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[[File: Kamakura_Budda_Daibutsu.jpg|300px250px|thumbnail|left|Buddha Statue in Kamakura, Japan]]

The medieval Japanese warriors known as the samurai have been a fascination source of fascination for people throughout the world for several centuries, and for . For a good reason – they were among the most elite warriors in human history. The samurai are renown renowned for a number of several reasons, which includes include their efficiency in battle, their well-crafted <i>katana</i> swords, and most importantly, their honor code is known as <i>bushido</i>. It was the code of bushido that set the samurai apart from other contemporary warrior groups and gave them their reasons to fight. Without the bushido code of bushido, the samurai would have just another one of the many warrior classes in history.

Bushido was a worldview that was an extremely complexworldview, but for the sake of comparison, it shared many attributes with the honor code of medieval European knightsfor the sake of comparison. The code of bushido was followed faithfully by the samurai and every . Every detail of how they conducted themselves in battle was dictated by the code, including some of the following matters: the types of weapons that were allowed, the treatment of enemies, and how death was preferred over cowardice, which was considered the worst form of dishonor. Bushido also required that samurai spare women and children from violence and to never engage of engaged in wanton cruelty of animals. Besides these important ideas, the samurai were also expected to respect their culture and national traditions and to show the utmost respect for their lord and shoguns, even to the point of following them after death. An examination of the bushido code of bushido reveals that it is actually the result of three different but complimentary complementary Eastern religious and philosophical traditions – Shintoism, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism.

===Historical Background of the What is a Samurai=? ==[[File: Tokugawa_Ieyasu.jpg|300px250px|thumbnail|rightleft|Painting of Tokugawa Ieyasu]]The samurai rose to prominence in Japan gradually during the twelfth century AD, making themselves known when they helped to repulse the Mongols in the thirteenth century. Before the Mongols attempted their amphibious invasion of Japan, a highly militarized government took power in the Japanese city of Kamakura that established a <i>bakufu</i> or shogunate. The Kamakura shogunate defeated all but one other power in Japan by giving special concessions to the <i>buke</i> or warrior class during the Gempei War (1180-1185). The result was Japan’s first military government based in Kamakura, although the shogunate never ruled over a unified Japan. <ref> Mass, Jeffrey P. “Kamakura Bakufu.” In <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521484049/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521484049&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d03742615977e1c8e7d5b647be9981f9 Warrior Rule in Japan].</i> Edited by Marius B. Jansen. (Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 1995), pgs. 1-4</ref>

Once the buke class had attained prominence during the Gempei War, they did not relinquish that power and instead gradually became the most important class in Japan. By the time of Japan’s civil war in the sixteenth century, which was known as the <i>Senogku</i>, the buke were was primarily referred to as samurai. The samurai led the armies of the <i>daimyos</i>, who were feudal lords in the brutal war that determined Japan's leadership of Japan. The samurai were a privileged class set apart from all others in Japanese society, but they were also held to a higher standard. <ref> Friday, Karl F. “Bushido or Bull? A Medieval Historian’s Perspective on the Imperial Army and the Japanese Warrior Tradition.” <i>The History Teacher.</i> 27 (1994) p.343</ref> Finally, in 1603 , the Sengoku came to an end when Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) unified Japan under his rule and established the Tokugawa shogunate, which lasted until 1867.

===The What were the Samurai Belief System='s Religious Beliefs?==

Of the three major religious and philosophical traditions that comprised the samurai belief system and influenced the code of bushido, Shinto was the oldest. Shintoism is essentially the ancient, native religious traditions of Japan practiced in a highly ritualistic setting. The Shinto pantheon was full of many gods and goddesses who lived in the forests, mountains, water bodies of water, and even the air, but interestingly. Interestingly, none of these deities were considered omnipotent. The powers of the deities of the Shinto pantheon 's deities' powers could only be harnessed by priests who knew the proper incantations and rituals. The rituals were so sometimes so esoteric that the meanings of the words in many of the incantations have long since been forgotten, but the perceived power of the act remains. Shinto priests perform their arcane rituals before important life events, which in medieval Japan would include battles. <ref> Aoki, Michiko Y. <i>Ancient Myths and Early History of Japan: A Cultural Foundation.</i> (New York: Exposition Press, 1974), p. 125-27</ref> Ultimately, it was Shintoism that gave the samurai their strong belief in tradition and the will to fight for their homeland.

Although the samurai The rituals were spiritual warriors, they were also quite practical, which was no doubt at least partially so sometimes so esoteric that the result meanings of their belief the words in the philosophy of Confucianism. The philosophy many of Confucianism is named for the Chinese philosopher Kong (555-479 BC) – referred to in the Western world as Confucius – who was a civil servant and perhaps the Far East’s best known philosopher. Confucianism stresses the importance of leading an ethical lifeincantations have long since been forgotten, which includes an unwavering respect for authority. The philosophy became quite popular at the court of many Chinese dynasties and eventually spread to Korea and Japan. The samurai enthusiastically embraced Confucian ideals due to but the advocacy perceived power of what they believed was the natural hierarchy of manact remains. Their Shinto gods established the order when they created the world, but it was Confucius who articulated how the Japanese should view priests perform their shogunsarcane rituals before important life events, daimyos, and samuraiwhich in medieval Japan would include battles. To the samurai<ref> Aoki, loyalty to superiors was never questionedMichiko Y. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007EQHLDC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007EQHLDC&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c3cb4e2a0493ac9477eb72be4bc9f7ff Ancient Myths and Early History of Japan: A Cultural Foundation].</i> Friday(New York: Exposition Press, 1974), p. 341125-27</ref> Ultimately, it was Shintoism that gave the samurai their strong belief in tradition and the will to fight for their homeland.

Shinto gave ==What was the Samurai's Philosophy?==Although the samurai something to fight for and Confucianism established many of the rules in which were spiritual warriors, they lived their liveswere also quite practical, but it which was Zen Buddhism that gave them no doubt at least partially the result of their moral compass and truly made them spiritual warriors instead belief in the philosophy of blood thirsty maraudersConfucianism. Buddhism originated in India Confucianism's philosophy is named for the Chinese philosopher Kong (555-479 BC) – referred to in the fifth century BC Western world as Confucius – a civil servant and then quickly spread throughout perhaps the Far EastEast’s best-known philosopher. During Confucianism stresses the eighth century ADimportance of leading an ethical life, a form which includes unwavering respect for authority. The philosophy became quite popular at the court of Buddhism known as <i>Chan</i> made its way across many Chinese dynasties and eventually spread to Korea and Japan. The samurai enthusiastically embraced Confucian ideals due to the Sea advocacy of Japan and what they believed was embraced by the natural hierarchy of man. Their Shinto gods established the order when they created the world, but Confucius articulated how the Japanese who called should view their shoguns, daimyos, and samurai. To the sect <i>Zen</i>samurai, loyalty to superiors was never questioned. <ref> Eisai. “Zen for National Defense.” In <i>Buddhist Scriptures.</i> Edited by Donald S. Lopez Junior. (London: Penguin Books, 2004)Friday, p. 323341</ref> Zen was different than many of the older Buddhist sects because it placed more emphasis on reaching enlightenment through meditation than on the study of the Buddha’s <i>sutras</i> or sayings, but it did not disregard the place of scholarship in the religion.

Foremost among Shinto gave the samurai something to fight for, and Confucianism established many of the rules in which they lived their lives. Still, Zen ideology were Buddhism gave them their moral compass and truly made them spiritual warriors instead of bloodthirsty marauders. Buddhism originated in India in the fifth century BC and then quickly spread throughout the Far East. During the Buddhist ideas eighth century AD, a form of Buddhism known as <i>samsaraChan</i>, which is made its way across the idea Sea of continual rebirths Japan and was embraced by the Japanese, who called the sect <i>karmaZen</i>. Karma is essentially a spiritual scorecard whereby an individual’s deeds, both good and bad, follow him or her from life to life and determine certain obstacles and rewards that one will face<ref> Eisai. “Zen for National Defense. ” In order to reduce one’s karma, the samurai were taught to follow the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, which teaches one to practice right actions<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014044758X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014044758X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=2545b9667c42e731fc1c83e0fbd00c1b Buddhist Scriptures].</i> Edited by Donald S. Lopez Junior. (London: Penguin Books, thoughts2004), etcp. It 323</ref> Zen was these ideas that gave different than many of the samurai their respect for life and was older Buddhist sects because it placed more emphasis on reaching enlightenment through meditation than likely a big factor in on the fact that study of the samurai initiated few atrocities against civilians during their long history. Although Zen helped spiritually ground the samuraiBuddha’s <i>sutras</i> or sayings, but it did not make them weak and disregard the place of scholarship in many ways actually made them better warriorsthe religion.

The samurai were able to use the meditation practices of Zen to focus all of their mental faculties on becoming better warriors. Numerous texts describe how the samurai used the Zen mindset to eliminate all distractions and use their minds over matter. The late sixteenth/early seventeenth century samurai and philosopher, Miyamoto Musashi, incorporated many Zen ideas into his classic treatise of proper samurai warfare, <i>The Book of Five Rings<dh-ad/i>. The book is full of many Zen inspired platitudes for erudite samurai, including the following:

“In order not to have your mind off to one sideForemost among Zen ideology were the Buddhist ideas of <i>samsara</i>, it which is necessary to place it in the center idea of continual rebirths and move it calmly so that it does not cease to move even in moments of change.” <refi> Mushashi, Miyamoto. karma</i> The Complete Book . Karma is essentially a spiritual scorecard whereby an individual’s deeds, both good and bad, follow them from life to life and determine certain obstacles and rewards that one will face. To reduce one’s karma, the samurai were taught to follow the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, which teaches one to practice the Five Ringsright actions, thoughts, etc.</i> Translated by Kenji TokitsuThese ideas gave the samurai their respect for life. They were more than likely a big factor because the samurai initiated few atrocities against civilians during their long history. (Boston: ShambalaAlthough Zen helped spiritually ground the samurai, it did not make them weak and, 2010)in many ways, pactually made them better warriors. 46</ref>

Martial aspects of Zen The samurai were also promoted by Japanese Buddhist monks, namely Eisai (1141-1215), who believed that able to use Zen could be used 's meditation practices to protect Japan from outsidersfocus all of their mental faculties on becoming better warriors. According to Eisai, those who violated Numerous texts describe how the samurai used the morality of Zen “must not be allowed mindset to walk on the king’s land, eliminate all distractions and must not be allowed to drink the king’s wateruse their minds over matter.” The late sixteenth/early seventeenth century samurai and philosopher Miyamoto Musashi incorporated many Zen ideas into his classic treatise of proper samurai warfare, <refi> Eisai, p. 321The Book of Five Rings</refi> Although Eisai and other . The book is full of many Zen monks believed violence was needed at times, they also thought that one should only do so when necessary and should never partake of violence -inspired platitudes for the sake of violence. Eisai also wrote that shoguns and erudite samurai who followed , including the proper morality put forth by Zen would be rewarded in their future livesfollowing:

“Every “In order not to have your mind off to one side, it is necessary to place it in the center and move it calmly so that it does not cease to move even in moments of them became king by means of past change.” <iref>karmaMushashi, Miyamoto. </i> generated by having served five hundred Buddhas[https://www. amazon. com/gp/product/1590307976/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1590307976&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=448a135f5d2e1574ce97de429d66fe03 The Complete Book of the Five Rings]. From this passage know that all kings upon hearing the true <i>dharma</i> will accept it and have faith in itTranslated by Kenji Tokitsu.” <ref> Eisai(Boston: Shambala, 2010), p. 32346</ref>

==What were the martial aspects of the Samurai?==ShintoZen's martial aspects were also promoted by Japanese Buddhist monks, Confucianismnamely Eisai (1141-1215), who believed that Zencould be used to protect Japan from outsiders. According to Eisai, those who violated the morality of Zen “must not be allowed to walk on the king’s land, and Bushido===[[File: Samurai_Armor_Guimet_Museummust not be allowed to drink the king’s water.” <ref> Eisai, p.jpg|300px|thumbnail|right|A Suit 321</ref> Although Eisai and other Zen monks believed violence was needed at times, they also thought that one should only do so when necessary and should never partake of Samurai Armor]]violence for the sake of violence. Eisai also wrote that shoguns and samurai who followed the proper morality put forth by Zen would be rewarded in their future lives:

It was the combination “Every one of Shintoism, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism that formed the samurai bushido warrior code. Although the samurai followed this code from the beginning them became king by means of their existence, it was not codified until after the Sengoku in the seventeenth century. past <refi> Friday, p. 340karma</refi> Besides the individual elements that each philosophy brought to the bushido codegenerated by having served five hundred Buddhas. . . From this passage, there were also additional components know that were unique to all kings upon hearing the code, particularly the practice of true <i>seppukudharma</i>. The practice of seppuku, which was heavily influenced by Confucianism, held that if a samurai brings dishonor to himself, his family, or his lord will accept it and have faith in any way, then he must commit ritual suicide by disembowelment. A good samurai was also expected to take his life upon the death of his feudal lord. The code of bushido helped to give the samurai the discipline they have become known for and for the most part eliminated the wanton destruction of property and the murder of innocent civilians during any of their military campaignsit. ” <ref>FridayEisai, p. 346323</ref>

===Conclusion=What is the importance of Shinto, Confucianism, Zen, and Bushido for the Samurai?==[[File: Samurai_Armor_Guimet_Museum.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left|A Suit of Samurai Armor]] The combination of Shintoism, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism formed the samurai bushido warrior code. Although the samurai are considered followed this code from the beginning of their existence, it was not codified until after the Sengoku in the seventeenth century. <ref> Friday, p. 340</ref> Besides the individual elements that each philosophy brought to the bushido code, there were also additional components that were unique to the code, particularly the practice of <i>seppuku</i>. The practice of seppuku, which was heavily influenced by Confucianism, held that if a samurai brings dishonor to himself, his family, or his lord in any way, then he must commit ritual suicide by many disembowelment.  A good samurai was also expected to take his life upon the death of his feudal lord. The bushido code helped give the samurai the discipline they have become known for and, for the most part, eliminated the wanton destruction of property and the murder of innocent civilians during any of their military campaigns. <ref>Friday, p. 346</ref>  ==Conclusion==Many military historians consider the samurai to be among the most elite warriors in human history. Although it is true that the samurai were indeed excellent fighters on the battlefield and some were great strategists and tacticians, the true secret of their success was derived from their unique system of beliefs. At the core of the samurai , beliefs was their honor code known as bushido. Still, but the bushido code was just the natural result of the three most important religions and philosophies the samurai followed – Shintoism, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism. The Shinto beliefs connected the samurai to their people and land , while Confucianism taught them to respect authority and the Japan's established social and political hierarchy of Japan. Finally, Zen Buddhism gave the samurai the morals that allowed them to be effective warriors without committing atrocities. Zen also gave the samurai the ability to better focus in combat and to practice the timeless adage of “mind over matter.”  <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[What Was the Fate of Women During the Bangladesh Liberation War?]]*[[How did the Silk Road develop?]]*[[Why was Britain able to establish an Empire in India?]]*[[How did Mussolini become Prime Minister of Italy?]]*[[The Nazi triumph{{#dpl: how did Adolf Hitler become the Fuehrer of Germany?]]*[[Why was France defeated in 1940?]]category=Japanese History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=10}}

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