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Today after another Sword class, we sat down at a local branch of Jonathan’s for something to eat and drink. As soon as we got a chance to sit down, a wave of calm overcame everyone. It was another session of another interesting conversations. Our sensei is a very interesting man; very serious about practice, and also very serious about being able to just relax outside of class. I was wearing a tshirt with 「侍」, the Chinese character read as “SAMURAI” during that little outing. When my sensei saw it, he went at length about what it meant to be a Samurai in a forgotten time of bravery.

He started out flatly by saying that images of angry warriors centuries ago brandishing swrods is not an accurate represenation. He said, that Samurai training started at the age of five. The Samurai in training would be go on to get one of the most taxing education; in which the way of the sword is only a small factor of what they learn. They would learn about the arts, about honing their native toungue, about history, about geography, about science. In other words, they would be the closest thing there is to the concept of a Renaissance Man.

Samurai were actually known for being noble, standing for noble principles, and according to the Electronic Journals of Martial Arts and Sciences, these principles are:

1. GI (Justice, Right Decision): Making correct decisions from the heart rather than from the mind.  To die when one must without thought or regret.

2. YUU (Bravery):  Rushing onto the point of a sword without hesitation if it would accomplish the greatest good.

3. JIN (Compassion, Benevolence):  Universal love toward mankind. The ability to exhibit compassion.

4. REI (Right Action):  Etiquette and the preservation of courtesy.  The Samurai believed that it was better to lose his life than to be impolite.

5. MAKOTO (Truth, Sincerity):  Truthfulness

6. MEIYO (Honor):  Glory without ego.

7. CHUUGI (Devotion):  Loyalty to one’s Lord

They were actually taught that the sword is the absolute LAST resort one should come to, as Bushido (The Way of the True Warrior), ultimately, is the way peace, just because it understands the frailty of humanity, and the dignity by which man is bestowed. Cool, huh?

Sadly, the way of the warrior was abandoned during the Meiji Restoration, in an attempt to catch up with the West’s military advancement (”Military” and “Advancement” in the same sentence? That must be an oxymoron in its own right). From that moment on, soldiers were developed like any product on a mass producation factory line. They were not educated in humanities, hence, their lack of regard of human life and human worth. All this for some imperial glory (another oxymoron), political gain and a possibly a whole lot of money. Battles, since that time, have been faught by uneducated young people, who know not the consequences of murder. It is for this very reason, having uneducated soldiers that is, that today’s wars are swollen rotten with war crimes and unspeakable attrocities. Soldier with no high principles. Monkey see, monkey do. A conflict arises between the old ideal of “fighting for principles” and “all’s fair in war (and love)”.

The sensei concluded his chat about the nature of the “Samurai Spirit” with an image; picture a peach - soft on the outside, but has a pit almost as hard and black as stone, however, inside that pit, is a soft, white pulp. It is that white softness in the core of the peach, representing peace and softness, that can be seen as being similar to the heart of the Samurai.

Wow, huh?