Code of the Samurai: A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke [Paperback]

Immerse yourself in the world of the Samurai with this classic text, translated and interpreted for the modern reader.

Code of the Samuraiis the four-hundred-year-old summary of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido—the ancient Japanese Way of the Warrior. Bushidohas played a major role in shaping the behavior of modern Japanese government, corporations, society, and individuals, as well as in shaping modern Japanese martial arts within Japan and internationally.

This accessible and enjoyable translation is by Thomas Cleary, the foremost translator of Asian martial classics, accompanied by the powerful line drawings of master illustrator Oscar Ratti, and a number of color photos. A new foreword by Alexander Bennett, a leading expert on Samurai history, explains the lasting importance of this classic work and its place within the canon of Japanese literature.

This accesible classic is an indispensable resource to the corporate executive, student of the Asian Culture, martial artist, and those interested in Eastern philosophy or military strategy, as well as for those simply interested in Japan and its people.SG On the warrior's path, only three things are considered essential: loyalty, duty, and valor. We speak of knights who work loyally, knights who are faithful to duty, and knights who are courageous and strong. Warriors who combine these three virtues of loyalty, duty, and valor in one person are considered the knights of the highest order.

Knights of the highest order are rare, even in a group of a hundred or a thousand warriors. As for the distinction between knights who are loyal workers and knights who are faithful to duty, this constantly shows in their conduct and is easily discerned. It may be wondered whether the duty of a valorous man might be impossible to know in an era of peace like the present, when there is no war going on. That is not so, as I will explain.

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