A definitive treatise on the code of the samurai and the perfect companion to Hagakure鈥攏ow revised and featuring a new introduction
Upholding the samurai code both on and off the battlefield is one of the essential tenets of bushid艒, the Way of the Warrior鈥攁nd Bud艒shoshinshu is a definitive treatise on living in accordance with the samurai code. When it comes to books on samurai philosophy, the Edo-period classic Hagakure is iconic to contemporary readers, but Bud艒shoshinshu, which was written during same period, was equally influential at the time. Many scholars consider Hagakure, which was influenced by Zen, to be the most radical and romantic of samurai texts, while Bud艒shoshinshu is more measured and practical, owing to its heavy Confucian influence. Taken in tandem, they provide a range of insights on the role of the individual within the samurai order鈥攂oth addressing the warrior鈥檚 role in times of peace and emphasizing the importance of living selflessly.
Written by Daidoji Y奴zan, a Confucian scholar who descended from a long line of prominent warriors, Bud艒shoshinshu comprises 56 pithy instructive essays for young samurai on how to live morally, with professional integrity and a higher purpose, and to carry on the true chivalrous tradition of bushid艒. Bud艒shoshinshu is imbued with classic Confucian philosophy, centered on living one鈥檚 life with sincerity and loyalty.
