The Heart of the Warrior

Origins and Religious Background of the Samurai System in Feudal Japan

By:

Catharina Blomberg

Format:

Paperback / softback

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Description

This book traces the development of the samurai, in the way they regarded themselves and their role in society. From their origins as provincial men-at-arms they gradually evolved into a very powerful group who had an almost mythical status. Their concept of chilvarous behaviour and strict code based on the central principle of loyality to death and beyond, hitherto largely ignored by scholars, has since earned them a worldwide appeal. The warrior ethic is examined in relation to the three traditional religious influences - Buddhism, Shinto and Confucianism. As warriors the "bushi" contravened the most important tenets of the main religions, that of taking life, which was strictly forbidden in both Buddhism and Shinto. Therefore ways had to be found to justify their actions to harmonize with these religions. The book analyses the attitudes of the samurai themselves towards such characteristic features of their life as the sword and sword-fighting techniques, the taking of heads of fallen enemies on the battlefield, honourable suicide ("seppuku") and human sacrifice ("junshi" and hito-bashira") the cult of the god of war, hachiman, and of Buddhist deities of warlike aspect, as well as the existence of men's societies, concentrating on those religious and ethical ideas which separated the bushi from the rest of the population.

Release date Australia

January 17th, 1995

Author

Catharina Blomberg

Audiences

General (US: Trade)
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Professional & Vocational
Undergraduate

Pages

240

Dimensions

156x234x19

ISBN-13

9781873410134

Product ID

3883749

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