IndexHagakureLoyalty and Honorable DeathSamurai and ModernityThe Importance of LoyaltyThe Political Context of HagakureThe Contents of Hagakure in Relation to Modern SocietyConclusionBibliographyHagakureHagakure, also known as the Samurai Bible, is a book that represents attitude which goes beyond modern pragmatism or the love of materialism to the overall spiritual development of individuals. Despite the interpretations people have had about this book, Hagakure applies to more than just the samurai lifestyle. It provides insights into the teachings of Yamamoto Tsumetomo and is based on the sincerity and morose guidance used in modern life. Hagakure represents various motivations in life and how a true samurai should serve the people and their leaders. Hagakure can sometimes be seen to represent ancient Japan or the old leadership system; however, the teachings of Hagakure can be applied in every aspect of life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Loyalty and Honorable Death The work indicates that not all samurai warriors were willing to conform to the Bushido lifestyle, least of all Yamamoto, the true narrator of the book Hagakure. Yamamoto questioned the true work of warriors in times of peace throughout his narrative. Hagakure's presentation of Bushido is, without a doubt, expressed in the bleak statement that "the path of the samurai is found in death." This argument bases its claims on the belief that everyone wants to live, which implies that the transcendence of this fantasy marks the predetermined heroic motive, a sentiment reflected in the idea that "death is the only sincerity." Therefore, the warrior codes highlighted by Yamamoto in the Hagakure focus on the combination of honorable death and loyalty as the real values ​​of a true Japanese warrior, stating that to alter these qualities is to do the exact opposite of Tokugawa values. Yamamoto's assessment of the role of Hagakure for modern warriors draws several criticisms of the changing values ​​of the samurai during the Tokugawa era. One primary value that requires scrutiny is that of loyalty, especially as it is displayed within the Tokugawa system, which attracted the attention of samurai leaders. Furthermore, Yamamoto seeks the idealized belief of an honorable death, synthesizing the two ideals of loyalty and honorable death that work to create a connection between his values ​​and those of the great Japanese heroes. The ideal of an honorable death can sometimes come under criticism due to attitudes that arise over time. Warriors must be loyal, but those willing and ready to die at any time for the sake of their lords are limited. Strong beliefs in death have long disappeared since “we all want to live”. Samurai and modernity In an important text, Yamamoto sharply criticizes contemporary Tokugawa attitudes regarding the samurai's growing passion for academia and the arts, arguing that "outside learning for servants and warriors it is worth nothing" and l he only concern of a samurai should be “nothing other than doing his job”. His condemnation was not entirely motivated by hatred of formal education but rather by its inadequate perceptions in a time of peace. In reality, his vision was overdue because there were no longer arenas available for warriors and samurai to demonstrate their courage, military prowess, or loyalty. The times of war were long gone and there was no longer any need for warriors willing to die for their lords. The cultural change in Japan is what made theneed for samurai to acquire formal education to provide diversified services to their lords. Importance of Loyalty During the Edo period, the legal system provided severe punishment for traitors and combated disloyalty to the point of loss of life. . Yamamoto argues forcefully that only when “a warrior makes loyal filial piety a load and carries it twenty-four hours a day until his shoulders wear out, will he be a samurai.” The actual purpose of this text is not to show the need for abject loyalty, but rather an effort to bring back the sense of purpose to the lost samurai warriors in the current era of peace. Yamamoto continues to argue that the meaning of being a samurai is to earnestly submit one's soul and body to one's lord, thus using loyalty as a point around which the lost identity of the samurai can be reconstructed. The decline of martial necessity was the result of prolonged periods of peace, which eroded the true essence of the samurai. Hagakure's importance in guiding modern warrior-bureaucrats who have never experienced war comes in handy after the Tokugawa regime decides to open trade relations with the West. . The Tokugawa leadership cannot find a more appropriate way to open relations with the West, although several agreements had previously opened Japanese ports to Western merchants. These initiated trade between Japan and other Western countries and represented the final blow to the importance of employees, whose services have declined compared to the past. At this point, Japan not only opened its economy to foreigners, but continued to emulate them as a way to modernize. Several Hagakure texts forcefully affirm the role of the samurai and Yamamoto's deliberate efforts to make servants as important as possible. in a vain attempt to return Tokugawa society to the militant past which would cease to make him a person who existed only in the past. The political context of Hagakure From a political perspective, Hagakure offers a reflection and insight into the philosophy of behavior. The Spirit of Bushido was the way of the Warrior and encouraged servants to be faithful to their rulers. This is a philosophical book that makes people understand the world from a variety of topics and can be applied in modern society. Consequently, the book cannot be dismissed as inappropriate or inapplicable in the contemporary world. Instead, the path of the Samurai shows the dedication that Citizens should have towards their leaders. Political rulers can lead their people through the most relevant or applicable avenues knowing that they are loyal to them. The Samurai style represents an attitude that could be said to derive from modern pragmatism and the belief people have towards materialism. They all possess the intuition of modern nationalism. The Samurai has a significant influence on the political system experienced in the modern world, especially in modern Japan. Therefore, Yamamoto Tsunetomo's Hagakure is still a valuable guide in contemporary peaceful society, and is not an unapplicable fantasy book. The contents of Hagakure in relation to modern society Hagakure provides accounts of Tsunetomo's views on his opinion on bushido. Bushido is the worried man's code used by the Samurai. Bushido has also been interpreted as the way of dying or living through the already dead. Therefore, the book encourages the Samurai to be willing to lose his life at any time for his lord. This shows how loyal he is to his lord. However, from today's society's point of view, the way of worrying still has the same beliefs but with a more flexible commitment. Yamamoto had a great one