, as sometimes those familiar with Freud, Schopenhauer or other thinkers think that they have unraveled secrets of the universe, while having no knowledge of evolutionary psychology, neuroscience or any other field that actually give solid understanding. This attitude is near to Zen mindset, which is not intellectual and instead stresses direct, decisive action and being in the present moment, having achieved "no-mind" state.
Overall, Bushido code as it is exemplified in work of Yamaga Soko, Tsugaru Kodo-shi and Yamaga Takatsune, can be used as a guide to direct one's life and find contentment.
October 2, 2020
I wanted to give this book 3.5 stars. 😂 Level of knowledge is worthy of a 4. As stated, it can be a difficult to read at times why I have scored it a 3.
It has certainly inspired to explore and read more about Bushido. Reading further around the area may help me to develop a stronger appreciation for the book.
It has certainly inspired to explore and read more about Bushido. Reading further around the area may help me to develop a stronger appreciation for the book.
June 5, 2019
A series of books written by samurai and scholar Yamaga Sogo to instruct the samurai, this work is one of the more significant of the samurai treatises written in the middle ages. There was not just one accepted 'way' of the samurai. There was that accepted by the Shogun, and later the Emperor, and many competing ideologies in the provinces. The Hagakure is the most famous, along with the Book of Five Rings.
All of these have some things in common, for example the usual calls for bravery and loyalty. And in some, like the Hagakure and the work under discussion, large sections devoted to grooming and public demeanor.
For the Goodreads users, it is interesting to note that in some places the author praises education and reading widely, but in other places disparages avid readers. The overall message seems to be one of moderation; author Yamaga Soko wants the Samurai to be bookish to the extent it helps them become better people and do their jobs, but he doesn't want them to read just to show off or impress other people with their personal 'have-read' lists.
A must-read series for anyone desiring to understand samurai thought and philosophy.
Note on translation: I wish Cleary had not relentlessly translated 'Samurai' as 'Knight'. It is unnecessary and off-putting.
All of these have some things in common, for example the usual calls for bravery and loyalty. And in some, like the Hagakure and the work under discussion, large sections devoted to grooming and public demeanor.
For the Goodreads users, it is interesting to note that in some places the author praises education and reading widely, but in other places disparages avid readers. The overall message seems to be one of moderation; author Yamaga Soko wants the Samurai to be bookish to the extent it helps them become better people and do their jobs, but he doesn't want them to read just to show off or impress other people with their personal 'have-read' lists.
A must-read series for anyone desiring to understand samurai thought and philosophy.
Note on translation: I wish Cleary had not relentlessly translated 'Samurai' as 'Knight'. It is unnecessary and off-putting.
February 17, 2021
Excellent read for anyone that wants to learn how earliest civilizations kept humanity intact. Even in today’s cultural norms, learning the way of the warrior is keen to keep your own personal etiquette and dignity intact. Great read!
February 26, 2018
excellent book
September 28, 2018
Apparently samurai had no wisdom.
October 4, 2023
Wisdom is a needful virtue, Japanese wisdom is thoughtful and great to have
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews