Samurai code

Author: Inazo Nitobe
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The Way of the Samurai is the masterpiece of Inazo Nitobe, a renowned Japanese educator, agronomist, and international political activist. The author wrote this book with the purpose of introducing the truth of the Japanese samurai spirit to foreigners and clarifying misunderstandings about it. The book is an academic work in which Japanese people comprehensively interpret the samurai spirit. Although the author tries hard to idealize the samurai spirit in the book, it is still evident from his descriptions that the samurai spirit is hypocritical, fanatical, and cruel in essence. Inazo Nitobe's The Way of the Samurai was completed in 1899 and was initially written in English by the author to help foreigners better understand Japan. Upon its release, the book not only sparked a strong response in Western countries and became immensely popular at the time but also became a classic of Japanese spiritual culture. The book concisely describes the origins, characteristics, influences, and future of the samurai spirit, providing a philosophical origin for Japanese national character and militarism. Although the author provides various explanations and justifications for some behaviors and practices of the samurai spirit to persuade readers, a careful reader can easily notice that many of these arguments are highly strained and difficult to believe.