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Martino Fine Books Bushido the Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe
2013 Reprint of 1905 10th Revised and Enlarged Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This is a revised and enlarged edition of a book whose charm is difficult to express in a paragraph. It is so packed with thought so attractive in style so rich in comparative illustrations of Oriental and Occidental ways of looking at things but never bigoted or narrow. Bushido is the Japanese feudal equivalent of chivalry. It embodies the maxims of educational training brought to bear on the Samurai or warrior class of Japan the class that throughout the nations feudal age set the standard for the whole population in manners ideals of character and mental and moral codes of obligation. Bushido was an organic growth of centuries of military careers. It is unwritten like the English Constitution yet of it has grown modern Japan. Nitobe presents Bushido not just as a martial discipline but as a pervasive system of ethics and morals and a living school of thought life and ideals that can draw strength from the past to advance the present and future. Bushido has no set dogma but consists of qualities and practices such as courage benevolence politeness veracity sincerity honour loyalty and selfcontrol all of which he examines.show more