Posted: 25 November 2005 at 5:15am | IP Logged

THE CHIKUBASHO

Shiba Yoshimasa (1350-1410 A.D.)

Shiba Yoshimasa was a warrior leader during the Namboku and Muromachi Periods, and was known as an administrator, general and poet. The Shiba, a branch family of the Ashikaga, joined the Hatakeyama and Hosokawa to make up the three families whose members held the office kanrei (chief administrator), and Shiba held this position under Ashikaga shoguns Yoshiakira, Yoshimitsu and Yoshimochi. His career was spotted, much like those of other great men of this period. At the age of 12 he was appointed to the major office of Shitsuji, only to be discharged four years later when his father, Shiba Takatsune, offended a group of warrior-monks and was driven from Kyoto. In 1378, however, when a group of daimyo drove the Kanrei Hosokawa Yoriyuki from power, Shiba took his place in the office for the next 12 years, strengthening the bakufu and renewing trade with Ming China. 1n 1391, the situation was once again reversed, bringing the return of Hosokawa. Finally, at the age of 60, he held the office of kanrei for the last few months prior to his death. Shiba Yoshimasa lived during a time marked by both political reverses and great cultural advances, and it is cultural gains by the warrior class that are so evident in the Chikubasho, a document he wrote at the age of 33 for the young men of his clan. A short list of precepts written in a classical Japanese style, the Chikubasho displays both the ethical morality of the warrior and the tasteful lifestyle of the aristocracy. Its tone is a combination of a manly Confucian approach reflecting honesty and fairness, and a Bud­dhist sympathy for others. One is admonished to use his head well and be disciplined, for a man is old before he knows it; and unless he enters into things, his accomplishments will be few. Very strik­ing is Shiba's emphasis on the arts and their effect on the reputa­tion of the individual and of the clan. He considered these social graces as well, and in this document we can see how close the upper echelons of the warrior class moved toward the ideals of the nobility without moving away from their own.

The Chikubasho

In all things there is a comprehensive attitude that is important to have, but generally, there are few men of these times who have thought this through to a clear understanding.

First, a man whose profession is the use of arms should think and then act upon not only his own fame, but also that of his de­scendants. He should not scandalize his name forever by holding his one and only life too dear. On the other hand, in the light of this, to consider this life that is given to us only once as nothing more than dust and ashes, and lose it at a time when one should not, would be to gain a reputation that is not worth mentioning. One's main purpose in throwing away his life is to do so either for the sake of the Emperor or in some great undertaking of a military general. It is that exactly that will be the great fame of one's de­scendants.

To be involved in some ephemeral quarrel will demonstrate the indiscretion of one's house and will not add to one's fame, regardless of being in the right or in the wrong.

A warrior generally should not be unmindful and lax, but rather should think everything over ahead of time. Watanabe no Tsuna instructed Urabe no Suetake^l that his everyday mind should be like that of a coward, which meant that one should be prepared beforehand for the final great event.

Many men feel that they should act according to the time or just according to the moment they are facing, and thus are in confusion when something goes beyond this and some difficulty instantaneously arises. It is a matter of regret to let the moment when one should die pass by. It has been said to the effect that the preparedness of the warrior and that of the monk are the same. In all matters it is a regrettable thing not to pacify one's mind.

Men with sharpness of mind are to be found only among those with a penchant for thought.

A person's character and depth of mind may be seen by his be­havior. Thus, one should understand that even the fences and walls have eyes, and not become negligent even when alone.

Much more so for behavior in the midst of people, one should not take a single step in vain, or speak a word in a way that others may speak of him as shallow.

Many men feel that they should act according to the time or the moment they are facing, and thus are in confusion when some-thing goes beyond this and some difficulty arises.

Moreover, even people who like refinement and elegance in their lives should add these qualities to themselves after making their hearts upright and true. When there is no truth even in rela­tions between men and women, without a refined sincerity there will be little to deeply move the heart.

One will only go against the teachings of his parents if he thinks first of his own situation and regards their advice as troublesome. Even if one's parents are lacking in wisdom, if one will follow their precepts he will first of all likely not be turning his back on the Way of Heaven. More than this, in eight or nine times out of ten, parents' words will be in accord with the reasoning of their child. Thus, one's own mistakes may be reflected upon. The words of one’s parents that in the past one found vexing or rejected in principle are all important. Rather than imitating the good in others, one should imitate his own faulty parents. This in itself will carry on the clan traditions and provide for one's descen­dants. 

That the gods and Buddhas should be revered is likely known by anyone who is a man, and does not warrant being mentioned anew. But in this connection there is a small matter that should be understood.

The Buddha appeared and the gods manifested themselves in this world entirely for its sake and for the sake of those living in it. Thus, it was not to injure man, but to make his heart pure, to make correct his sense of humanity, justice, propriety, wisdom and faithfulness, and to make clear the foundation of his life. Yet, was there something further expressed in their appearances?

Those who do not understand this basic point confess their belief in the Buddhas but bring trouble to the people, taking their belongings, and building temples or monasteries. Or, declaring their respect for the gods, they deprive men of their lands only to perform shrine services. One should know that such acts are a sacrilege to both the gods and Buddhas.

Even though one has never offered a single service to the Bud­dha or made a pilgrimage to a shrine, if his heart is upright and full of compassion, neither the gods, nor Buddhas will look at him amiss. The great god of Ise, the Bodhisattva Hachiman, and the god of Kitano in particular are likely to reside in the heads of those who are gentle and pure.

Again, there are men who pray at the shrines only when they themselves are in distress. This is a sad situation, indeed. The desire of the gods and Buddhas is nothing other than that we pray for happiness in the world to come, and in such there is effect. Yet it is taught that even that does not approach directly the road to Truth

There are men who believe that when one is serving the lord, he first receives the lord's favor and only then makes endeavors in loyalty and his duties. They have understood the matter in reverse. Being able to live in this world is from the beginning by the grace of one's lord. It is a sad thing for men to forget this and, while setting their ambitions yet higher, envy their masters and the world at large.

It is a regrettable and selfish thing for a man who should be a benefit to the world to deprecate his position and feel that all is well as long as he is at peace. Receiving human life, one should vow to transcend the rest of mankind and be of aid to men, ex­hausting his mind for the sake of others, and making this his satis­faction to the end of time. The Bodhisattvas acted on this account alone, and should a common man live being equal to their vow, would there be any satisfaction parallel to this?

The man whose profession is arms should calm his mind and look into the depths of others. Doing so is likely the best of the martial arts.

When a man has ability in the arts, the depth of his heart can be conjectured and the mind of his clan surmised. This world values reputation alone and, as a man will gain fame in the arts, too, he should put his mind to them, regardless of his lack of skill. To the extent that a man studies with some interest, though he may be lacking in talent, if he will put out effort he will not be ashamed in front of others. It is only rarely that a thing is done well, but with persistence one should be able to join others in these pursuits and this should be considered valuable. No matter how noble a family one may be born into or how good-looking he may be, when people are picking up manuscripts, for the reci­tation of chants, thinking over the rhymes in making poetry, or tuning up their instruments, how deplorable it must be to be among people reciting linked verse and to have to make some ex­cuse for one^'s inability, or to sit chin in hands while others are playing music together, or to be even unable to join in the begin­ning of a game of football. It is needless to say that this is also true when one has received a well-written letter from a young friend and, in making a reply has to use the unsatisfactory means of dictating the letter to someone else more able. How much more so embarrassing when one must ask someone to write a letter for him to a young lady, and this fact, which should be kept hidden, becomes known. To not know how to join in even with such pastime games as go, shogi, or sugoroku² when others are gathered together is awkward indeed. That one should be well practiced in such archery sports as ma to, kasagake, and inu-oumono, goes without saying and should be an understood matter.

A man with intelligence and a firm heart will be able to put others to use. People's ways are variant, and to use a man to whom one has taken a liking for all things—for example, to use a military man for literary matters, or a man untalented in speech as a mes­senger, or a slow-thinking man in a place where a quick wit is necessary—may bring about failure and even cause a man's life to be ruined. A man should be put to use in the line with which he seems most familiar.

When men are put to use in the same way that curved wood is used for the wheel and straight wood for the shaft, there will be no one without value.

Thus, won't there even be use for a man, according to the mat-ter at hand, for whom one does not particularly care? What will it value a man to not put another to use on the grounds of dislike for him? It is truly as stated above, that a man lacking sincerity in his heart is likely to gain no merit in anything. The saying that all abilities come from the heart applies to such situations.

Particularly the man whose profession is arms should calm his mind and look into the depths of others. Doing so is likely the best of the martial arts.

It is fairly certain that most ordinary men have picked up the Genji Monogatari and Sei Shonagon's Makura Soshi and read through them any number of times. There is nothing like these books for the instruction of man's behavior and the baring of the quality of his heart. Reading them, one will naturally be able to recognize a man with soul.

Surely one should not act inconsiderately to another's distress, entertain a deep craving for things, or make worthless fellows one's friends. It is in the nature of man that the good is difficult to learn while the bad is easily taken to, and thus one naturally becomes gradually like those with whom he is familiar. I myself have realized this deeply. That I have practiced the art of calligra­phy stems from the fact that I once noted with embarrassment how well a certain lady wrote her characters. That along with everyone else I began studying waka, getting my name men­tioned in the poetry collection, Shingoshui Wakashu,³ and that I became involved with writing linked verse all comes from the fact that I competed with my young friends, at first with egotism and later with thought to reputation. Thus, naturally and with the passage of time, my heart drew close to this subject and I have mixed with those who are likewise inclined.

When men become old they are treated with aversion by others, and it is difficult to participate in society. If, then, one is not con­nected with any arts at all, neither will his existence be recognized by others, nor will he have anything with which to soothe his own mind.

As for playing football, when I was young I was urged to fill in because of a lack of players, and, to the extent that I associated without being ashamed with those fellows, in the end the result was that, although not so dashing, I was able to distinguish men of the art, good and bad technique, and calmness of mind. Thus, I was brought to shame by no one, regardless of their skill.

As for the study of music, that, too, was stressed by my par­ents, and as an aid in the study of the three basic lute melodies I was taught the use of the drum from before the time I can remem­ber. This study was cut off half way due to work and lack of time. My intentions, then, were in vain, for after that I was no longer able to associate with men who studied such things. This is regrettable.

Concerning this matter, too, one's art is affected by his friends. The men and women of both past and present who have gained names in the world of the arts have done so on no special accounts. They simply imbued their minds with the moon and flow­ers, looked through to the transcience of this world, made their hearts tender, knew the aware⁴ of things, and purified their inten­tions.

Thus they gained fame in the Way of the Arts by their gen­tleness and their superlative artistic sense and ability.

When one thinks over these matters, it would seem that in today's world we lack such cultivated people. While yet in the vigor of youth, men put their pride in a vaguely pleasing appearance; thinking only of themselves and their desires, they neither discipline their minds nor wish to become more refined. When meeting with those who see straight through to the heart, will not such men be quickly scorned? When one thinks about such unculti­vated men growing old, they seem no different than again foxes and badgers. And what will be done then?

^"Cherry blossoms that fall in confusion,
Conceal the road that is travelled
By my approaching old age."

Ariwara no Narihira

^"Only awaiting my end,
Will it be today or tomorrow?
Kai's^s waterfall of tears or my own.

Which sheds the more?"

Ariwara no Yukihira

^"Then I'll climb Mirror Mountain and have a look!

This body passed by with so many years,

Won't it look old?"

Otomo no Kuronushi

^"Think of it: eighty years have drawn to a close.
How could it be?
Ah, the transience of things!"

The daughter of Ki no Mitsukiyo

When we recall that these poems were recited and loved in the resplendent past, we hear in them both pathos and gentility.

When a man puts all his stock in youth, what will be his thoughts when old age has come? Though one's span seems only a dream or apparition, his name may last to the end of time. But un­less as a famous Buddhist priest, sage, or saint, or again as a man of refinement, who will be known for long in the generations to come? Though it is said that men are made of neither wood nor stone, are not those who spend their lives for naught no different than the rotting trees in the shadow of the valley?

One should use prudence in this matter.

There is nothing more base than for a man to lose his temper too often. No matter how angry one becomes, his first thought should be to pacify his mind and come to a clear understanding of the situation at hand. Then, if he is in the right, to become angry is correct

Becoming angry simply on account of one's own bias is unrea­sonable, and one will not be held in respect. Thus, though one may become more and more angry, there will be no result. It is Reason alone by which people feel humbled and for which they feel respect. Simply, when one becomes angry, he should repeated­ly calm his mind and think the matter over. It is a good thing not to be ashamed of correcting one's mistakes. To take something oneself has done to heart and push it through, regardless of its good or evil, is a disaster of the first order.

It should also be said that it is not good for others and does harm to oneself to simply remain tranquil and speaking like a three-year-old child, never becoming angry, bearing rancor, or de­ploring matters when one should. This goes also for letting situa­tions pass by when one should definitely speak his mind to an-other, in the end becoming known by all as overly accommodat­ing. It is a good thing to keep one^'s mind tranquil, yet to speak what one should when there is a situation that should be repri­manded, and thus not become known as completely mindless.

Long ago, when all men were good-natured, we could call such men either good or bad. But nowadays, as people either look down on others or carry only evil in their hearts, they distain those who are only gentle and correct.

The Buddhists who take the Way of Selflessness seem to be lacking both eye and mind, but when they talk as three-year-old children it is yet another thing.

Moreover, a fool who sits speechless, unable to descriminate the good from the bad, would surely not be called a good man. Such things should be thought over well.

The priests that practice zazen were not born clever, but be-came enlightened to all things by pacifying their minds. Scholars, too, to the extent that they study with great respect to what is before them and pacify their minds, become naturally clever about other matters, too.

Whether a man becomes good or bad, clever or thickwitted, is simply a matter of the way he uses his mind. A man^'s peak years do not number over ten. During that time a man should put out effort for at least something. From the time one is ten to the time he is 14 or 15, he is interested in nothing truly. Becoming 14 or 15 he is still slow and unappreciative of anything, and even con­siderable discipline at this time will not come up to one's expectations

From the time one is 18 or 19 to the time he is 30, his mind has come to order, and he arrives at the fountainhead of interest; yet this period does not go beyond 12 or 13 years.

In this uncertain world, ours should be the path of discipline.

It is the nature of this world we live in that, of our desires, not one out of ten comes out the way we would like. It is doubtful that even the Emperor has things the way he would like them to be. In spite of that, for one to persist willfully in affairs that have not gone according to his heart's desire, will, in the end, be invit­ing the admonishment of Heaven. No man should think of getting satisfaction today concerning something he felt chagrined by yes­terday, or gaining this year an ambition that was frustrated the year before.

*****

It is the nature of this world we live in that, of our desires, not one out of ten comes out the way we would like.

******

If we do act in this vein, the desires of our hearts will rise up one after another like dust in the wind, and our affairs will be af­flicted by the same. As much as possible, it is better to forget such aspirations, for he who would tender rancor in his heart is a mor­tifyingly perverse man. Such a wretch is despised in both the secu­lar and Buddhist worlds alike. Any man who has some egotistical attachment that he will not forget will surely be narrow-minded and effeminate. In sweeping these things aside and not letting them stay in one's heart, other and better thoughts will arise.

One should take great care to put man first in all things, and to ridicule no one.

Even when in a battle that is beyond one's means to win, one should lift up his heart and be resolved that no one will surpass him in firmness. He should think to be another's strength and a man to be relied upon.

No matter how friendly a man may be with one, he should not be asked about battles if he is born a coward.

One should not consider evading an impending battle just because of its enormity. Nor should one advocate a battle that should not be fought on account of its being unexacting.

For battles generally, when they are likely to be unexacting, one should put others to the fore. But for situations of crisis, even if it be a hundred times, one should be of the mind to take action himself. Unfair behavior is extraordinarily bad in battle.

Such matters are only what this foolish man has come to know, and, entirely from a parent's excess of compassion I write them down for my possibly even more foolish descendants.

To the best of your abilities, cultivate and take care of your-selves. You should think over all things in depth.

February 9th, 1383, the third year of Eitoku⁶

^NOTES

1 Two retainers of Minamoto no Yorimitsu (944-1021), famous, along with their master, for various military feats.

²Go, shogi, sugoroku: types of board games; mato: shooting at a fixed target from a galloping horse; kasagake: shooting at a sort of reed rainhat with a protruding top, also on horseback; inu-oumono: shooting at dogs from horse-back with harmless, whistling arrows.

³An Imperial anthology completed in 1384, and consisting of 1,554 verses. In the original text it is called The Anthology of Two Generations, as the editorship was passed from one Fujiwara upon his death to another.

⁴Once an expletive used when something is keenly felt, it now indicates the quality itself of that feeling. It is often translated as "pathos" or "moving."

5 A province in Eastern Japan.

⁶A period name; up until 1868 emperors would change the name of the "period" a number of times during their reign depending on the occurrence of natural disasters or other important events.

THE REGULATIONS OF IMAGAWA RYOSHUN

Imagawa Sadayo (1325-1420 A.D.)

Imagawa Sadayo was one of the most remarkable men of his age. He ranked as a leading general and strategist along with Kusu­noki and Kitabatake, and as a poet and scholar became a promi­nent figure in the Court-dominated literary world, composing both historical works and poetry.

The Imagawa were a cadet family of the Ashikaga, taking their name from their manor at Imagawa in Mikawa Province. Ima­gawa^'s father had supported the Shogun Takauji and had been re-warded with the governorship of Suruga Province. Here the clan settled and in time formed marriage ties with the Court nobility.

Imagawa's military career began with the dispute of the North-ern and Southern Courts. He chose to back the Northern Court and by 1361 had defeated Hosokawa Kiyouji at the fighting in Yoshino. Returning to Kyoto, he shaved his head and entered re­ligion, taking the name of Ryoshun. By 1370, the bakufu had lost control of most of the island of Kyushu and sent Ryoshun to serve as military governor to pacify the area. To this task he devoted the next decade of his life, at the same time continuing his literary interests and contacts with his teacher, Nijo Yoshimoto.

In 1395 it was suggested to the Shogun Yoshimitsu that Ryo­shun was by far too powerful and held rebellious intentions. Thus he was recalled to his governorship in Suruga where he devoted most of his remaining years to literature and poetry.

Ryoshun was the author of a number of literary works and documents, among them the Michiyukiburi, a travel diary includ­ing some of his own poetry; the Nan Taiheiki, an historical work; and the present text, the Regulations, written in 1412 for his younger brother, Tadaaki. Also called the Imagawa Wall Inscrip­tions, the Regulations has been respected and studied as a text on proper morality up until WWII, and used during the Edo period as a basic text in temple schools. Written in kanbun, it sets down the classic view that a warrior must be a man of both military skill and of letters—that lacking one, he will lack both. As a Buddhist, Ryo­shun proscribed the wanton taking of life, but as a member of the warrior class, he held great respect for his profession. As a Confu­cian, he cited the Chinese Classics and demanded respect for one's family, as well as stressing the concept of loyalty and duty to one's master. In him we see the ideal of the warrior at its most balanced stage.

The Regulations of Imagawa Ryoshun

"Without knowledge of Learning, one will ultimately have no military victories."

"Cormorant fishing and falconing are pleasures that uselessly destroy life. They are forbidden."

"it is forbidden to pass the death sentence on a man who has committed a major crime without full investigation"

"It is forbidden to use favoritism and excuse a man who has committed a major crime"

"It is forbidden to bring about one's own excessive prosperity by means of exploiting the people and causing the destruction of shrines."

"It is forbidden to tear down one's ancestors' family temples and pagodas, thereby embellishing one's own domicile"

"It is forbidden to forget the great debt of kindness one owes to his master and ancestors and thereby make light of the virtues of loyalty and filial piety."

"It is forbidden that one should, acting disrespective of the Way of Heaven, attach little importance to his duties to his master and be overly attentive to his own business"

"It is forbidden to be indiscriminate of one's retainers good or evil actions and to distribute unjust rewards and punishments."

be mindful of the fact that, as you know the works of your own retainers, the master knows yours in the same way.

"It is forbidden to disrupt the relationships of other people, and to make others anguish your own pleasure."

"It is forbidden to put others profit at a loss and, recklessly embracing one's own ambition, increase one's own power"

"It is forbidden to be disregardful of one's own financial status and to live too far above it or below it"

"It is forbidden to have contempt for wise retainers and prefer flatterers, and to have one's actions be influenced by those conditions"

"One should not be envious of someone who has prospered by unjust deeds. Nor should he disdain someone who has fallen while adhering to the path of righteousness."

"It is forbidden to be given up to drinking and carousing and, in gambling and the like, to forget one's family duties."

"It is forbidden to be prideful of one's own cleverness, and to ridicule others about everything"

"When a person comes to one's home, it is forbidden to feign illness and thus avoid meeting him."

"It is forbidden to enjoy one's own tranquility, and to retire a man without adding to him some stipend."

"It is forbidden to be excessive in one's own clothing and armor, while his retainers go about shabbily."

"One should be highly reverential of Buddhist priests and treat them with correct manners."

"Regardless of a person's high or low position, it is forbidden to disregard the law of karma, and to simply live in ease."

"It is forbidden to erect barriers in one's own domain and thus cause distress to travelers both coming and going"

THE ABOVE ARTICLES SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND AT ALL TIMES


Postcript:


"It is natural that training in the martial arts is the Way of the warrior, but it is important to put them into actual practice. First, it is written in the Four Books and Five Classics (*See footnote) as well as in the military writings that in protecting the country, if one is ignorant in the study of literature, he will be unable to govern.

Just as Buddha preached the various laws in order to save all living beings, one must rack one's brains and never depart from the Ways of both Warrior and Literary Man."

"From the time one is young, he should associate with companions who are upright and not even temporarily be taken in by friends of low character. Just as water will conform to the shape of the vessel that contains it, so will a man follow the good and evil of his companions. This is so true. Therefore it is said that the master who governs his domain well loves wise retainers, while the man who exploits the people loves flatterers. This means that if one would know the heart of the master, he should look to the companions who the master loves. One should truly take this to heart. To prefer friends who are superior to him, and to avoid those who are his inferiors, is the wisdom of the good man. However, considering this to be true, it will not do to be overly fastidious in one's choice of people. This is simply saying that one should not love those who are evil. This is not limited to the man who governs the country, for without the love and respect of the masses, all matters are difficult to achieve.

First of all, a samurai who dislikes battle and has not put his heart in the right place even though he has been born in the house of the warrior, should not be reckoned among one's retainers. Many famous generals have made this admonition. Next, if one would wonder about the good and evil of his own heart, he may think of himself as good if many people of both high and low positions gather at his door. And, even if one invites many people, and still they neglect him and he has no comrades, he should think of his own conduct as being incorrect.

Yet, I suppose there are two ways of having the gate crowded with callers. There are also occasions when the people are fearful of the masters' iniquity, are exploited by the high handedness of his retainers and opposed by the plots of his companions, and will gather at the gates of the authorities complaining of their afflictions with explanations of their distress. One should be able to discern such situations well and to correct the arbitrariness of his retainers. He should entrust himself to the wise sayings of the ancients and follow the conditions of the law.

A man who is said to be a master should, in the same way the sun and the moon shine on the grass and trees all over the land, ponder day and night with a heart of compassion into matters of rewards and punishments, for his vassals both near and far, and even to those officials separated from him by mountains and sea; and he should use those men according to their talents. It is possible that there are many examples of men becoming leaders of samurai, and yet being negligent and lacking wisdom and ability, and thus incurring the criticism of men both high and low. Just as Buddha preached the various laws in order to save all living beings, one must rack one's brains and never depart from the Ways of both Warrior and Scholar.

In Governing the country, it is dangerous to lack even one of the virtues of humanity, righteousness, etiquette and wisdom. IN adhering to correct government, , there will be no rancor from the people when crimes are punished. But when the government makes its stand in unrighteousness and the death penalty is passed, there will be deep lamenting. and in such a case there will be no escaping the retribution of Karma.


"There is a primary need to distinguish loyalty from disloyalty and to establish rewards and punishments. It is meaningless to divide up the administration of the domain if one's vassals commit useless acts in their own interests, have no ability in the martial arts, and do not sustain their underlings. And though one can say that the treatment of his vassals in the division of the fiefs has not differed since the time of his ancestors, differences in conduct and authority are dependant of the same frame of mind of the present master.

Being born into a family that has from the beginning earnestly known the Way of Battle, it is truly regrettable to wastefully tamper with the domain, support no soldiers, and receive the scorn of all."

Thus the above is written

in the 19th year of Oei (1412 A.D.)

Imagawa Ryoshun

Footnote:

¹The basic Confucian texts. The Four Books are the Analects, the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean and the Book of Mencius. The Five Classics are the Odes, the Book of History, the Book of Rites, the Book of Changes and the Book of Spring and Autumn Annals.

Posted: 25 November 2005 at 11:10pm | IP Logged

THE SEVENTEEN ARTICLES OF ASAKURA TOSHIKAGE

Asakura Toshikage (1428-1481 A.D.)

The Asakura, claiming descent from several emperors, were es­tablished in the province of Echizen as hereditary vassals of the Shiba clan, and were a powerful force both militarily and econom­ically from the mid-15th century until their final destruction by the forces of Oda Nobunga in 1573.

Asakura Toshikage was recognized for his abilities from his youth, and in 1453 was charged by the bakufu to settle a succes­sion feud between two branches of the Shiba. Using this as an op­portunity for greater things, he began a career of expropriating portions of manors held in Echizen by both religious institutions and the nobility. The Shiba family^'s real power began to fade rapidly, and by the end of 1471 Asakura was awarded with the gover­norship of Echizen, an office traditionally held by the Shiba. He then built a castle at Ichijogatani, and the province prospered eco­nomically and culturally for nearly 100 years. Ichijogatani became a thriving mercantile center until its destruction in the wars with Oda Nobunaga.

Asakura is considered to have been ruthless and typical of the gekokujo daimyo, those lower class warriors who overthrew the upper class nobility. He was certainly very realistic and scornful of superstition. The Seventeen Articles, written in a heavily Sinicized style, were possibly compiled after his death, but are reputed to reflect his ideas and temperament well. They indicate a sharp prac­ticality and rationalism, and there is very little of the religious about him. The choice of the number 17 is reminiscent of the 17-article constitution of Shotoku Taishi written in the seventh century, and may hint at Asakura's aspirations for his clan and possibly his own self-image in history.

The Seventeen Articles of Asakura Toshikage

In the fief of the Asakura, one should not determine hereditary chief retainers. A man should be assigned according to his ability and loyalty.

One should not entrust a position and land to a man who has no talent, even if his family has held such for generations.

One should place spies in fiefs both near and far, even in times of peace, and should constantly inquire into their circumstances.

One should not be overly fond of famous swords and daggers. For even if one has a sword valued at 10,000 cash, he will not overcome 100 men carrying spears valued at 100 cash. Therefore, if one has 10,000 cash and buys 100 spears, having 100 men to carry them he should be able to protect an entire flank.

One should not be fond of creating a spectacle by periodically inviting actors from the four schools of Sarugaku^l to come from Kyoto. With the expense that would involve, if he would have a Sarugaku actor of talent from our own fief go to learn in the capital, he would be able to have enjoyment thereafter.

It is prohibited to perform Noh within the castle grounds at night.

If a man who serves indolently and a man who serves well are treated in the same way, the man who serves well may begin to wonder why he does so.

Beginning with the immediate members of the Asakura family, all should wear clothing made of cotton at the New Year^'s first attendance. Likewise, all should be made to wear the family crest. If one thinks that since he has the resources he can dress in fancy attire, the lower ranks of samurai will feel it difficult to appear in a place where such showy costumes are congregated, will feign ill­ness and put in no appearance for a year; and if they will not come for two years, the number of men serving the Asakura will decline.

Among the men serving our clan, if there are some without tal­ent or ability, they should be treated with special charity because of the strength of their determination. Moreover, though it is said that a man is a coward, if his looks and demeanor are exceptional, he should not simply be regarded as a coward. He can be put to use as an attendant or messenger, and should not be cast off to no purpose. However, a man who is lacking in both determination and appearance will amount to absolutely nothing, regardless of the care taken for him.

If a man who serves indolently and a man who serves well are treated in the same way, the man who serves well may begin to wonder why he does so.

Except in cases of extreme difficulty, one should not allow ronin³ from other provinces to act as one's personal scribe.

Among both priests and commoners, if there is a man with some talent or ability, he should not be allowed to leave to some other clan. A man who depends solely on his own ability and serves indolently, however, is worthless.

(PHOTO)

When there is a battle that can be won or a castle that can be taken, to concern oneself with the fortuitous day or direction⁴ and let time pass is extremely regrettable. There will be little value in sending a ship out in a storm, or having a single man face great numbers even if the day is propitious. For even though the day and place be ^"unlucky," if one will attain the minute details of the situation, prepare his attack in secret, adapt to the circum­stances, and make strategy his foundation, the victory will surely be his.

Three times a year one should have an able and honest retainer go around the province, listen to the opinions of the four classes of people,⁵ and devise some policy in regard to those opinions. Moreover, the master should also change his appearance a bit and make such an inspection for himself.

It should be strictly forbidden to construct in our province any castle other than the one (Ichijogatani) held by the Asakura fam­ily. All men of high rank should be constantly maintained at Ichijogatani, and only their representatives and underlings should be placed in their home areas.

When passing by shrines and temples or through village streets, from time to time one should rein in his horse and praise places of beauty or lament for those that have gone to ruin. If he will do so, the joy of the common people at having been spoken to by the master will know no bounds, and they are likely to quickly repair places in need and to be all the more scrupulous in places of per­fection. Thus, encouraging the people without taking great efforts will be chiefly a matter of the single-mindedness of the master.

When one is giving direct audience to various reports, he should not allow the least bit of distortion in terms of their truth or false-hood. If he hears that an official has put his own profit to the fore, he should be strictly given the proper punishment.

One should keep the above items well in mind, exert himself in them day and night, and pass them down to descendant after de­scendant. In all things, if one is firm from within there will be no evil men to cause disturbances from without.

Postscript

When various reports are being given, one should not allow the least bit of distortion in terms of their truth or falsehood. If one hears that an official has put his own profit to the fore, he should be strictly ordered to the proper punishment. In all things, if one will scrutinize the interior and take the proper steps for it, there will be no evil men entering from without. For other clans will come to meddle if one's own slipshod conditions are known.

According to a certain priest, a master of men should be like Fudo-o-myo^b and Aizen-o-myo;⁷ the reason being that Fudo-o­myo carries the sword and Aizen-o-myo carries the bow and ar­row, not to strike at man, but solely for the subjugation of evil, for they are both gods of deep inner compassion.

Moreover, a lord of men will praise the good and punish the evil, and should judge correctly between truth and falsehood, and good and bad. Such a thing can be called the ^"taking of life with compassion."

Even if one has learned all the sayings of the sages and saints, he should not insist on them obstinately. In the Analects of Confu­cius it is said, "If a gentleman is not solemn, he will have no dig­nity." But it would be a mistake to understand this as meaning that one should be solemn all the time. It is necessary to be sol­emn or light-hearted according to the occasion.

There will be no value in these articles if they are simply thought over casually. After I, a man of little rank, unexpectedly took control of the province, I have put forth great effort both day and night, at one time gathered together famous men of all kinds, listened carefully to what they had to say, and have con­tinued in such a way up until this time. If one will be sufficiently prudent and have his descendants keep the articles written in this book and think of them as the teachings of Marishiten⁸ or Hachi­man,⁹ the name of the Asakura should continue happily. But in the distant future, if our descendants act only with self-interest, it will certainly be a matter of regret.

Imagawa Ryoshun's verse:

When a parent thinks of his child

With a heart of sincerity,

   How will he teach him

Without vacillation and doubt? 10

¹ Noh Drama. The four schools of Noh at the time were the Kanze, Hosho, Konparu and Kongo.

²A powerful family that controlled the area of Mutsu, in the northeast of Japan, and who were apparently famous for raising such animals.

³A warrior who is not in the service of a master, either due to the death of his master or by being expelled from service.

⁴This and the following allusions to "lucky" and "unlucky" days and loca­tions have to do with the Oriental concern for a proper understanding of cos­mology and the individual's harmony with it. This belief probably had its origin in the early Chinese yin-yang philosophy and is not entirely ignored today throughout the Oriental world.

⁵ Samurai, farmers, artisans and merchants.

⁶A Buddhist diety represented with a fearsome appearance, clutching a sword in one hand and a cord in the other to strike down and bind the spirits of evil.

⁷A Buddhist goddess of love, also fearsome and represented with three eyes and six arms. She, too, carries weapons and is colored red.

8A Buddhist diety who is a protector of warriors.

⁹A high-ranking Buddhist diety also connected with the Shinto pantheon and the early Emperor Ojin. Hachiman is also associated with war.

¹⁰Asakura was not unlettered, and Ryoshun was well known as a literary per-son. This reinforces the idea that samurai were men of letters as well as war­riors

Hojo Nagauji
(1432-1519 A.D.)

Hojo Nagauji was a general of the late Muromachi Period who, through marriage and a succession of political maneuvers, became master of the Suruga, Izu and Sagami Provinces. His origins are obscure, but he may have been connected with the Heiji of Ise, and first went by the name of Ise Skinkuro. Later he married off his son, Ujitsuna, to a descendant of the ancient Hojo family and took their name for his own, supposedly for the prestige it would render and possibly to indicate his own political intentions. His line is called the Go-Hojo, or the Later Hojo.

Around 1475 Hojo Nagauji came to Suruga and attached himself to the Imagawa clan, later taking advantage of a succession problem within that clan to become master of the province. In 1491, under similar circumstances, he was able to add Izu to his domains; and finally in 1495, under the pretense of hunting for deer, he marched into Sagami, taking the castle town of Odawara. From this point, Nagauji extended his attacks and eventually his domains northward, fighting successively with the Uesugi and other neighboring clans. At Odawara he built one of the first great castle towns in Japan, attracting many samurai from other fiefs by its general prosperity and peace. In his later years he became a priest, taking the name Soun.

Like Asakura Toshikage, Hojo Soun has not received great praise from historians due to his somewhat cunning and ruthless methods in extending his domains. Yet he was admired by other daimyo as a good general and administrator. In addition to attract­ing more samurai to Odawara, he cut crop taxes from one-half to two-fifths of the harvest, and generally looked out for the welfare of his people.

The Twenty-One Precepts were written some time after Hojo Soun had become a priest, and reflect the fullness of his own experiences. The articles are basically rules for the daily life of the common warrior, and show his familiarity and sympathy for those in the lower echelons. The subject matter ranges from encouraging the study of poetry and horsemanship and the avoidance of games like chess and go, to advice on how to keep one's house in better order and well-protected. There is a strong tone of self-reliance throughout, reflecting Hojo Soun's unsparingly meticulous char­acter and his own rise to power.

The Twenty-One Precepts of Hojo Soun

Above all, believe in the gods and Buddhas.

In the morning, rise as early as possible. Rising late, one will be negligent as a servant and a hinderance to both the master's and one's own business; and, in the end, one will be forsaken by the master. Great prudence should be taken in this matter.

One should be soundly asleep at night before eight o'clock, for thieves are most likely to break in between midnight and two in the morning. Having useless long conversation at night, one will be asleep between 12 and two, his money will be taken, and damage will be done. This will not be good for one's reputation.

One should put away the firewood and lamp oil that would be uselessly burned away during the night, and at four in the morning rise and do his ablutions and devotions, dress oneself properly, explain the day^'s labors to his wife and retainers, and go to attend his work before six o'clock. According to an old proverb, one should retire by midnight and rise by four in the morning, but this is up to the individual. Rising by four o^'clock would be beneficial for anyone, however. Staying in bed until eight or ten in the morn­ing, one will complete neither his work for the master nor his own private business, and the opportunity of the day will be wasted for no reason at all.

Before washing one's face and hands in the morning, one should first check the lavatory, the stables, and outside the gate; instruct the appropriate people concerning the places needing cleaning, and then quickly wash himself.

One should not assume that water is plentiful, and carelessly wash his mouth out and throw it away. Furthermore, one should do this quietly and not assume that, as he is in his own home, he can go about gargling and spitting loudly, for this is acting without reserve toward others and is unpleasant to hear. There is a saying that goes, ^"Walk stealthily where still under the arch of heaven.^"

****

Consider that which exists to exist and that which does not exist to not exist, and recognize things just as they are. With such a frame of mind, one will have divine protection even though he does not pray.

******

To worship the gods and Buddhas is the correct conduct for a man. It can be said that one will be in conformity with the feelings of the gods and Buddhas if he will simply make his heart straight-forward and calm, respect honestly and wholeheartedly those above him and have pity on those below, consider that which exists to exist and that which does not exist to not exist, and recognize things just as they are. With such a frame of mind, one will have divine protection even though he does not pray. But if his mind is not straight, he had best be prudent lest it be said that he has been abandoned by Heaven, prayerful or not.

It will not do to think that one must have swords and clothing as fine as everyone else's. It is sufficient to intend not to be un­sightly. Borrowing and seeking after things one doesn't have, and piling up debts, one will be scorned by others.

Even when one is thinking of staying home all day due to ill­ness or private business, he should quickly arrange his hair. This goes without saying when he is going out to his responsibilities. To expose people to one's sloppy appearance is both impolite and incompetent. If a person himself is negligent concerning these mat­ters, his retainers, too, are likely to follow in a similar manner. Moreover, when one's comrades come to visit, it will be unsightly if all the members of one's household are in disarray.

(PHOTO)

 When one is performing his duties, he should not just simply appear before the master. He should wait for a moment in the next room, check his colleagues' appearances, and then go in to audience. If it is not done this way, his effort will likely be in vain.

When one has been addressed by the master, even though he is seated at a distance he should quickly answer, "Yes!" draw forward immediately approaching on his knees, and make his re­sponse with full respect. He should thereupon quickly withdraw, prepare his answer, and relate the facts as they are. One should not make a display of one^'s own wisdom. Moreover, according to the circumstances, when one is considering how best to give an an­swer, he should consult with a man who is adroit at speech. It is a matter of not pushing through one's own personal opinion.

One should not be close by when someone is relating something to the master. It is best to withdraw to the side. Still more, if one gossips or laughs foolishly in such a place, it goes without saying that he will be avoided by men of high status, and even men of sensitivity within his own rank are likely to turn their backs on him.

There is a saying that goes, ^"Even though one associates with many people, he should never cause discord." In all things one should support others.

When one has the least bit of spare time, he should always take out some piece of literature or something with characters on it that he has kept in his pocket, and read where no one will be look­ing. Characters are such that if one is not used to them both wak­ing and sleeping, they will soon be forgotten.

The writing of characters is also like this.

When one is going by the place where the elders are in atten­dance to the master, he should stoop a bit and place his hands to the ground as he passes. To be without deference and simply stamp through the area would be outrageously rude. To be a samu­rai is to be polite at all times.

One should not tell a lie, no matter to whom he is speaking or how little is said. Even the most trivial matters should be shown as they are. If one tells a lie, it will become a habit, and in the end he will be forsaken by others. One should understand that to be ques­tioned by others can bring on shame for a lifetime.

A person who has not studied poetry is the poorer for this lack, and thus one should study it. One should always be genteel in his speaking. A man shows his inmost self by a single word.

In the intervals of one's work, one should learn horsemanship. After becoming well-founded in the basics, other techniques should follow with training.

If one would seek good companions, he will find them among those with whom he studies Learning and calligraphy. Harmful companions to avoid will be found among those who play go, chess, and shakuhachi.² There is no shame in not knowing these latter amusements. Indeed, they are matters to be taken up only in the stead of wasting one's time completely.

A person's good and evil are dependent on his companions. When three people are together there will always be an exemplary person among them, and one should choose the good person and follow his example. Looking at the bad person, one should correct his own mistakes.

When one has some spare time and returns to his home, he should walk around the stables and rear areas mending the walls and fences and filling the places where the dogs have been digging. Ignorant maids and the like will pull the leaves under the eaves and burn them, doing only what is needed for the present, but will not know what to do after that. One should have a deep understanding that all things are like this.

At six o^'clock in the evening one should close his gate tightly and not open it again except to let people in and out. Not to do so is negligence, and will inevitably invite disaster.

At night, one should go about himself checking the fires in the kitchen and living room, and make firm instructions concerning them. Other than that, he should make instructions nightly in order to form habits in caution against spreading fires. Women of both high and low ranks have no feelings for such things, and will leave household goods and clothing spread around, and be greatly negligent. One should not think he can hire others and have them do everything, but rather he should be of the mind to rely on him-self and to know the condition of things. Only then should he delegate to others.

It is hardly necessary to record that both Learning and the mili­tary arts are the Way of the Warrior, for it is an ancient law that one should have Learning on the left and the martial arts on the right. But this is something that will not be obtainable if one has not prepared for it beforehand.

 
NOTES

¹From the Confucian Book of Odes.

²A five-holed bamboo flute played vertically.

.

THE RECORDED WORDS OF ASAKURA SOTEKI

Asakura Norikage (1474-1555 A.D.)

Asakura Norikage was the mainstay of the Asakura clan during the difficult years of the Ikko sect uprisings in Echizen and con­tinued instability in the nearby area of the capital. Though never a daimyo himself, he was advisor to three generations of Asakura chieftains and spent most of his life in military campaigns. In 1548 he shaved his head and became a priest, taking the name of Soteki. Neither the years nor religion deterred him from his occupation, however, for at the age of 79 he marched with his army to the province of Kaga for what was to be his last campaign against the Ikko adherents. On September 8 of that year, he died in camp of natural causes.

The Soteki Waki is a collection of his sayings, written down by a close retainer a few years before his death. It consists of 83 pre­cepts or anecdotes and is written in a kanamajiri style. In this record we can see the legacy of Asakura^'s practicality and vision. The idealism of former and later ages is lacking here, for "though a warrior be called a dog or a beast, what is basic for him is to win." In this connection, Asakura stressed the mutual fates of master and retainer, and thus the need for harmonious relations between them. Almost all of the precepts here point to success on the bat­tlefield in one way or another, whether outwardly concerned with morality or feeding one^'s horse, and clearly reflect an active gen­eral's concerns and experiences.

The Recorded Words of Asakura Soteki

It is a failure on the part of a general to forcibly send his troops to attack a castle, whether on mountain or flatland. This would be sending his valuable troops to die before his very eyes. This matter comes first in a general's considerations.

In connection with military matters, one must never say that something can absolutely not be done. By this, the limitations of one's heart will be exposed.

In attacking enemyheld ground, one should never assume that his opponents will not hold their own. If, in such an attack, the enemy stiffly resisted, one^'s entire forces would be disheartened.

From time to time a man should soak hard soy beans in water and feed them to his horse. There will be no pots or pans for such things on the battlefield.

No matter how lacking a man may be in humanity, if he would be a warrior, he should first of all tell no lies. It is also basic that he be not the least bit suspicious, that he habitually stand on in­tegrity, and that he know a sense of shame. The reason being that when a man who has formerly told lies and acted suspiciously par­ticipates in some great event, he will be pointed at behind his back and neither his allies nor his enemies will believe in him, regardless of how reasonable his words may be. One should be very prudent about this.

During any military affair, no matter how important the event may be, when something is communicated by word of mouth, the least bit of vagueness will invite grievous results.

A few years past, at the battle of Minatogawa in Kaga, there were more than 500 heads taken. From these, the heads of very young men were separated, receivers from the enemy beckoned, and the heads returned quickly. In the fight between foot soldiers previous to that, however, no such thing was done.'

At the time of a great battle or distressing retreat, the enemy may send out troops to exacerbate a general in various ways in order to judge his present feelings. He should not show the least bit of weakness, however, or let out a single word. One should be careful about this and not be negligent

. Though a warrior may be called a dog or beast, what is basic for him is to win.

A man who keeps a considerable number of retainers—and this goes without saying for a general—should first of all have the re­ligious and habitual awareness to provide for his men well. Espe­cially for men who have been long in service, but also for those who are new or presently employed, if there is a retainer who has died in the midst of dutiful service and leaves behind a young child, the master should treat that child with great care, dealing with it kindly in a way that it will be able to become an adult. When a samurai by chance has no natural heir, if the master will encourage him to take on a fitting adopted child while he and his wife are yet healthy, and advise him in a way that his family line will not run out, even a childless man will feel reassured and grate­ful, and will not hold back his life for his master. If a man will kindly do such things, those under him will feel greatly blessed, and those who hear and see these things will think of him as reliable. Those under his command will naturally serve him with great loyalty, as will those of other clans, and he will have many reliable retainers.

A master will incur the punishment inflicted on his retainers, and his retainers will incur that inflicted on their master. Master and retainer together should not be negligent.

A master should not unreasonably make requests for the pos­session of his retainers, such as their horses and falcons, or their swords, halberds, paintings or Chinese goods. Generally speaking, for retainers to possess valuable articles is the same as if the mas­ter himself possessed them. If in spite of that, however, the master should still desire something, he should offer double its appro­priate price. If this is not done, those retainers who hear or see such acts will lose their desire to have such things; and, in the end, famous articles that have been handed down from generations past will be sent off to other provinces. One should be very discriminat­ing about this.

When one has summoned his retainers or is treating them to some small dishes, it will not do to pick out one or two men for special treatment.

It is not good to be feared by one's own retainers. It has been passed down from ages past that it is fundamental to value one's retainers' deep devotion. If such is not the case, when the time comes it will be difficult for them to be valuable to you by throw­ing away their lives.

One should understand well that if a master begins to feel that he is despised by his retainers, he will very soon go mad. How could one who is supposedly of a position not even to be despised by the enemy, be looked down upon by his own men? Such a thing is truly laughable. It is, moreover, the basis of bringing con-fusion to the clan.

There were to Lord Eirin's² character many high points diffi­cult to measure, but according to the elders the foremost of these was the way he governed the province by his civility. It goes with-out saying that he acted this way toward those in the samurai class, but he was also polite in writing letters to the farmers and townspeople, and even in addressing these letters he was gracious beyond normal practice. In this way, all were willing to sacrifice their lives for him and become his allies.

Lady Keishitsu³ used to relate that Lord Eirin constantly com­manded, ^"Little Norikage has been raised as a spoiled child, and therefore is likely to act impolitely to the samurai after we are gone. From time to time teach him manners."

As a human being, a man must save for the future. It has been handed down from the beginning, however, that as a samurai, one should not be like the wealthy, hoarding excesses of money, gold and silver, and making savings one's foundation. Still, Hojo Soun of Izu⁴ hoarded away in his warehouse articles as small as a pin. Munenaga used to relate, however, that Soun was the kind of man who would even break up precious jewels for use in times of war.

A man who would have a gardener do a carpenter's job, or a carpenter do a gardener's job, is no judge of men and is highly in-competent. No matter how bright a person is, he will have his strong and weak points. If one will comply with men's various abilities and use them appropriately, all matters will be assigned correctly and the master will be without trouble.

****

For a warrior, there is nothing distressing about hearing of something and fleeing. To see something and flee, however, is a great evil.

****

In having the fortune of the gods in martial affairs, it is funda­mental for a samurai, regardless of his character, to gain fame in skill while he is yet young. For those who gained a reputation for being unskilled while young and yet gained skill as adults are few and far between. Moreover, even if a man who has been known as skillful in his youth shows a lack of skill as an adult, it will do no damage to his reputation for awhile. Thus, it is essential to have prudence in such matters.

A general of great merit should be said to be a man who has met with at least one great defeat. A man like myself who has gone his whole life with victories alone and suffered no defeats cannot be called a man of merit, even though he gains in years.

Concerning seasickness, we once all said that if we fixed our minds on the fact that the enemy was waiting on the shore, there would not be a one of us to get sick. A few years ago when we took a great force by ship to Tamba, as we had anticipated, not a

single man got sick. On the return trip, however, everyone got seasick.

It is a truly sympathetic matter when a man who was born thick-witted works seriously with all his heart. However, when a man who has simply a common understanding of things and yet considers himself to be far more clever than others does something vulgar, inexcusable or unjust, he is being truly rude, hateful, and

deserving of heavy punishment. This has nothing to do with social position.

For a warrior, there is nothing distressing about hearing of something and fleeing. To see something and flee, however, is a great evil. Doing such, one will be doing nothing other than having his forces wiped out to a man. To hear of certain conditions and retreat is one sort of stratagem, and thus is not really a matter of fleeing. It has been said in both former times and present that, generally speaking, in a great retreat if one does not withdraw in unity and while striking the enemy, his retreat will fail. For such a reason it has been said that it is fundamental to ^"let one's ear be a coward, and his eyes a hero."

 
Notes

²Asakura Ujikage, Soteki's father or older brother. There is some question of delineation; some have Ujikage, others Toshikage, as Soteki's father.

³Soteki's mother.

⁴See previous chapter.

THE IWAMIZUDERA MONOGATARI

Takeda Shingen (1521-1573 A.D.)

Takeda Harunobu, or Takeda Shingen, was one of the best-known generals of the Warring States Period, famous as a strate­gist and for his many battles with Uesugi Kenshin at Kawanaka­jima. His father, Takeda Nobutora, had unified the province of Kai, but in a succession issue in 1541 he was driven from its terri­tory by his son, who now assumed authority as daimyo.

From this time until his death, Takeda Shingen was involved in the continuing national struggle for supremacy. He was constantly harassed in the north by Uesugi Kenshin and in the west by the combined forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu. In 1551 he shaved his head, took the name of Shingen, and entered reli­gion. His rival Uesugi did the same in 1552. In 1571, Shingen an­swered the summons of the Ashikaga shogun, Yoshiakira, and formed an alliance with the Asai and Asakura clans and the monks of the Honganji in order to move against the forces of Oda. In 1573, still in the midst of this campaign, he was struck by a bullet^s and died a few days later.

Takeda Shingen received fame as a tactician, fief administrator and diplomat. He relied on his judgment of individuals' abilities and the formation of alliances rather than on castles and fortifica­tions. A poem attributed to him runs:

Men are your castles

Men are your walls

Sympathy is your ally

Enmity your foe.

Yet he was a strict disciplinarian as a warrior, and there is an ex­emplary story in the Hagakure relating his execution of two brawl­ers, not because they had fought, but because they had not fought to the death. It is not surprising to learn that he was an avid reader of Sun Tzu and Han Fei Tzu.

The selection given here is from the 40th chapter of the Koyo­gunkan, a book written long after Takeda's death by Kosaka Masanobu, his close retainer. In it are related the history and bat­tles of the Takeda clan along with anecdotes and explanations of old customs. The 40th chapter, often called the Iwamizudera Monogatari, preserves many of Takeda's discussions on human na­ture that took place with his retainers at the Iwamizu Temple in his home province of Kai. His stories are often long and sometimes troublesome, but manifest clearly his emphasis on the value of dis­crimination and foresight, and perhaps indicate the expansive per­sonality he was said to have had.

The Iwamizudera Monogatari

One night Lord Shingen again spoke to those around him, say­ing, ^"regardless of whether a man's rank be high or low, there is one thing that will make it replete. Can any of you guess what that is?" After a while they all spoke up saying that they could not dis­cern what it might be, no matter how much they thought about it. Shingen then said, "If only a man will not do what he himself would like to do, and do those things that he finds unpleasant, his position, no matter what it is, will be replete."

One night Lord Shingen said, "It is the act of a man of low rank to prune off an astringent persimmon and graft a sweet one to it. A samurai of middle or upper rank, and particularly the lord of a province, would find many uses for an astringent persimmon pre­cisely because of its nature. This does not mean, however, that one should cut down a sprig that has already been grafted. Are not all things like this?"

****

A man with deep far-sightedness will survey both the beginning and the end of a situation and continually consider its every facet as important.

****

Lord Shingen said, "In this world, not only samurai, but also servants down through the lower classes are born with differing characters, and people are apt to misjudge them by appearance. First, men with discrimination' will be viewed as schemers; second, men with deep far-sightedness³ will be seen as cowards; and third, men with rough behavior will be mistaken for real warriors. These are great errors.

"A man with discrimination will leave off 70 percent of a matter, and speak of only the remainder.

"A man with deep far-sightedness will survey both the begin­ning and end of a situation and continually consider its every facet as important. When speaking up about something according to the results as he projects them, he will think of his wife and children beforehand and thus judge the situation in real terms. This is called far-sightedness. Men who do not have this quality view those who do as cowards, and are surely less mature.

"Again, a man who behaves with rough manner has neither dis­crimination nor far-sightedness, speaks unreasonably, and con­siders the terseness of the far-sighted and discriminating man as pusillanimity. When the time of battle has arrived, however, he thinks of his wife and children for the first time; and when his moment has come, his end will no doubt be wanting. Thus is rough behavior on the very verge of cowardice."

Lord Shingen said, "Because this man with rough behavior has neither discrimination nor far-sightedness, he further has not much of a sense of shame. Thus, even if his father and brothers were suddenly killed and the enemy apparent, contrary with his usual roughness, he would have no thought of striking that enemy at all. When competing in battle, the man with rough behavior will in­evitably fall short of even the run of the mill, and yet will make up various excuses and justifications for himself. This is entirely be-cause he lacks both discrimination and far-sightedness."

Again one night Lord Shingen said, ^"Just as contrivance and meditation are different, so are discrimination and quick-witted­ness. This can be understood by the fact that in this world there are those who have a sense of discrimination but are not quick-witted, and there are also those who are quick-witted but have no sense of discrimination. If this is not explained clearly, young people will remain none the wiser; so for their sake let us put it into other words. Discrimination is performed by the mind, while quick-wittedness is a function of ch'i (ki). Oversights are rare with people who have discrimination, but those who lack this quality and are only quick-witted will make many mistakes. This critique should be common among men of knowledge, but unlearned youth will rarely understand it."

Once Lord Shingen said, "It is essential for a man to have far-sightedness; for, having this quality, he will also have a sense of discrimination. When a man thinks through to the conclusion of things and is still unable to make his own discernment, if he is of high rank he may consult one of the capable elders, if of lower rank he may discuss the matter with the capable acquaintances he has among his relatives and comrades. Coming to a conclusion in this way, mistakes will be few. Thus, it is my humble opinion that far-sightedness is the foundation of discrimination.

^"Generally, if men have a deep far-sightedness, are quick-witted, and are able to discern situations well, no matter to what problems they may apply themselves, their fame will remain to later generations. There is, for example, the legend of how Fuji­wara Fuhito regained a great crystal gem from the bottom of the sea with his discrimination and quick-wittedness. Using these qual­ities, Fuhito pledged his love to a sea nymph, begging her to dive into the sea and bring the gem to him. Although such means might be called duplicity, his discernment and far-sightedness are obvi­ously praiseworthy, for with this gem the fire of the sun and moon were obtained, and water procured. At the foundation in this case, too, was a quick awareness, both contriving and thoughtful.

"Be this as it may, there is but one thing concerning which all one's discrimination and quick-wittedness will never bring about successful contrivance or meditation. Each one of you try to tell what that is!"

None of those listening could think of anything, so Shingen laughed and said, "Man's life shrinks away, and there is little to be done about it.^"

^{(PHOTO of SHINGEN)}

One night, Lord Shingen quoted from an old proverb, and said, "Chen K'ung said to Emperor Wen of the Wei, <sup>`</sup>Encountering another, it is best to speak only a third part of what you have to say, and not yet open your heart completely. When a man is self-composed, he does not become completely intimate with another; when a flower is composed, it does not bloom all at once although the spring has come. Otherwise, yesterday<sup>'</sup>s friend will become today's enemy, as yesterday<sup>'</sup>s flower will become today's dust.<sup>'</sup> Thus, when one is speaking with a man about some deep matter and leaves off seven parts to speak only three, it is entirely to keep shame at a distance. But when one explains to a man lack­ing in discrimination that it is bad to speak out abruptly, he ends up not speaking at all. Likewise, a man who finds import in all things considers it bad to graft sweet persimmons to a tree that bears astringent fruit. Explain this to a man of little understand­ing, however, and he will cut off the graft that has long borne sweet fruit, once again grafting on a puckery one . . . all with an air of clear understanding. This is bringing on bad results with the intention of doing good, and is the manner of men who are lack­ing in discrimination. An old proverb says, `A little piece of gold may be highly valued, but if it gets in one's eye, the result will be darkness.' Isn^'t this about the same?"

One night Lord Shingen said, ^"Learning⁴ is to a man as the leaves and branches are to a tree, and it can be said that he should simply not be without it. Learning is not only reading books, how-ever, but is rather something that we study to integrate with our own way of life. One who was born in the house of a warrior, re­gardless of his rank or class, first acquaints himself with a man of military feats and achievements in loyalty, and, listening to just one of his dictums each day, will in a month know 30 precepts. Needless to say, if in a year he learns 300 precepts, at the end of that time he will be much for the better. Thus, a man can divide his mind into three parts: he should throw out those thoughts that are evil, take up those ideas that are good, and become inti­mate with his own wisdom. Doing this, he should have little to shame him.

"I would honor and call wise the man who penetrates this principle, though he lacks the knowledge of a single Chinese char­acter. As for those who are learned in other matters, however, I would avoid them regardless of how deep their knowledge might be. That is how shallow and untalented this monk^s is."

Once, Lord Shingen said, "In this world there are many kinds of men. There are those who have discrimination but no quick wit, those who are quick-witted but lack compassion; and those who have compassion, but not the ability to judge one man from the next. There are many—eight out of ten—in the reverenced upper classes who are useless in distinguishing one man from the next. Among those intimate with each other in the lower ranks, there are almost none at all.

"Thus, there are many different kinds of men, and if we look at this fact from a different angle we can see that their differences stem from having minds lacking in discrimination. If only a man will excel in discrimination, he will do well in any other field^—quick-wittedness, far-sightedness, the ability to distinguish one man from another, and gaining in merit. Thus a man should know that discrimination is the foundation of all these other qualities. To improve his own sense of this quality, he should make it his aim each morning and his meditation each night."

Lord Shingen said, "When one is employing samurai from the time they are children, and looks ahead to their qualities as adults, there will generally be four differing types. Suppose that three samurai—one who has much experience in the Way of the Warrior, one who is very valiant, and one who is exceptionally clever at things—get together and talk over stories of warriors, military exploits, etc., in the company of four children.

"The first child will just sit with his mouth open and look at the speaker's face. The second will strain his ears and listen with his face inclined a little to the floor. The third will look at the speaker's face and listen, laughing periodically with a cheerful look about him. The fourth will get up and leave. These are the various types.

"First, the child who sits listening as though in a dream will, as time goes on, slacken in disposition, and, no matter how many times he is involved in military affairs, will remain incapable of discerning the situation. As his behavior will be without focus or continuity, he will not retain fitting and proper advisors, but will rather listen to the opinions of his good friends.

^"Second, the child who listened to the stories of warriors with strained ears will be no problem in the future. He will become like those men with knowledge of martial affairs who served Yokota, a governor of Bitchu; Hara, governor of Mino; Obata, the Nyudo of Yamashiro, and Tada, the governor of Awaji during Nobu­tada's⁶ generation; and Yamamoto Kansuke and Hojo Ujiyasu in my own time.

"Third, the child who listened to the stories while laughing in an amused manner, in the future will inevitably become praised for his martial exploits. He will, however, go too far and become haughty, thus receiving people's spite.

^"Fourth, the child who got up and left during the stories of warriors, will in the future, eight or nine times out of ten, be-come a coward. Even the two or three who do not become cow­ards will follow behind others. Such a man will walk about speak­ing with great authority and think of himself as worthy of great martial fame if he simply strikes off the head of a fleeing enemy who has fallen behind his own ranks in battle. If a real warrior has performed a true deed of merit, this man will imagine that although this feat, like his own, was in striking down a worthy enemy, the warrior's reputation as a brave man rests on the inter-cession of others. Thinking that men in this world are not so dif­ferent from one another, he will resent the real warrior, and let his mouth wag freely. Thus will one who left the discussions of warriors as a child, turn out on becoming an adult.^"

Once Lord Shingen said, ^"When the daimyo who rule an entire province employ men, they fancy only a certain kind of samurai, and respect those with the same behavior and deportment. These they employ and treat well, but I myself deplore such an attitude.

"My reason is that when a samurai of rank, either high or low, first learns the natural way of playing kemari,⁷ he sets up the four boundary marks in his garden.

^"Particularly in spring, the cherry blossoms break out in color and the willow darkens with green. When the spring passes and these two trees have finished with their competition, summer comes, and at length goes by. With autumn, the leaves of the maple turn red, sad that they soon will fall. Though they are sung in various ways through the mist of the evenings and the autum­nal rains, when winter is at hand not a one of them remains.

Just at that time the eternally unchanging color of the pine mani­fests itself. It is like this, too, in the world of men; and thus the provincial lord who fancies only one kind of man is absolutely to be censured.

"However, it is laudable, I suppose, when a good general re­cruits only one kind of retainer. Three times four equals 12, after all, but three plus four only seven."

NOTES

¹ Guns were first introduced to the Japanese in 1542 when a group of Portu­guese landed on the southern island of Tanegashima. Firearms were called "tanegashima" for a long time thereafter.

 ²Funbetsu: possibly translated as "judgment" or "wisdom," it consists of two characters meaning to divide or separate; thus, to see one thing clearly from another. Takeda felt that this was the greatest quality a man could have.

 ³Enryo: literally, to think far into the future; hence, to act with hesitancy or reserve.

⁴This refers not so much to scholastic endeavors as to a basic education in Confucianism, perhaps much like the medieval classical education in Latin and Greek.

⁵In 1551, Takeda shaved his head and became a lay monk of the Zen sect, taking the name Shingen.

6 Shingen 's father.

⁷A game like football. Traditionally, the boundaries of the playing field were marked by a cherry tree in the northeast corner, a willow in the south-east corner, a maple in the southwest corner, and a pine in the northwest corner.

Posted: 27 November 2005 at 10:48pm | IP Logged

OPINIONS IN NINETY-NINE ARTICLES

Takeda Nobushige (1525-1561 A.D.)

Takeda Nobushige was the second son of Takeda Nobutora, and it was to him that his father had wanted to pass on the fief when Takeda Shingen revolted. Nobushige is said to have sided with Shingen in this matter, and Shingen, for his part, supported Nobushige after this event and placed great faith in him, entrusting him with much of the fighting in Shinano. At the battle of Ka­wanakajima in 1561, Shingen's main force had been out-maneu­vered by Uesugi Kenshin, and Shingen himself was in danger when Nobushige with his small force arrested the enemy advance of about 3,000 men. Shingen^'s headquarters were saved, but Nobu­shige was cut down in the action and died at the age of 37.

The Ninety-Nine Articles were written down by Takeda Nobu­shige three years before his death for the benefit of his son. Written in kanbun, they are a tour de force of the educated warrior, each precept followed by a relevant quote, usually from a Chinese classic. There is no particular order, and the subject matter ranges from injunctions against carrying a dull sword to encouraging belief in the gods and Buddhas.

This selection from Takeda's work was also included in the Koyogunkan as a part of the Takeda clan's legacy. The Koyogun­kan is given two chapters in this study because it was probably the most widely read book of bushi origin during the Edo Period, and because it was appended and put into its present form' by Obata Kagenori (1572-1663), from whose school of martial studies a number of important writers and philosophers emerged, among them Daidoji Yuzan and Yamaga Soko. Obata himself was the son of one of Shingen's retainers, employed by the Tokugawa after the Takeda clan's demise. After disciplining himself in the martial arts, he took leave of the Tokugawa and traveled the country, testing himself. He participated at both the battle of Sekigahara and the fall of Osaka Castle, thus receiving much of his knowl­edge of martial affairs first hand.

Opinions in Ninety-Nine Articles from
Kotenkyu to His Son and the Elders
(Selections)

One must never be perfidious to his master. In the Lun Yu it says, "One should act according to the Way even in times of haste. One should act according to the Way even in times of dan­ger." It says further, "When one is serving his master, he should exert himself."

One should not exhibit the least bit of cowardice on the battle-field. In the Wu Tzu it says, "He who would save his life shall lose it, and he who would give up his life shall save it."

One should take care in his activities so that he will be with-out negligence. In the Shih Chi it says, "If the master acts cor­rectly, his retainers will perform well, even if given no commands. But if the master acts incorrectly, even though he gives commands they will not be followed."

One should exert himself in the martial arts absolutely. In the San Lueh it says, ^"There are no weak soldiers under a strong general."

One should not tell a lie in any situation whatsoever. In the oracles of the gods it has been said, "Although truth may not be rewarded at once, in the end it will receive the compassion of the gods and Buddhas." In battle, however, shouldn't one act accord­ing to the circumstances of the moment? In the Sun Tzu it says, "Avoid the enemy's strength, strike at his weakness. ^"2

One should not be the least bit unfilial toward his parents. In the Lun Yu it says, "In serving one's parents, one should use all his strength."

One should never treat his brothers carelessly. In the Hou Han Shu it says, "One's brothers are his right and left hands.^"

One should not utter a word about his own inadequacies. In the Oko it says, "When a man lets out a single word, the long and short of him will be known."

One should not use rough manners with anyone. With priests, women, children, the poor, and the elderly, one should be all the more polite. It is said in the Li Chi that, "One is safe when polite, but in danger when ill-mannered."

It is essential to develop one's self in the martial arts. In the Lun Yu it says, "To study the heretical will only be damaging.^"

One must not be negligent in Learning. In the Lun Yu it says, ^"To study and not to think is darkness. To think without study is dangerous."

One should endeavor not to be negligent in any matter concern­ing deportment. In the Lun Yu it says, "When Confucius entered the ancestral temple of the Chou, he asked about everything.^"

One should not be excessive in refined pleasures. In Shih Chi it says, "When the banquet is in full swing, there will be confusion. When pleasure is at its height, sorrow appears. In the Tso Chuan it says, "High living is like drinking poisoned sake: it is unthinkable." Again, it says in the Lun Yu, ^"One should respect virtue as he loves a beautiful woman."

In matters both great and small, one should not turn his back on his master's commands. In the Lun Yu it says, ^"Water will conform to the shape of the vessel that contains it, whether it be round or square."

One should not ask for gifts or enfiefments from the master. In the Tso Chuan it says, ^"Reward without merit is unjust gain, and is an invitation to disaster."

One should neither grumble nor gossip. In the Lun Yu it says, "One should not flatter because he is poor, or be haughty because he is rich."

*********

One should not turn his back on reproof

******

It is essential to act with compassion toward one's retainers. In the San Lueh it says, "Using the people is like using one's own hands and feet.^"

When a retainer is ill, one should go to visit the man with real concern, even though it may cause one some inconvenience. In the Chun Chan it says, ^"One should attend to his warriors as he would to his own thirst.^"

One should not forget his retainer's loyal deeds. In the San Lueh it says, ^"When good and bad are considered the same, re­tainers of merit will lose interest."

One should not turn his back on reproof. In the words of the ancients, ^"Good medicine is bitter to the mouth, but has effect on the disease. Faithful words hurt one^'s ears, but have value for one's conduct." Moreover, in the Shu Ching it says, ^"When the wood follows the inkline, it will be straight. When the master follows a remonstrance, he will become a sage."

When one's retainers are not without loyalty, and for some un­avoidable circumstances are in difficult straits, the master should give them assistance for a while. An old proverb says, "If one plans to abide in a place for one year, he should plant the five grains. If his plan is for ten years, he should plant trees. If one's plans are for his whole life, there is nothing like sustaining his retainers.^"

One should not go in and out of the palace by the back gate on his own business. An old saying has it, ^"Father and son do not sit in the same rank, nor do men and women sit together."

A man who has been alienated from his friends should make en­deavors in the Way of humanity. In the Lun Yu it says, "One should not deviate from the path of humanity for even the time it takes to eat his meal."

One must not be rude when being questioned about things by another. In the Lun Yu it says, "When one is mixing with friends, should not his words be sincere?"

One should not be lazy in attending to his everyday duties. In the Lun Yu it says, "If one has energy left after endeavoring in virtue, he should study.^"

Note: When one is attending his duties, he should at first go to where his fellows are gathered, and later withdraw to the rear. In short, it is essential for a person to consider well where he should be. There is a saying of the ancients that goes, "One should not think that his companions will be the same after not meeting them for three days. This is true all the more for a Gentleman.^"3

No matter how intimate one may be with another, he should not gossip about trifling things in front of him. There is a saying of the ancients that goes, "Think over a matter three times before let­ting out a word; think it over nine times before acting."

One should make endeavors in Zen meditation. There is a say­ing of the ancients that goes, "There is no particular secret to Zen. It is simply making a settlement of the matter of life and death." One should on no account tell people of other clans about the wrong-doings that have occurred in one's own. There is a saying that goes, "Good news never leaves the gate, but bad news travels a thousand miles."

At no matter what time of the day one returns to his home, he should send a messenger ahead of him announcing his return. When one comes home suddenly and witnesses the negligence of his servants, he will have to rebuke them. Moreover, if one made a searching examination into the details of such matters, would there ever be an end to them? In the Lun Yu it says, "It is criminal to pass the death sentence without first instructing about right and wrong."

No matter how unreasonably the master may treat a man, he should not feel disgruntled. In the Hsiao Ching it says, ^"Although one may think that the master is unfitting for his position, a re­tainer must do the work of a retainer." It is also said that, ^"The man who hunts a deer does not gaze at the mountains.^" It is fur­ther said that, "An underling does not pass judgments on a super­ior."

Concerning the chastisements of servants, if the crime is small, it should be left off with a rebuke. For a grave offense there is no doubt that a man should lose his life. Chiang Shih⁴ said, "If one would prevent the bud from leafing, he must, in the end, use an ax."

Note: If the death sentence is passed often for simply lesser crimes, will not men lose their wills, according to the circum­stances? In the Lu Shih Ch'un Ch'iu it says, "If the law is too strict, it will not be listened to; if prohibitions are many, they cannot be carried out."

One should not levy on the farmers more than their predeter­mined amount of labor duty. In the Chun Ch'an it says, "If there is oppression from above, there will be disruption below. If the people are heavily exploited, there will be no end to death sen­tences and they will kill each other off."

In the presenting of awards, no matter whether it is great or small, it should be done at once. In the San Lueh it says, "In the reward of merit, time should not pass by.^"

In putting people to use, one should assign them tasks accord­ing to their abilities. There is a saying of the ancients that goes, "A good carpenter will not throw wood away; a good general will not discard a warrior.^"

There is a saying of the ancients that goes, "It is painful to hear the gong commanding a retreat, but a joy to hear the one that announces an advance."

One should not be negligent in having his armor in good order. There is a saying of the ancients that goes, ^"A nine-story tower begins with the foundation."

When heading for the front, one should not be even a day be-hind the commander. There is a saying of the ancients that goes, "It is painful to hear the gong commanding a retreat, but a joy to hear the one that announces an advance.^"

One should groom his horse well. In the Lun Yu it says, "As a dog protects a man, and a horse labors in his stead, they are ani­mals that do him good service.^"

When facing opposing forces, one should attack the place that has not yet been secured. There is a saying of the ancients that goes, "The man who defeats the enemy often is he who does not win by means of formation.^" There is another saying that goes, "It is the custom of our clan to simply dash in at full speed, and give the enemy no respite."

During a battle, one should not chase the enemy far. In the Szu Ma Fa it says, "In chasing the enemy, one should not leave the ranks. By doing so he will bring confusion to his unit, lose order in his column, and waste men and horses."

If one^'s forces are winning a battle, it is better to push right on through without giving the enemy a chance to rally. While all of the enemy forces have still not been crushed, there is yet a chance for them to recover. In the San Lueh it says, ^"An attack is like the rising of the wind."

One should not praise the vastness or strength of the enemy in front of others. In the San Lueh it says, ^"One should not allow a man to speak of the good points of the enemy.^"

One's soldiers should not yell abuse at the enemy. An old saying goes, ^"Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon."

When a battle is approaching, one should treat his men roughly. Their anger thus accumulated, they will fight fiercely. In the Szu Ma Fa it says, ^"When one is dealing with a weak and powerless person, he should handle that person as though handling water. When dealing with the powerful and mighty, he should use the same respect as when handling fire."

One should never display a weak attitude, even though he may be with sympathetic relatives or retainers. In the San Lueh it says, "If a man loses his courage, his servants and soldiers will lose their respect for him."

One should not be fond of maneuvering too much. There is a saying of the ancients that goes, ^"Wishing for too much, one will, in the end, get nothing. Why be fond of going too far from what is natural?" Moreover, in the Lun Yu it says, ^"Excess is the same as insufficiency."

When one would make a surprise attack on the enemy, he should avoid the major roads and seek out the lesser ones. Then attack. An old proverb says, "When easily seen, one should take the bypaths; when not easily seen, the whole army may be moved."

In all things, even though a person asks after one, is it not better to turn a blind eye? In the Pi Yen Lu it says, ^"Even if it is something one likes, it is better to be without it."

One should not fight over every incident that comes along. In the Lun Yu it says, ^"The Gentleman does not contend. If he does, is it not in something like an archery match?^"

One should judge good and evil well. In the San Lueh it says, "If one good deed is disregarded, the good acts of all will decline. If one evil deed is praised, all will return to evil.^"

When food provisions arrive at the camp, one should distribute them bit by bit to those in service around him. In the San Lueh it says, ^"When the good generals of long ago were in charge of their soldiers, if wine was sent, they had it all thrown in the river. They then drank water from the streams like everyone else."

If one never makes an effort, it will be difficult to come up in the world. In the Lao Tzu it says, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.^"

No matter how reasonable one's argument may be, he should not persist in it to a man of high social status. There is a saying that goes, "When words are many, one^'s position is damaged.^"

One should not torture himself over a single mistake. What is essential is one^'s presence of mind hereafter. In the Lun Yu it says, "When one makes a mistake, he should not be hesitant to correct it.^" It says further, "Making a mistake and not correcting it, this is a real mistake."

One should not have contempt for the elderly, regardless of their rank. In the Lun Yu it says, "One should respect the elderly as though they were his own parents.^"

One should not associate with people whose conduct is poor. In the Shih Chi it says, "If you don't know a man^'s character, in­vestigate who his friends are." There is another saying that goes, "A man should not mix only with the high or the low. The bush warbler that flits from flower to flower smells their fragrance with-out becoming familiar with them."

One should not doubt people too much. In the San Lueh it says, ^"Vacillation is nothing less than disaster for an army."

One should not criticize the mistakes of others. There is an old saying that goes, ^"Bestow on others what you yourself are fond of."

One should not carry maliciousness in his heart. In the Chun Ch^'an it says, ^"If a malicious man is in a high position, his troops will fight among themselves to the last man."

When summoned by the master, one should not be the least bit tardy. In the Lun Yu it says, ^"When Confucius was summoned by the prince, he went off without waiting for his carriage."

One should not tell secrets to others, whether they be of mili­tary plans or otherwise. In the I Ching it says, ^"If the secret is not kept, there will be harm." In the Shih Chi it says, ^"Matters are brought to maturity by means of secrecy, words, when leaked out, are brought to nothing."

One should believe in the gods and Buddhas. There is a saying that goes, ^"When one is in accord with the Buddha-mind, he will often have strength added to him. The man who defeats others by evil means will in the end fall as he deserves."

When the army of one's allies is at the point of defeat, one should strive all the more. In the Ku Liang Chuan it says, "He who lays his strategies well does not fight. He who fights well will not die."

One should use a sharp sword, and should never wear one that is the least bit blunt. It is said that, "A blunt sword will not cut through bones."

One should talk of neither foodstuffs nor trade in front of others. There is an old saying that goes, ^"Metal is tested by fire; man is tested by what he says."

Even if one should be very intimate with another, he should think carefully before making a request of him. There is a saying of the ancients that goes, "Greedy for one more cup of wine, he loses a whole boatload of fish."

One should not criticize people unnecessarily in the presence of others. In the Chan Kuo Ts^'e it says, "One should praise another's good points, but not talk about his bad ones.^"

Even if the enemy^'s forces are vast, one should attack if their defenses have been neglected. Moreover, one should think care-fully before attacking a well-defended enemy, even though his force may be small. In the Sun Tzu it says, ^"One should not attack an imposingly defended camp, nor should he try to obstruct the flag of a well-arranged attack. To strike at such a force, one should keep in mind the suddenness of the snake of Mt. Ch'ang. When its head is struck, the tail comes forth; when the tail is struck, the head comes forth; when its middle is struck, both head and tail are at its attacker. There is a method of attacking such an enemy."

One should not act with a sense of ennui in any matter whatso­ever. Mencius said, "If one will earnestly persevere, he will be a follower of Shun. "⁵

The above articles are not to be carelessly or repeatedly brought to the ears of others. Rather, this should be thought of as my last testimony for you. Five and two multiplied are ten, but added are only seven. This is a secret oral tradition from the House of Shingen.

Eiroku Gannen (1558)
A good day in April
To the House Elders
Takeda Samasuke Nobushige

Notes

¹ The book was originally written by Kosaka Masanobu (1527-1578), the son of a farmer who rose to be one of Takeda Shingen's most trusted generals.

 ²In the original text there is a play on words here with "truth" and "strength," and with "lie" and "weakness."

 ³The Confucian Gentleman who daily endeavors to study the Way.

 4 The tutor of King Wen of the Chou Dynasty

5 One of the three sage kings of ancient China

LORD NABESHIMA'S WALL INSCRIPTIONS

Nabeshima Naoshige (1538-1618 A.D.)

In 1584, while attempting to extend his domains, the Lord of Hizen was killed in the fighting at Shimabara by the forces of the powerful Shimazu clan. His fief would have soon fallen into the hands of his enemies had it not been for the machinations of his chief retainer, Nabeshima Naoshige, who managed to delude the Shimazu into thinking that resistance to their invasion would be formidable. From that point on, Nabeshima was the real power in the fief.

In 1587 he fought again against the Shimazu and by 1590 was daimyo of Hizen in all but title. During the next ten years he was active in the Korean campaigns, developing a friendship there with Kato Kiyomasa and with Tokugawa Ieyasu upon his return to Hizen. At the battle of Sekigahara, Nabeshima^'s son, Katsushige, was persuaded to pit his forces against Tokugawa^'s, but was quickly recalled by his father and sent instead to attack Toku­gawa's enemies in Kyushu, thus saving the clan from disaster.

Nabeshima Naoshige took official command of Hizen in a public and dignified way when the bakufu recognized that the true heir, Ryuzoji Masaie, was not suited for the tasks of a feudal lord. Nabeshima was never officially installed as Lord of Hizen, but allowed that honor to fall to his son, thus avoiding the public censure and reputation of a gekokujo daimyo. Nabeshima faced near-disaster a number of times in his life, yet survived to secure a strong foundation for the perpetuity of his clan. His sayings and activities are recorded in the third chapter of the Hagakure, a book defining the ideals of the warrior code (written by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a retainer of Nabeshima's grandson Mitsushige).

The Wall Inscriptions were written by a man with a quick in­telligence and an ability to grasp the situation, and they are more expressions of everyday wisdom than house laws proper. The author would seem to have been a survivor, rather than a scholar or great tactician. The Wall Inscriptions are in diction simple and laconic to the point of being open to interpretation. To remedy this situation, a rather wordy elaboration of Wall Inscriptions was written by the 17th-century Confucian scholar Ishida Ittei. The translation used here, however, is based primarily on a direct read­ing of Nabeshima's work.

Lord Nabeshima's Wall Inscriptions

Intelligence is the flower of discrimination. There are many ex­amples of the flower blooming but not bearing fruit.

The arts are difficult to master by one's self. When one is unable to produce good judgment, he will for the most part do injury to himself.

Consider the minds of your underlings well, for it will be dif­ficult to be wide of the mark when judging things in comparison from their standpoint.

Encourage and listen well to the words of your subordinates. It is well known that gold lies hidden underground.

The prayers of a descendant should be the memorial services for his ancestors.

The Law is the judgment of subordinates. There is a Principle beyond the faculty of reason.

The consequences of an ancestor^'s good or evil depends on the receptiveness of his descendants.

Faith is for the cleansing of one^'s mind, and should not be acted upon so as to disturb the minds of others. Prayer is the hedge that protects this flower.

Coming up in the world should be done in the same way as as­cending a stairway.

****

In all things, think with one's starting point in man.

****

A man's whole life is determined in his youth. One should act so that his fellows will not lose confidence in him.

A faultfinder will fall into punishment from others.'

Great events should be considered lightly.²

In all things, think with one^'s starting point in man.

Do all things with patience.

Written materials miss the essence of reality.

Divination is simply a matter of chance, and relying upon it will likely bring error.³

When affairs are carried out lackadaisically, seven out of ten will turn out badly.

During a battle, one should be resolved not to fall into the ploy of the enemy. When one can judge the instant, the victory will def­initely be his.

In a fight, one should be rough and reckless. Not so in everyday affairs.⁴

No matter whether a person belongs to the upper or lower ranks, if he has not put his life on the line at least once he has cause for shame.

Everyone should personally know exertion as it is known in the lower classes.

Notes

¹ This might be read as: "Judge not that ye be not judged."

²In other words, great events should be thought out thoroughly long before they come to a crisis.

³In 1569, Saga Castle was surrounded by a force of 60,000 men under Otomo Sorin. Capitulation was considered, but Nabeshima, at the time a vas-sal of Ryuzoji Takanobu, suggested a divination. Before the diviner came be-fore Ryuzoji, Nabeshima strictly ordered the man to give a judgment favor-able to the defense of the castle. Resistance thus determined, the Otomo forces withdrew.

⁴Another saying of Nabeshima in a similar vein: "Bushido is in being crazy to die. Fifty or more could not kill one such a man." Yamamoto Tsunetomo added, "Great works will not be done with simple determination. One must become insane and crazy to die."

Torii Mototada
(1539-1600 AD)

IN THE YEAR 1600, TOKUGAWA IEYASU WAS TO MOVE EAST TO CAMPAIGN IN AIZU, LEAVING THE STRATEGIC Fushimi castle in the care of his vassal, Torii Mototada. It was more than likely that the forces of Ishida Mitsunari, a vassal of the Toyotomi clan in league with Konishi Yukinaga, would attack this castle after the Tokugawa forces left. Tokugawa expressed his fear that the castle's forces were insufficient, but Torii responded that the castle would fall even if its forces were multiplied ten times, and advocated that his lord take his troops from the castle's defense and employ them on his own campaign to the east. The sure destruction of both the castle and its defenders understood, vassal and lord spent their last evening together talking over old times.

The inevitable began on August 27 when a large force under Ishida and Konishi laid siege to the castle. Torii and his defenders resisted stubbornly, hoping to give Tokugawa more time to make gains in his march east, and indeed, the fortress was able to hold on for over ten days against enormous odds. The end finally came on September 8 when fire was set to the castle by a traitor from within. When suicide was recommended by his men, Torii upbraided them, explaining that now was the time to truly repay their master's kindness to them, and, with a force of about 300 troops, rushed out of the castle to attack the overwhelming forces of the enemy. After five such charges, their number was reduced to ten men and Torii returned to the castle and fell exhausted. A young samurai from the opposing forces approached and waited respectfully while the old man committed seppuku and then cut off his head. The defenders had been cut down to the last man.

The Last Statement was written by Torii to his son, Tadamasa, a few days before the investment of the castle. It is a moving account of unbending and selfless loyalty of vassal to master, and expresses in very clear terms that the true meaning of being a warrior is to die in battle. In language it is dignified and polite, and yet reveals the strong affection of a father for his son.

The Last Statement of Torii Mototada

Recently, there has been the report of an uprising in the Kamigata area, and that a large number of rebel daimyo who have fallen into the evil scheming of Ishida Mitsunari will first lay siege to this castle and are now making such preparations with large forces.

For myself, I am resolved to make a stand within the castle and to die a quick death. It would not take much trouble to break through a part of their
numbers and escape, no matter how many tens of thousands of horsemen approached for the attack or by how many columns we were surrounded.

But that is not the true meaning of being a warrior, and it would be difficult to account as loyalty. Rather, I will stand off the forces of the entire country here, and, without even one one-hundredth of the men necessary to do so, will throw up a defense and die a resplendent death. By doing so I will show that to abandon a castle that should be defended, or to value one's life so much as to avoid danger and to show the enemy one's weakness is not within the family traditions of my master Ieyasu.

Thus I will have taken the initiative in causing Lord Ieyasu's other retainers to be resolved, and in advancing righteousness to the warriors of the entire country. It is not the Way of the Warrior to be shamed and avoid death even under circumstances that are not particularly important. It goes without saying that to sacrifice one's life for the sake of his master is an unchanging principle. As this is a matter that I have thought over
beforehand, I think that circumstances such that I am meeting now must be envied by people of understanding.
   
You, Tadamasa, should understand the following well. Our ancestors have been personal vassals of the Matsudaira for generations. My late father, the
governor of Iga, served Lord Kiyoyasu, and later worked loyally for his son, Hirotada. My older brother, Genshichiro, manifested his absolute loyalty and was cut down in battle at Watari.

When the present Lord Ieyasu was a child and sent to Suruga, the Governor of Iga accompanied him as a guardian. later, at the age of 19, Ieyasu returned to Okazaki, and the Governor of Iga served him with unsurpassed loyalty, living more than 80 years with unswerving steadfastness. Lord Ieyasu, for his part, regarded the Governor as a matchless vassal. When I was 13 and Lord Ieyasu seven, I came before his presence for the first time, and the blessings I have received since must not be forgotten for all the generations to come.

Because Lord Ieyasu is well aware of my loyalty, he has left me here in charge of the important area of Kamigata as Deputy of Fushimi Castle while he advances toward the East, and for a warrior there is nothing that could surpass this good fortune. That I should be able to go ahead of all the other warriors of this country and lay down my life for the sake of my master's benevolence is an honor to my family and has been my most fervent desire for many years.

After I am slain, you must lovingly care for all your younger brothers, beginning with Hisagoro, in my stead. Your younger brothers must earnestly look to you as they would to their father, and must never disobey you.

As they grow up, they should one by one present themselves to the Lord Ieyasu, make efforts with their own various talents, do whatever they are
commanded, be on friendly terms with one another, and remain forever grateful to their ancestors, by whose blessings our clan was established and its descendants succored.

They must be determined to stand with Lord Ieyasu's clan in both its ascent and decline, in times of peace and in times of war; and either waking or
sleeping they must never forget that they will serve his clan, and his clan alone. To be avaricious for land or to forget old debts because of some
passing dissatisfaction, or to even temporarily entertain treacherous thoughts is not the Way of Man.

Even if all the other provinces of Japan were to unite against our lord, our descendants should not set foot inside another fief to the end of time.
Simply, in no matter what circumstances, unify with the heart of one family - of elder and younger brothers - exert yourselves in the cause of loyalty,
mutually help and be helped by one another, preserve your righteousness and strive in bravery, and be of a mind never to stain the reputation of a clan that has not remained hidden from the world, but has gained fame in military valor for generations, especially since the days of the Governor of Iga.

At any rate, if you will take it into your mind to be sincere in throwing away your life for your master, you will not have the slightest fear or trembling even with the advent of innumerable impending calamities.

    I am now 62 years of age. Of the number of times that I have barely escaped death since the time I was in Mikawa I have no idea. Yet, not once
have I acted in a cowardly way. Man's life and death, fortune and calamity are in the fate of the times, and thus one should not search out after what he likes. What is essential is to listen to the words of the older retainers, to put to use men of skill and understanding, to not commit acts of adolescent self-will, and to receive the remonstrance's of your retainers.

The entire country will soon be in the hands of your master, Lord Ieyasu. If this is so, the men who served him will no doubt hope to become daimyo by his appointment. You should know that if such feelings arise, they are inevitably the beginning of the end of one's fortunes in the Way of the Warrior.

Being affected by the avarice for office and rank, or wanting to become a daimyo and being eager for such things ... will not one then begin to value his life? And how can a man commit acts of martial valor if he values his life? A man who has been born into the house of a warrior and yet places no loyalty in his heart and thinks only of the fortune of his position will be flattering on the surface and construct schemes in his heart, will forsake righteousness and not reflect on his shame, and will stain the warrior's name of his household to later generations. This is truly regrettable. it is not necessary to say such a thing, but you should raise the name of your ancestors in this world yet a second time. Moreover, as I have already spoken to you about the management of our clan's affairs, there is no need to speak of that again. You have already seen and heard of what has been regulated from years past.

    Be first of all prudent in your conduct and have correct manners, develop harmony between master and retainers, and have compassion on those beneath you. Be correct in the degree of rewards and punishments, and let there be no partiality in your degree of intimacy with you retainers. the foundation of man's duty as a man is in "truth."  Beyond this, there is nothing to be said.

Notes:

1The area of Kyoto and Osaka.

²Early in the 13th century, Nitta Yoshisue settled in the village of Tokugawa in Kozuke and took the name of that place for his own. Late in the 14th cen­tury, his ninth-generation descendant, Yasuchika, was born in the village of Matsudaira in Mikawa, and took the name of that place for his own line. Ieyasu, Yasuchika's eighth-generation descendant, received permission from the emperor to take the name Tokugawa once again, leaving that of Matsu­daira to lateral branches of the family.

³Tokugawa's grandfather.

KATO KIYOMASA (1562-1611)

Kato Kiyomasa was born the son of a blacksmith in the prov­ince of Owari, and from the age of 18 attached himself to a rising military leader from the same area, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. At age 21, Kato fought at the battle of Shizugadake, earning great honor for his courage, and by his 26th year he was nominated to the lordship of Kumamoto Castle in Kyushu. By 1592 he had earned such respect from Toyotomi that he was awarded partial com­mand of the vanguard invading Korea, along with Konishi Yuki­naga and Kuroda Nagamasa. Kato^'s ferocity quickly became leg­endary, and it was on this campaign that the Koreans nicknamed him Kishokan, or the ^"Devil General."

In 1597 Toyotomi again attacked Korea, with Kato once in command of one segment of the vanguard. Events did not proceed well for the invaders, but Kato's reputation for courage and obstinacy only increased. Surrounded at a place called Yolsan, he and his troops held out against overwhelming odds—this despite a move by Konishi's forces to sue for peace. Kato never forgot Konishi's betrayal.

The Precepts of Kato Kiyomasa

KATO KIYOMASA (1562-1611) 

ARTICLES CONCERNING WHICH ALL SAMURAI SHOULD BE RESOLVED, REGARDLESS OF RANK

"One should not be negligent in the way of the retainer. One should rise at four in the morning, practice sword technique, eat one's meal, and train with the bow, the gun, and the horse. For a well developed retainer, he should become even more so.

If one should want diversions, he should make them such outdoor pastimes such as falconing, deer hunting and wrestling.

For clothing, anything between cotton and natural silk will do. A man who squanders money for clothing and brings his household finances into disorder is fit for punishment. Generally one should further himself with armor that is appropriate for his social position, sustain his retainers, and use his money for martial affairs.

When associating with one's ordinary companions, one should limit the meeting to one guest and one host, and the meal should consist of plain brown rice. When practicing the martial arts, however, one may meet with many people.

As for the decorum at the time of a campaign, one must be mindful that he is a samurai. A person who loves beautification where it is unnecessary is fit for punishment.

The practice of Noh Drama is absolutely forbidden. When one unsheathes his sword, he has cutting a person down on his mind. Thus, as all things are born from being placed in one’s heart, a samurai who practices dancing, which is outside of the martial arts, should be ordered to commit seppuku.

One should put forth great effort in matters of learning. One should read books concerning military matters, and direct his attention exclusively to the virtues of loyalty and filial piety.

Reading Chinese poetry, linked verse, and waka(1) is forbidden. One will surely become womanized if he gives his heart knowledge of such elegant and delicate refinements.

Having been born into the house of a warrior, one's intentions should be to grasp the long and the short swords and to die.

If a man does not investigate into the matter of Bushido daily, it will be difficult for him to die a brave and manly death. Thus it is essential to engrave This business of the warrior into one's mind well.

The above conditions should be adhered to night and day. if there is anyone who finds these conditions difficult to fulfill, he should be dismissed, an investigation should be quickly carried out, it should be signed and sealed that he was unable to mature in the Way of Manhood, and he should be driven out. To this, there is no doubt."

NOTES ON REGULATIONS

Kuroda Nagamasa (1568-1623 A.D.)

Kuroda Nagamasa was the son of a Christian daimyo, Kuroda Josui, and was baptized Simeon in 1583. He was to become well known as a great strategist. While still young, Kuroda was put under the auspices of Oda Nobunaga and later served under Toyo­tomi Hideyoshi. He participated in the battle of Shizugadake at the age of 15 and later joined the campaign for the pacification of Kyushu. In 1592 and again in 1597 he shared command of the vanguard invasion troops in Korea with Konishi Yukinaga and Kato Kiyomasa. Although he had helped Konishi out of some mili­tary tight spots in Korea and was—like Konishi^—a Christian, Kuroda supported Tokugawa Ieyasu during the fighting at Seki­gahara, and for his efforts was enfieffed at Chikuzen becoming Lord of Fukuoka Castle.

Both Kuroda Nagamasa and his father Josui were well known for their regard for the advice of others, and Nagamasa even set aside one night a month when he would sit with a number of his trusted retainers and allow all to talk freely with the mutual promise that none would become angry over what was said, or gossip about it later. These were called the ^"Meetings Without Anger."

Although baptized as a Christian at an early age, Kuroda, un­like his father, gave up the faith when it became officially pro-scribed.

The Regulations given here were written a year before Kuroda's death to his eldest son, Tadayuki, and the clan elders, and can be found in slightly varying forms in the precepts of his own father, Josui. Kuroda, as do many of the samurai in this book, extols the balance of the arts of peace (Confucian learning and literature) with the arts of war, and encourages fairness and sympathy toward the other three classes of people. His precepts differ from the others in the emphasis he laid on economics, a predisposition he surely inherited from his thrifty father. Most of this material is in concrete terms and has been omitted here. The Regulations is a verbose document and the reader can almost feel Kuroda's hesi­tancy to conclude his advice in the end. His circumspect council was not unheeded by his descendants, however, and the clan con­tinued well into the next chapter of Japanese history.

Notes on Regulations

 If a general who is to maintain the province does not have a special consciousness, his task will be a difficult one to attain. His attitudes must not be the same as the ordinary man's. Firstly, he must be correct in manners and etiquette, must not let self-interest into government, and must take care of the common people. Moreover, he must be prudent in selecting the things that he has interest in; for what the master prefers, all the other warriors will also, and even the farmers and townspeople will take pleasure in them. If he does some trifling thing for pleasure, he should do it in such a manner that it will not cause attention; and he should not forget even for a moment that he is the model for the four classes of people.

Generally speaking, the master of a province should discharge his duties with love and humanity, should not listen to slander, and should exercise the good. His governing should be as clear as the bright sun in the bright sky, and he should think things over deeply in his mind and make no mistakes.

The arts of peace and the arts of war are like the two wheels of a cart which, lacking one, will have difficulty in standing. Natural­ly, the arts of peace are used during times of tranquility and those of war during times of confusion, but it is most essential to not forget the military during peaceful times nor to disregard scholas­tics during times of war. When the master of a province feels that the world is in peace and forgets the arts of war, first, military tactics will fall into disuse, the warriors of his clan will naturally become effeminate and lose interest in martial ways, the martial arts will be neglected, the variety of weapons will be insufficient, weapons handed down through generations will become rusty and rot, and there will be nothing of any use during times of emer­gency. If the Way of the Warrior is thus neglected, ordinary mili­tary tactics will not be established; if a military situation were to suddenly arise there would be panic and confusion, consulta­tion would be unprepared for, and the establishment of strategy would be difficult. When one has been born into the house of a military commander, he should not forget the arts of war even for a moment.

**********

Again, what is called cherishing the Way of the Warrior is not a matter of extolling the martial arts above all things and becoming a scaremonger.

**********

Moreover, if scholastics are neglected during the times of war, legislation will be unestablished, self-interest in government will abound, and, as there will be no real love for the members of the clan or the common folk either, the people who carry grudges will be many. Even in the battlefield, if one has only hot-blooded bravery he will not be in accordance with the Way; and being thus unmindful of his soldiers, acts of loyalty will be rare.

Generally speaking, for the master of a domain to cherish the arts of peace is not at all a matter of thinking that he must read many books and write poetry. Rather, it is essential that he know the Way of Truth, that he be particular about his efforts in the scrutinizing of every matter, that he be just in all affairs and make no mistakes, that he be correct in recognizing good and evil and demonstrate rewards and punishments clearly, and that he have a deep sympathy for all people. Again, what is called cherishing the Way of the Warrior is not a matter of extolling the martial arts above all things and becoming a scaremonger. It is rather in being well-informed in military strategy, in forever pondering one's resources of pacifying disturbances, in training one^'s soldiers without remiss, in rewarding those who have done meritorious deeds and punishing those who have committed crimes, in being correct in one's evaluation of bravery and cowardice, and in not forgetting this matter of ^"the battle" even when the world is at peace. It is simply brashness to make a specialty of the martial arts and to be absorbed in one^'s individual efforts. Such is certainly not the Way of the Warrior of a provincial lord or military commander.

There is no special technique in the military strategy of our clan. Its essentials are simply in carrying out the orders of the master and chief retainers carefully, and in the unity of our sol­diers. The strength of our soldiers will be as hard as metal or stone if, during uneventful ordinary times, one will be sympathetic toward his retainers, give rewards without regret to those who de-serve them, and demonstrate this attitude to all men, thus harmo­nizing by one's own sympathy the hearts of the upper and lower ranks and earnestly encouraging the bravery of one's soldiers. If such is done, there should be no doubt of victory.

Moreover, if a man who is a military commander has no sense of authority,' it will be difficult to command the masses. Yet, to understand this incorrectly, and purposely develop a sense of au­thority will cause great harm. When one understands ^"authority" to mean taking an attitude of intimidation toward everyone, acts in a high-blown manner even when meeting with the clan elders, uses rough words for matters of no consequence at all, refuses to listen to the admonitions of others, perseveres in his own mistakes, and forcibly shoves through his own opinions, even the clan elders will not rebuke him and he will likely be pulled along (a destruc­tive path) by his own actions. If one acts like this even toward the clan elders alone, it will eventually reach to all his warriors, and by simply fearing the master they will have no thoughts of loyalty, will think only of their own positions, and will commit no true acts of service. Thus, if the master slights men because of his own pride, his retainers and even the common people will move away from him. One should understand well that this will inevitably bring on the destruction of his domain. What may be called true authority is brought about first in bearing oneself with the correct etiquette and in making clear the distinction between right and wrong, reward and punishment. If one will act in this way, and be neither prideful nor intimidating toward others, the retainers and common people will not respect him simply out of fear, or despise or make light of him, and he will be endowed with a natural authority.

It is essential that the above precepts are kept, and that the reserve funds for the castle are added to without remiss, bit by bit over the years. After a number of years this should amount to a great bit of wealth, and after 100 years our clan should be able to accumulate the better part of the currency in the realm.

Again, the present peaceful administration of the country is liable not to last forever. With the passage of 100, 150 or 200 years, there may well be some upheaval. There are examples of this in the past, and it is of utmost importance to be resolved in having a determined plan for this beforehand. When the country has been thrown into confusion and one's resources are few, it will be difficult to conduct military affairs and render meritorious services. And, it will be difficult to give ample protection to the fief.

You who are my descendants should tread in my footsteps, absolutely abide by these precepts, strive to be economical, behave yourselves all the more prudently, dispense benevolence to the people, be just in government, and carry on the family customs in a manly way. If you will do this, the entire country will hear of the benevolence of our clan and there will be many who are swayed to follow us. Particularly, there are samurai who under-stand the double Way of the scholar and warrior well, and who mean to make a name for themselves in this world. As such men choose their own masters well, they will without a doubt gather here even without being invited. This coming to pass, our clan will naturally excel others, and will clearly prosper both materially and in terms of authority.

However, to oppress the people and covet the possessions of the samurai in one^'s desire to become quickly prosperous is abso­lutely laying the foundation for the destruction of the fief.

Precious metals and jewels are not necessarily treasures. Rather, one should consider his samurai and the common people as his wealth, and bring them up with gentleness and benevolence. Gold and silver are not necessarily to be recklessly accumulated; and when one receives wealth and distinction naturally through years of meritorious deeds, no disasters are likely to follow.

Both lord and vassals should observe these principles well, manage things in a way that there will be no mistakes, and not act contrary to my precepts.

Again, there may be some among my descendants who act unjustly and selfishly, do not listen to admonitions, act freely with-out observing these precepts, and recklessly make expenditures. If this should occur, the clan elders should confer together and re-move that man, choosing another with good character from my descendants to be lord. Thus will our house continue.

It is essential that the clan elders understand the purport of these things well, and pass them on to each and every one of my descendants.

It is vital that these articles be strictly and permanently ob­served.

To my son, Tadayuki
and the Chief Elders

Nagamasa

Notes

¹  (   ) : This character is difficult to capture in a single English word. It carries the meaning of both dignity and authority and perhaps comes close to an ideal of dignified charisma. Needless to say, it was considered an essential during the Warring States Period.

Posted: 27 November 2005 at 10:52pm | IP Logged

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Naramoto, Tatsuya. Bushido no Keifu. Tokyo: Chuo Koronsha, 1971.

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Sansom, George. A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford: Stanford Unversity Press, 1958.

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Dictionaries

Dai Kan-wa Jiten, 12 Vols. Morohashi, Tetsuji, comp. Tokyo: Daishokan Shoten, 1960.

 Kadokawa Kan-wa Chujiten. Kaizuka, Shigeki, Iwatomo Fujino and Shinobu Ono, eds. Tokyo: Kadokawa Shoten, 1974.

 Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, 20 Vols. Nihon Daijiten Kanko Kai, ed. Tokyo: Shogakkan, 1977.

Posted: 27 November 2005 at 10:57pm | IP Logged

Consulate-General of Japan in Miami

Press Release

Author William Scott Wilson of Miami honored by Japan's Foreign Minister

(Released Nov. 8, 2005)

Miami, Florida –

1. Japan’s Foreign Minister’s Commendation will be awarded to Author William Scott Wilson of Miami. This award is conferred upon individuals or groups that have rendered especially distinguished service in strengthening the relationship between Japan and other countries. Through his literary works and translations, Mr. Wilson has contributed greatly to increased cultural understanding and friendship between the US and Japan. On November 15, Consul General Masakazu Toshikage, Consulate General of Japan in Miami, will hold a ceremony and presentation in his honor.

2. Mr. Wilson is a premier author and translator of samurai literature. He completed his first translation, Hagakure, while living in a farmhouse in Japan. This translation was later used in the 1999 film Ghost Dog by Jim Jarmusch. His first original work, The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi, was published in 2004. He has done extensive research on Japanese philosophy and Bushido, the way of the samurai. He has lectured at The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach and will hold a presentation at the Miami Book Fair International on November 19. Mr. Wilson grew up in Fort Lauderdale and currently resides in Miami.

3. Mr. Wilson’s presentation at Miami Book Fair International is in conjunction with Kagoshima, Japan Days 2005, a celebration of Miami and Kagoshima’s sister-city relationship. A variety of events such as taiko drum and koto performances and tea ceremony demonstrations will be held in the Kagoshima - Japan Pavilion at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus from Friday, November 18 through Sunday, November 20. Mr. Wilson’s lecture will be held at 12 noon on Saturday in Building 3, Room #3315. For more information on Kagoshima, Japan Days’ events, call the Consulate General of Japan at #(305)530-9090. Admission to the book fair on Friday is free, Saturday and Sunday is $5 for adults, children 18 and under, free.

http://www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp/PRAWARD4.HTML

Posted on Sun, Nov. 20, 2005

SOUTH MIAMI Translator honored by Japan for work South Miami resident William Scott Wilson was honored last week by the Japanese government for his contributions to its culture. BY RISA BERRIN For The Herald When William Scott Wilson graduated from Dartmouth College, the South Florida native set off on a 1,200 mile canoeing trip along the Japanese coast. He developed a passion for the country, which now -- four decades later -- he shares with the English-speaking world through his translations of Japanese classical literature. Tuesday, the Consulate General of Japan awarded Wilson with his country's Foreign Minister's Commendation for his contributions to Japanese culture. The award was given to 23 others worldwide who helped strengthen ties between Japan and other countries. Wilson, 61, was recognized for his numerous published translations of classical Japanese literature and for his one published original work, The Lone Samurai, a biography of Miyamoto Musashi. A Japanese swordsman, Musashi was a cultural icon of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. ''By introducing classical literature to English-speaking countries, he contributed to a better understanding of Japanese culture and arts,'' said Masakuzu Toshikaje, the Consul General of Japan in Miami, who presented the award to Wilson at a Coral Gables reception. Wilson said that his first trip to Japan was an awakening. ''I had not known what I was doing with my life,'' said Wilson, who lives in South Miami. ``When I got there, I knew it was going to be there I would spend my energies.'' He developed a particular interest in the Japanese samurai culture. Wilson said these samurai warriors, who controlled Japan for about 800 years, embodied courage, honor, loyalty and sincerity, which became important values in Japan. The warriors were cultured men who were also painters and poets, he said. ''They were people that were involved in a very straight-forward philosophy of life and death, courage and conviction and sincerity,'' he said. Kate Barnes, who traveled with Wilson and another friend, Gary Haskins, to Japan in 1969, said she immediately noticed Wilson's passion for all things Japanese during that first trip together. ''He had an almost inborn understanding of Japan,'' said Barnes, who is a freelance painter living in Cross Creek, Fla. ``I started Japanese language study at the same time as him but I was left in the dust by my good buddy. He had a natural ability for the language.'' Barnes said the three close friends refer to Japan as their second home, or what Barnes calls furrusato, which means ''homeland of the heart'' in Japanese. ''Furrosato is usually meant as the place that they were born, but for us, our hearts keep being pulled back to Japan,'' Barnes said. Since that trip in 1969, Wilson says he has ''yo-yo-ed'' back and forth between the United States and Japan. He married his first wife, Hattori, a Japanese woman and had two children with her, Matthew, 36, and Michelle, 33, who were both born in Japan. ''I got myself a farmhouse in an old pottery village,'' he said. ``I took my kids to Japanese kindergarten, and I stayed home and translated.'' Wilson eventually returned to South Florida, where he grew up, in order to raise his children in Miami. In the 1980s and '90s, Wilson taught Japanese and history at several local high schools, including Ransom Everglades, Miami Jackson, Miami Springs, MAST Academy and Braddock. Braddock High is where Harry Muñiz accidentally encountered ``Mr. Wilson.'' ''I had signed up for a German class,'' said Muñiz, who is currently completing a master's of fine art at Berkeley University in California. 'Instead, I found out on the first day of class it was Japanese. I said `I've got to get out of here.' '' But Wilson's dynamic teaching style convinced Muniz to stick it out -- and to study Japanese for the remainder of high school. ''He has a charm about himself. He conveys things that might seem so obtuse and intellectual and make them sound down to earth,'' said Muñiz, 28. Wilson's current wife, Emily, was a student of his in a Japanese language continuing education class at Ponce de Leon Middle School 10 years ago. She fell in love with the language, and with the teacher. ''This is his life's work. His love and his passion never wanes, never weakens,'' she said. For the last five years, Wilson has been working from home as a full-time, free-lance writer and translator. He plans to have his 10th translation published by next summer. Wilson also intends to move to Japan temporarily in the next couple of years with Emily and their 2-year-old son, Henry Clay. Robin Gill, who is also a writer and translator of Japanese works and lives in Key Biscayne, said Wilson is now synonymous with Japan. 'When you talk to someone down here about Japan, their first question is `Do you know Bill Wilson?' '' Gill said. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/2005/12/04/news/local/s tates/florida/counties/miami-dade/cities_neighborhoods/cor al _gables/13209831.htm