Yamamoto Tsunetomo - Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai

Upon inquiring, What is off limits for a man in service? I was told: Drinking too much, boasting, and extravagance. There is little need for concern in times of misfortune; however, take heed when riding a wave of prosperity. Look around you. People become arrogant and conceited when enjoying success. It is most unbecoming. Therefore, a man who has not endured hardship will lack resilience at his core. It is best to experience adversity when one is young. Of little use is a man who is weak and feeble in stressful times.

Upon asking, What is the philosophy of the Kakuz-ry school? I was told: A sandal carrier for [Nabeshima] Kiun it is not a particularly famous style of combat such as that authorized by the shogunate. My style is not a particularly refined school either, but is effective in its simplicity like sandal carrier Kakuzs, and so I call it my Kakuz-ry.

He (Jch) also said: At a recent gathering I declared that the highest form of devotion is secret love ( shinobu-koi ). When I suggested that this was analogous to the highest form of love, they all concurred, and thereupon we called ourselves the smoke blokes.

Lord Taku Mimasaka often treated his men in a callous and irrational manner in his twilight years. When questioned about his sudden change in demeanor, he replied: I am doing this for the sake of my son Nagato, so that he will be able to puff up his pillow and rest easily after I am gone. Thus, if the master behaves cruelly before he retires, even though he was kind-hearted before, it will help his successor foster strong bonds of loyalty in his men as they eagerly await his accession. I hear that this was a secret discussion.

When you encounter another fellow, quickly fathom his character and greet him accordingly. When dealing with a man who is argumentative and uncompromising, it is best to take an amicable stance without rousing ire. Win him over using higher reason, trying not to generate antipathy afterwards. It is all a matter of attitude and wording. I heard this from somebody who talked with a monk.

The priest Ryi Osh,

Dreams are a prophetic reflection of ones nature. Sometimes I dream of being slain or committing seppuku . My heart becomes ever more gallant as I experience being killed in my dreams. His dream on the twenty-seventh day of the fifth month was like this.

To summarize the essence of samuraihood, first and foremost the warrior must be devoted body and soul to his lord. In addition, he must internalize the virtues of wisdom ( chi ), compassion ( jin ), and courage ( y ). Although it may seem impossible to embody these three virtues, it really is easy. To nurture wisdom simply requires listening to others. Immeasurable knowledge comes from this. Compassion is for the sake of others. It is opting to do good things for other people rather than through selfish motives. Courage is found through gritting ones teeth. That is to say, gritting ones teeth and charging forth without concern for the consequences. There is no higher mind-set than this.

External matters requiring attention are ones appearance, manner of speech, and handwriting. These are routine affairs which can be refined through daily training. Most of all, one should try to generate a sense of calm inner-strength. Once these things have been realized, study the lore of the Nabeshima domain. After this, you may enjoy learning the arts as diversionary pursuits. All things considered, loyal service is quite straightforward. These days, those thought of as exceptional retainers are men who are attentive to the three external details.

According to a certain monk: If you attempt to cross a river without checking the depth, you will be swept away and drown before reaching the opposite bank, and thereby fail to accomplish your mission. Similarly, you will be ineffective if you serve indiscriminately without being cognizant of the changing times or the lords preferences, and it may cause your ruin. It is loathsome to act only to curry your masters favor. The best course of action is to first take a step back, understand the depths and shallows of various matters, and avoid provoking indignation in your master.

The late Jinuemon was skilled at making straw sandals. When he was a unit captain, he would always ask, Can you make straw sandals? If you cant, it is like having no feet. When walking a distance in excess of 1- ri (2.44 miles) with his men, he would give them food in a bag so that they could head straight to battle from wherever they happened to be. If each man starts with 1- sh (1.8 litres) of provisions, the rest will be attainable later. This is why he had made a supply of light-yellow cotton sacks.

When Toyotomi Hideyoshi came to Hizen-Nagoya [during the Korea campaign], he walked along the northern Takagi-Jd road with his long and short swords in vermillion scabbards, wearing half-soled straw sandals ( ashinaka ). attached some scarlet sandals to Ieyasus scabbard. Spare sandals are requisite when preparing for battle. If dispatched for guard duties in Nagasaki now, tens of thousands of straw sandals would be needed for all ranks. Supplies of ready-to-wear ones would be exhausted. This is why it is prudent to learn how to make them yourself. Incidentally, when walking in grass fields, mountain trails, or wading through rivers, straw sandals have a tendency to slip, so it is advisable to wear ashinaka in such terrains.

You will not be adversely affected by inclement weather or catch a cold if you keep a few bags of cloves handy. One year, when the late Kazuma traveled back to the domain on horseback in the midst of a cold snap, his health was not affected in the slightest despite his old age [because he knew about the remedial quality of cloves]. He taught me this. Also, hemorrhaging after falling from a horse can be stopped by drinking extract from the droppings of a gray horse.

A yes man will withdraw when something happens. You must have strength of will.

Shower praise on ones lord though he may be reticent and mediocre, and ensure that he can execute his duties without blundering. This will help cultivate his confidence. If he is an unyielding or intelligent leader, it is an act of great loyalty to be a thorn in his side to the extent that, before implementing his designs, he respects you enough to contemplate What would my pesky retainer think? Without such retainers, the lord will pay no attention to his men, thinking that his domain is full of panderers who cajole him to gain favor. He will then become conceited.