Japan Unit 1 Reading Packet
The Edicts of the Tokugawa Shogunate:
Excerpts from Laws of Military Households (Buke Shohatto), 1615
1. The study of literature and the practice of the military arts, including archery and
horsemanship, must be cultivated diligently.
“On the left hand literature, on the right hand use of arms,” was the rule of the ancients.
Both must be pursued concurrently. Archery and horsemanship are essential skills for military
men. It is said that war is a curse. However, it is resorted to only when it is inevitable. In time of
peace, do not forget the possibility of disturbances. Train yourself and be prepared.
2. Avoid group drinking and wild parties.
...
6. The castles in various domains may be repaired, provided the matter is reported without
fail. New construction of any kind is strictly forbidden.
…
8. Marriage must not be contracted in private [without approval from the bakufu].
… To form a factional alliance through marriage is the root of treason.
…
10. The regulations with regard to dress materials must not be breached.
Lords and vassals, superiors and inferiors, must observe what is proper within their
positions in life. Without authorization, no retainer may indiscriminately wear fine white
damask, white wadded silk garments, purple silk kimono, purple silk linings, and kimono
sleeves which bear no family crest. …
…
12. The samurai of all domains must practice frugality. When the rich proudly display their
wealth, the poor are ashamed of not being on par with them. There is nothing which will
corrupt public morality more than this, and therefore it must be severely restricted.
13. The lords of the domains must select as their officials men of administrative ability.
The way of governing a country is to get the right men. If the lord clearly discerns
between the merits and faults of his retainers, he can administer due rewards and punishments.
If the domain has good men, it flourishes more than ever. If it has no good men, it is doomed to
perish. This is an admonition which the wise men of old bequeathed to us.
Take heed and observe the purport of the foregoing rules.
First year of Genna [1615], seventh month.
Excerpts from The Great Learning for Women (Onna Daigaku)
by Kaibara Ekken
…
It is the duty of a girl living in her parents’ house to practice filial piety toward her
father and mother. But after marriage, her duty is to honor her father-in-law and mother-in-law,
to honor them beyond her father and mother, to love and reverence them with all ardor, and to
tend them with a practice of filial piety. While thou honorest thine own parents, think not
lightly of thy father-in-law! Never should a woman fail, night and morning, to pay her respects
to her father-in-law and mother-in-law. Never should she be remiss in performing any tasks
they may require of her. With all reverence she must carry out, and never rebel against, her
father-in-law’s commands. On every point must she inquire of her father-in-law and mother-inlaw
and accommodate herself to their direction. Even if thy father-in-law and mother-in-law are
disposed to hate and vilify thee, do not be angry with them, and murmur not. If thou carry
piety toward them to its utmost limits and minister to them in all sincerity, it cannot be but that
they will end by becoming friendly to thee.
A woman has no other lord; she must look to her husband as her lord and must serve
him with all worship and reverence, not despising or thinking lightly of him. The Way of the
woman is to obey her man. In her dealings with her husband, both the expression of her
countenance and the style of her address should be courteous, humble, and conciliatory, never
peevish and intractable, never rude and arrogant — that should be a woman’s first and
principal care. When the husband issues his instructions, the wife must never disobey them. In
doubtful cases she should inquire of her husband and obediently follow his commands. If her
husband ever asks her a question, she should answer to the point; to answer carelessly would
be a mark of rudeness. If her husband becomes angry at any time, she must obey him with fear
and trembling and not oppose him in anger and forwardness. A woman should look on her
husband as if he were Heaven itself and never weary of thinking how she may yield to him and
thus escape celestial castigation.
…
A woman must always be on the alert and keep a strict watch over her own conduct. In
the morning she must rise early and at night go late to rest. Instead of sleeping in the middle of
the day, she must be intent on the duties of her household; she must not grow tired of weaving,
sewing, and spinning. She must not drink too much tea and wine, nor must she feed her eyes
and ears on theatrical performances (kabuki, jōruri), ditties, and ballads. …
…
In her capacity as a wife, she must keep her husband’s household in proper order. If the
wife is evil and profligate, the house will be ruined. In everything she must avoid extravagance,
and in regard to both food and clothes, she must act according to her station in life and never
give in to luxury and pride.
…
The five worst infirmities that afflict women are indocility, discontent, slander, jealousy,
and silliness. Without any doubt, these five infirmities are found in seven or eight of every ten
women, and it is they that cause women to be inferior to men. A woman should counteract
them with self-inspection and self reproach. The worst of them all and the parent of the other
four is silliness. A woman’s nature is passive (yin). The yin nature comes from the darkness of
night. Hence, as viewed from the standard of a man’s nature, a woman’s foolishness [means
that she] fails to understand the duties that lie before her very eyes, does not recognize the
actions that will bring blame on her own head, and does not comprehend even those things that
will bring calamity to her husband and children. Nor when she blames and accuses and curses
innocent persons or when, in her jealousy of others, she thinks only of herself, does she see that
she is her own enemy, alienating others and incurring their hatred. Lamentable errors. Again, in
the education of her children, her blind affection induces an erroneous system. Such is the
stupidity of her character that it is incumbent on her, in every detail, to distrust herself and obey
her husband.
[“Onna daigaku,” in NST, vol. 34, pp. 202–5; trans. adapted and revised from
Chamberlain, “Educational Literature of Japanese Women,” pp. 325-43; WtdB]
Excerpts from Hagakure (In the Shadow of Leaves) – The Book of the
Samurai
Death
From the 1st Chapter
The Way of the Samurai is found in death. When it comes to either/or, there is only the
quick choice of death. It is not particularly difficult. Be determined and advance. To say that
dying without reaching one’s aim is to die a dog’s death is the frivolous way of sophisticates.
When pressed with the choice of life or death, it is not necessary to gain one’s aim.
We all want to live. And in large part we make our logic according to what we like. But
not having attained our aim and continuing to live is cowardice. This is a thin dangerous line.
To die without gaining one’s aim is a dog’s death and fanaticism. But there is no shame in this.
This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai. If by setting ones heart right every morning
and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the
Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.
Living in the Moment
From the 2nd Chapter
There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment. A man’s
whole life is a succession of moment after moment. If one fully understands the present
moment, there will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue. Live being true to the
single purpose of the moment.
Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it were
somewhere else. No one seems to notice this fact. But grasping this firmly, one must pile
experience upon experience. And once one has come to this understanding he will be a different
person from that point on, though he may not always bear it in mind.
When one understands this settling into single-mindedness well, his affairs will thin out. Loyalty is also
contained within this single-mindedness.
From the 11th Chapter
Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one’s body
and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears
and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire,
being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousandfoot
cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku [ritual suicide] at the death of one’s master.
And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead.
There is a saying of the elders that goes, “Step from under the eaves and you’re a dead
man. Leave the gate and the enemy is waiting.” This is not a matter of being careful. It is to
consider oneself as dead beforehand.
A Good Retainer
From the 11th Chapter
Nakano Jin’emon constantly said, “A person who serves when treated kindly by the
master is not a retainer. But one who serves when the master is being heartless and
unreasonable is a retainer. You should understand this principle well.”
When Hotta Kaga no kami Masamori was a page to the shōgun, he was so headstrong
that the shōgun wished to test what was at the bottom of his heart. To do this, the shōgun
heated a pair of tongs and placed them in the hearth. Masamori’s custom was to go to the other
side of the hearth, take the tongs, and greet the master. This time, when he unsuspectingly
picked up the tongs, his hands were immediately burned. As he did obeisance in his usual
manner, however, the shōgun quickly got up and took the tongs from him.
From the 1st Chapter
A man is a good retainer to the extent that he earnestly places importance in his master.
This is the highest sort of retainer. If one is born into a prominent family that goes back for
generations, it is sufficient to deeply consider the matter of obligation to one’s ancestors, to lay
down one’s body and mind, and to earnestly esteem ones master. It is further good fortune if,
more than this, one had wisdom and talent and can use them appropriately. But even a person
who is good for nothing and exceedingly clumsy will be a reliable retainer if only he has the
determination to think earnestly of his master. Having only wisdom and talent is the lowest tier
of usefulness.
From the 11th Chapter
A certain general said, “For soldiers other than officers, if they would test their armor,
they should test only the front. Furthermore, while ornamentation on armor is unnecessary, one
should be very careful about the appearance of his helmet. It is something that accompanies his
head to the enemy’s camp.”
Speaking
From the 2nd Chapter
At times of great trouble or disaster, one word will suffice. At times of happiness, too,
one word will be enough. And when meeting or talking with others, one word will do. One
should think well and then speak. This is clear and firm, and one should learn it with no doubts.
It is a matter of pouring forth one’s whole effort and having the correct attitude previously. This
is very difficult to explain but is something that everyone should work on in his heart. If a
person has not learned this in his heart, it is not likely that he will understand it.
From the 11th Chapter
The essentials of speaking are in not speaking at all. If you think that you can finish
something without speaking, finish it without saying a single word. If there is something that
cannot be accomplished without speaking, one should speak with few words, in a way that will
accord well with reason.
To open ones mouth indiscriminately brings shame, and there are many times when
people will turn their backs on such a person.
The Teachings of Yamamoto Jin’emon
From the 11th Chapter
These are the teachings of Yamamoto Jin’emon:
Singlemindedness is all-powerful.
Tether even a roasted chicken.
Continue to spur a running horse.
A man who will criticize you openly carries no connivance.
A man exists for a generation, but his name lasts to the end of time.
Money is a thing that will be there when asked for. A good man is not so easily found.
Walk with a real man one hundred years and he’ll tell you at least seven lies.
To ask when you already know is politeness. To ask when you don’t know is the rule.
Wrap your intentions in needles of pine.
One should not open his mouth wide or yawn in front of another. Do this behind your
fan or sleeve.
A straw hat or helmet should be worn tilted toward the front.