Bushidō — The Seven Virtues of The Samurai
The Eastern Way of the Warrior
Every morning, the samurai recommits to death. In his morning meditation, he envisions being killed, over and over — shredded by arrows, bullets, swords, and spears; being swept away by a tidal wave; burned by fire; struck by lightening; dying in a earthquake; falling from a great height; succumbing to overwhelming sickness. He lives and relives this in his mind until it bothers him no more.
He has no choice but to do this. Every single day. For once he goes out the front door, he is surrounded by enemies. He is surrounded by death. This is the life of a samurai.
The rigorous training of a samurai warrior begins in childhood. Physical training, literature studies, mathematics, poetry, and spiritual discipline are the areas that the child is first acquainted with. When old enough, the child then starts to study Kendo — the way of the sword.
To make sure his development is holistic, his training in the martial arts is complemented by the study of Zen Buddhism and the moral code of the samurai. The young warriors were expected to cultivate themselves in Bushidō — the way of the…
