It had been long understood among citizens of Japan that the samurai were a class of their own, hovering far above the rest in the feudal system. These men were bound by a strict moral standard that transcended logic, a standard that often championed action over thought as notions of right and wrong never wavered; what was right was always rights and what was wrong was always wrong.
This moral code is called Bushido, which means Way of the Warrior. Its eight seemingly simple virtues have been spread through generations over thousands of years. Upon abolition of the feudal system in Japan in the late 19th century, these mores trickled down to the greater publics, enriching modern Japanese industry, culture and markets. In 1900, author and economist Inazo Nitobe published the code in his seminal work Bushido: The Soul of Japan, adding modern observations to the centuries-old moral traditions.
What allowed the spread of Bushido was the redefinition of the Japanese public sphere. As power redistributed itself among new classes of people, the samurai found themselves interacting with new communities and networks. During this time of reorganization, the Japanese found these eight virtues made them stand out on the world stage. In a way, those who followed Bushido also found its benefits in achieving the common goal of Japanese economic success. What started as a strict tradition grew into a collective set of directives for a community. Andrew Lih stated, “Basic sets of guidelines, acted upon by individuals at a micro level, wind up feeding into a larger phenomenon of emergent behavior.” While he said this about Wikipedia, it also rings true here.
Bushido is representative of highly spreadable content because it is meaningful to almost ALL consumers and said consumers are able to apply it how they see fit. Once it spread from the samurai network, Bushido became a loosely organized set of virtues able to be widely circulated.
Though it may be subtle, Bushido is evident in our modern pop culture. Its virtues are often celebrated across the media landscape and constantly attracts new participants.
Without further ado, here are the virtues as I see them. The definitions of each are written exactly as they are in Bushido: The Soul of Japan.
2. Rectitude or Justice
“The power of deciding upon a
certain course of conduct in
accordance with reason, without
wavering; -- to die when it is
right to die, to strike when it is
right to strike.”
3. Law and Order holds the record for longest-running
show on television.
4. Courage, The Spirit of Daring
“The spiritual aspect of valor
(courage) is evidenced by
composure -- a calm presence of
mind. Tranquility is courage in
repose.
A truly brave man is ever serene;
he is never taken by surprise;
nothing ruffles the equanimity of
his spirit.”
5. The Hunger Games is a wildly
popular fiction novel-turned-
film narrated by a 16-year-old
girl, who volunteers for a
‘reality show’ in which only one
person can survive.
6. Benevolence or Mercy
“The feeling of distress is the
root of Benevolence, therefore a
benevolent man is ever mindful
of those who are suffering and
in distress.”
7. TOMS Shoes makes it easy and fashionable for
anyone to be charitable.
8. Politeness
“Politeness is a poor virtue, if it is
actuated only by a fear of
offending good taste, whereas it
should be the outward
manifestation of a sympathetic
regard for the feelings of others.
It also implies a due regard for
the fitness of things, therefore
due respect to social positions.”
10. Truthfulness or Sincerity
As quoted from an ancient
unnamed poet: “To thyself be
faithful: if in thy heart thou
strayest not from the truth,
without prayer of thine the Gods
will keep thee whole.”
11. Chelsea Handler = Brutal Honesty
The comedian and talk show host
was named one of TIME magazine’s
Most Influential People of 2012.
12. Honor
“The sense of honor, implying a
vivid consciousness of personal
dignity and worth, could not fail
to characterize the samurai, born
and bred to value the duties and
privileges of their progression.”
14. Loyalty
“This virtue -- homage and
fealty to a superior -- is
(Bushido’s) distinctive feature . . .
It is only in the code of
chivalrous honor that Loyalty
assumes paramount
importance.”
15. Ned Stark of the popular Game of Thrones
series shows unwavering loyalty to his king.
16. Character and Self-Control
“Calmness of behavior,
composure of mind, should not
be disturbed by passion of any
kind.”
17. Helen Phillips (right) lost
140 pounds, winning
$250,000 and the title of
The Biggest Loser for
successfully gaining
control of her weight.
