INTRODUCTIONThe Samurai originally meant "one who serves". What does it mean to be Samurai? To devote yourself utterly to a set of moral principles. To seek a stillness of your mind. And to master the way of the sword.
The Samurai followed "The Bushido Code" meaning "The Way of The Warrior". Only through the exercise of these virtues could a Samurai maintain his honor.
The BUSHIDO CODE
1. Rectitude or Justice
Rectitude is one's power to decide upon a course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering.i.e. to take the right judgement when judgement is called for, to die when to die is right, to strike when to strike is right. It basically means to decide and do the right thing at the right time using reason.
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"Rectitude is the bone that gives firmness and stature. Without bones the head cannot rest on top of the spine, nor hands move nor feet stand. So without rectitude neither talent nor learning can make the human frame into a samurai"
Courage means doing 'what is right'. It means standing up for your decisions, facing danger or hardship, admitting mistakes to yourself and sacrificing oneself to save the other.
"A samurai never fears to act but lives life fully and wonderfully"..
3. Benevolence
A man who had the power to kill was also expected to demonstrate benevolence and mercy. Love, affection for others, sympathy, pity, goodness,compassion etc are the traits of benevolence.
"A samurai takes every opportunity to aid others, and creates opportunities when they do not arise."
4. Politeness
To treat others equally and with politeness is the warriors way. Politeness becomes a poor virtue if it is motivated by the fear of offending good taste. In its highest form politeness approaches love.
"A samurai has no reason to be cruel, and no need to prove his strength. Courtesy distinguishes a samurai from an animal, and reveals one's true strength."
5. Honesty
Honesty involves abstinence and simplicity.Riches get in the way to understanding and hinders wisdom. Children of high-ranking samurai were raised to believe that talking about money showed poor taste. Thrift was encouraged to exercise abstinence.
6. Honor
A samurai's conscience is the judge of his honor. The decisions he makes and how he carries them out are a reflection of his true nature. He was born and bread to value the duties and privileges of his profession. True patience meant bearing the unbearable.
"One should not be envious of someone who has prospered by unjust deeds. Nor should one disdain someone who has fallen while adhering to the path of righteousness."
7. Loyalty
Loyalty to a superior (family, master or a peer) was one of the notable characters of the samurai. A samurai would happily kill him if his lord told him to.
"A samurai feels responsible for his actions and their consequences, and loyal to the people in his care. A samurai's loyalty to his lord is unquestionable and unquestioning."
8. Character & Self-control
Every samurai since he was a child was taught to build upon a moral character and practice self-control.
CONCLUSION
After the rise of the Modern Age the tribe of the Samurai is no more in existence. But their characteristics, principles, virtues and their way of life are being studied, practised and implimented by people all around the world.
"To know life in every breath, in every cup of tea, in every life we take. That is Bushido – the way of the warrior".
For further reading:
Site: artofmanliness.com
Book: The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
Movie: 1. The Last Samurai
2. Seven Samurai