Resolute acceptance of death
This idea can be summed up as the philosophy expounded
in Ha Gakure or "Hidden Leaves", a book written in the seventeenth century by
Yamamoto Tsunenori and a few other samurai of the province Nabeshima Han, present-day
Saga. Under the Tokugawas, the enforced logic of the Confucius-influenced system
ensured stability among the samurai, but it also meant the passing of certain aspects of
Bushido. Discipline for both samurai and commoners became lax. Yamamoto Tsunenori
had been counsellor to Mitsushige, lord of Nabeshima Han, for many years, and upon his
lord's death he wanted to commit suicide with his family in the traditional manner. This
kind of suicide was strictly prohibited by the new legislation, and, full of remorse,
Yamamoto retired in sadness to the boundary of Nabeshima Han. Here he met others
who had faced the same predicament, and together they wrote a lament of what they saw
as the decadence of Bushido. Their criticism is a revealing comment on the changing face
of Japan during Musashi's lifetime: "There is no way to describe what a warrior should do
other than that he should adhere to the Way of the warrior (Bushido). I find that all men are negligent of this.
There are few men who can quickly reply to the question "What is the
Way of the Warrior?" This is because they do not know in their hearts. From this we
can see they do not follow the Way of the warrior. By the Way of the warrior is meant
death. The Way of the warrior is death. This means choosing death whenever there is a
choice between life and death. It means nothing more than this. It means to see things
through, being resolved. Sayings like "To die with your intention unrealized is to die
uselessly", and so on, are from the weak Kyoto, Osaka Bushido. They are unresolved as to
whether to keep to their original plan when faced with the choice of life and death. Every
man wants to live. They theorize with staying alive kept in mind. "The man who lives on
when he has failed in his intention is a coward" id a heartless definition. That to die having
failed is to die uselessly is a mad point of view. This is not a shameful thing. It is the most
important thing to the Way of the warrior. If you keep your spirit correct from morning
to night, accustomed to the idea of death and resolved on death, and consider yourself as a dead body,
thus becoming one with the Way of the warrior, you can pass through life
with no possibility of failure and perform your office properly.
"The servant must think earnestly of the business of his employer. Such a fellow is a
splendid retainer. In this house there have been generations of splendid gentlemen and we are deeply impressed
by their warm kindness... all our ancestors. This was simply
abandoning body and soul for sake of their lord.
"Moreover, our house excels in wisdom and technical skill. What a joyful thing if this can be used to advantage.
"Even an unadaptable man who is completely useless is a most trusted retainer if he
does nothing more than think earnestly of his lord's welfare. To think only of the
practical benefit of wisdom and technology is vulgar.
"Some men are prone to having sudden inspirations. SOme men do not quickly have
good ideas by arrive at the answer by slow consideration. Well, if we investigate the heart
of the matter, even though people's natural abilities differ, bearing in mind the Four
Oaths, when your thinking rises above concern for your own welfare, wisdom which is
independant of thought appears. Whoever thinks deeply on things, even though he may
carefully consider the future, will usually think around the basis of his own welfare. By
the result of such evil thinking he will only perform evil acts. It is very difficult for most
silly fellows to rise above thinking of their own welfare.
"So when you embark upon something, before you start fix your intention on the
Four Oaths and put selfishness behind you. Then you cannot fail.
"The Four Oaths: Never be late with respect to the Way of the warrior. Be useful to
the lord. Be respectful to your parents. Get beyond love and grief: exist only for the good of man."