Japan Book Club: Bushido: The Soul of Japan – Part 6
It’s been a little while since we’ve been able to post questions for the Japan Book Club, with all the TAP teachers busy with fund raisers, England applications, band concerts, drama club, cheerleading competitions, and the volleyball season, but we’re hoping to finish Bushido: Soul of Japan over winter break, so curl up next to that fire and get some reading done while you wait for Santa to plop down that chimney.
This week we’ll focus on three chapters: Institution of Suicide and Redress, The Sword the Soul of the Samurai, and The Training and Position of Women.
Read the chapters and answer the questions below.
If you are confused by the questions or can’t figure out the answers, you may post questions to the teachers and other students in the comments section here. This is a tough book, so let’s be sure to help one another understand it.
- What is seppuku?
- Why in the world would anyone do that?
- What is the importance of a samurai’s swords?
- What virtues did Bushido prize in women?
- Why is it considered polite to insult your wife?
Every student in our Japan group is required to participate. You must comment on this post with your thoughts, then come back and comment on what other people have said – you are required to make an effort to keep the conversation going by replying to at least 2 other students (more than just “I agree” or “you are right.” Give them reasons why you agree/disagree or what they said that was meaningful – make this a discussion).
Minooka TAP 
1. Seppuku is a form of ritual suicide where somebody cuts into their stomach to kill themselves.
2. Seppuku was seen as an honorable way to die. The book says, “…it was a process by which warriors could expiate their crimes, apologize for errors, escape from disgrace, redeem their friends, or prove their sincerity.”
3. The Samurai’s swords represented the two things that a samurai should have, loyalty and honor.
4. The book says, “…the virtues it prized in woman were naturally far from being distinctly feminine.” This means that what virtues that were taught to them were not the stereotypical things women were taught. Women were taught to express their feelings and to protect themselves with weapons.
5. Praising one’s wife is like praising yourself. Thinking highly of yourself is seen bad even in America. By insulting your wife, you are not praising yourself, and are admitting that you have flaws.
I think the ritual of seppuku is a horrible way to die even if you have such a bad life. I would just continue living and see how it plays out.
I like how you added that even in America, it is seen bad to think “highly as yourself” as you had said.
I find it interesting how you compared America in this situation. Yes it is bad in America to think highly of yourself, but it is seen even worse to unsult your wife, you are showing you have no respect for them.
The ritual of seppuku is a horrible way to die. But if its a ritual thenit has to be done.
its a surprise that the women were able to express their feeling and taught to defend their self back then because in any culture women were discriminated
I mostly just found it weird that seppuku is an honorable way to die. In some religions, suicide is said to send you to hell.
I kind of have to pull a rred flag about insulting your wife there. In america, it’s called verbal abuse, but in japan, its called the way of the samurai.It really wants me to go ahead and say, “Does not compute”
1. Seppuku is a suicidal ritual which one prefroms by cutting into their own stomach in order to kill themselves.
2. Seppuku sounds like the worst possible way to die, but a warrior would preform this ritual to pretty much escape from everything they have done bad in thier life.
3. The sword of a samuria is the representation of the two most important things a warrior should have, loyality and honor.
4. Women were trained by what sounded to me a lot like defending themselves with wepeaons and express their feelings
5. Becuase if you praise your wife you praise yourself which is bad all across the world so you are admitting both you and your wife have flaws.
I enjoyed this book becuase I enjoyed seeing how the samuria lives their life and the principles you have to follow.
I agree, the book was something different and was enjoyable. Though i had to read back a few times to get the anwers i needed, it was an interesting read to find so much about the lives of samurais
i agree with you Zach. This book was very good because i also enjoyed learning about the samurai and their rituals.
Seppuku does seem like a crappy way to die, but samurais’ take all these things seriously and always follow orders.
It sort of seems like they are justifying suicide. It is a horrible thing but if it really means the whole erasing of past mistakes thing then I guess it’s not totally awful.
1. Seppuku is a type off ritual suicide whic consists of someone cuttiung their stomach to kill them.
2. It was considered a brave and honorable thing to do. It would redeem you of mistakes or let you escape hard times.
3. The sword stands for layalty and honor, key things a samurai should have.
4. Bushido looked at woman as a form of Greek art, and that they picked out were far from them just being feminine.
5. It’s polite because if you praise your wife, she is a part of your life and you are rude because you are considered to praise youself. If you insult your wife, you are admitting that you both have your flaws and you accept that.
I like how you said that women are Greek art. That form of art shows how beautiful women are both inside and out.
At first, I didn’t understand the whole “it’s good to insult your wife” thing but it’s more clear now that they are just reflecting upon themselves. I still think it’s stupid but I suppose I can see what they are talking about.
1.seppuku is a form of suicide of piercing and cutting the stomach
2. It was an easily planned death and also one that was okay to do… It helped them apologize for sins.. That’s not to bad.
3. The importance of the samurais swords were to be honorable and loyal… 2 of the features samurais should have…
4.they were taught to fight and protect themselves with weapons. They were taught to express feelings as they like.
5. It is ok to insult your wife because …it’s your wife… You married her she is like you… She isn’t perfect… Neither are you..
I agree on number five that nobody’s perfect but insulting your wife isnt good at all.
i agree with you blair no one is perfict and insulting you wife isn’t the right thing to do first of all it is rude, also your wife is someone that you should be kind and loving to.
I also like number five, but it’s because you were able to show the reason of why it was okay to hit your wife with only such amount of words.
1) Seppuku is a ritual where you cut your stomach, suicidal.
2) Seppuku is an honorable thing to do, it would basically erase everything bad you have done in your lifetime.
3) The samurais sword represents the loyalty and honor that the samurai possesses.
4) Women were taught to always protect themselves with weapons, and to always express their feelings.
5) You are sopposed to treat your wife like if she were you. Everybody knows that it is bad to be selfish, and if you are, people will look down on you. Treating your wife greatly all the time is being selfish, and insulting her means that you admit you have flaws.
I think what you said about selfishness and it being frowned upon is very true.
I don’t see how Seppuku is an honorable thing, then again we do come from a different culture. It seems horrifying to me.
We think things in Japenese culture can be sort of weird and odd, but I wonder what the Japenese think about our culture.
I wonder the same, I bet that they think that our culture is very different to theirs, because it is. We are more of a “I want it now” culture, and the Japanese are very peaceful and they will only want what they need.
i agree with nate that what you said adout selfishness is true. however i don’t think insulting you wife is the right thing to do
1 seppuku is a ritual of suicide in which you pierce yourself in the stomach thus cutting it and killing you.
2 people would perform this because it was considerd that all of the mistake that you made would be redeemed.
3 the importance of the samurai’s represents loyalty and honor. Samurai believe this is very important to have.
4 Women were to express themselves and their feelings. In other words to be strong to defend themselves, and protect with wepons.
5 it is considered polite to insult your wife because if you praise her you are praising yourself which makes you look bad. If you insult her it shows that you know that you and your wife both have flaws.
I find the “insulting your wife” situation kind of funny. That would stink to be insulted all the time, even if you get the privilege to marry a samurai.
I find it very interesting that women were expected to show their feelings. When you think about women’s roles, showing thier feelings is the exact opposite of what you would think about women.
I still dont quite understand how it is polite to insult your wife. Isn’t that just going against all respect for themselves and their family?
The Japanese believe that the husband and wife become one person when they get married. To compliment your wife would then to be complimenting yourself. It’s kind of arrogant and rude to say all sorts of nice things about yourself. To say your wife is awesome is the same as saying you are awesome. That’s not humble. Instead, saying, “My wife’s alright. She’s got some good qualities, but there’s bad stuff about her too” is much more humble.
I thought the same thing until I thought about how the Japanese people work their systems
I really love the fact that women using Bushido were much before our time. They actually had a legal way of expression while we did have that until our 19TH amendment in 1919. That says alot about how our country was THAT sexist.
That’s a VERY good point… I never thought about that… Thanks Austin…
1. Seppuku is a form of suicide when you pierce and cut yourself in your stomach.
2. People preform Seppuku because it is honorable and it is a chance to redeem yourself and erase your past mistakes.
3. The samurais sword represents the loyalty and honor, which the samurai have a lot of.
4. Women were supposed to express themselves and their feelings and to defend and protect themselves using weapons.
5. It was actually considered polite to insult your wife because it shows that you know that her and yourselve make mistakes and aren’t perfect. If they praise their wives, it makes them look bad because it means you are praising yourself.
I see why insulting your wife would show that you do know her well and understand imperfection, but I think praising her would be better.
I find it fascinating that women are trained to defend themselves in Japan. They are supposed to express their feelings, they are quite different then in America.
1. Seppuku is a form of suicide: you basically stab and cut into your own stomach in order to kill yourself.
2. It was actually a respected thing to do because it would erase all the mistakes you made and forgive you all of your sins from your life.
3. A samurai’s swords showed that he was loyal and honorable, two important aspects of life.
4. Bushido taught women to act differently than how normal woman acted. They were supposed to express their feelings and protect themselves at all costs.
5. It basically works like this: if you praise your wife, you’re praising yourself because you married the woman you’re praising. This is seen as a bad thing to do. So if you insult your wife, you insult yourself and admit that you are not perfect.
1. Seppuku is a ritual suicide in which one punctures into their stomach killing themselves.
2. people do it because it is erasing all the negative and bad acts they’ve done in their life.
3. swords to the samurai is a representation of loyalty and honor the 2 main features a samurai should have.
4.They were taught to express themselves and to defend themsleves with weapons as they always protected themselves.
5. You married your wife and she deserves the truth even if it hurts treating her well and keeping her on a pedistole is considered rude she married you for you and expects you to acknoledge neither of you are perfect.
I think that seppuku was brutal, but the samurai probably felt that there was no other way to repay for your mistakes. If they made a bad mistake in battle, they probably felt that there was no other way to repay.
Since honor means so much to the samuri, they would go to the extremes to preserve it. Even if it meant cutting into your own stomach to kill yourself.
your right Jake, honor is all that the samurai have. Once that is gone what else is there to live for?
1. Seppuku is the suicide ritual of cutting your own stomach and killing yourself in the process.
2. Seppuku was performed to show the dishonor for losing against their opponent, thus killing themselves since they though it would make up for that mistake.
3. The importance of a samurai’s sword was to show the honor and loyalty that the samurai had.
4. Virtues that Bushido prized in women were for the women to defend themselves with any weapon, which was expressing themselves, and to show their feelings.
5. It was considered polite to hit your wife because it proved that you had flaws. When you have married, you and your wife are one, meaning they share the same flaws. It’s like looking in a mirror, if you praise her, then you’re praising yourself, making you selfish, but if you were to hit her, it proves that you have flaws.
1) Seppuku is, also known as hara-kiri, means “self-immolation by disembowelment” Basically, a person would stab themself in a stomach and commit suicide.
2) People would perform seppuku because it is a respected, as stated in the book, “…it was a process by which warriors could expiate their crimes, apologize for errors, escape from disgrace, redeem their friends, or prove their sincerity” Simply, it was sort of like the refresh button. It cleared them of their previous mistakes.
3) “What he carries in his belt is a symbol of what he carries in his mind and heart–Loyalty and Honor” This says that the samurai sword’s importance was that it was symbolic. The book also calls it “daito and shoto or katana and wakizashi”
4) Some virtues that Bushido prized in women included the woman’s capability to defend themself using some form of a weapon and expressing of their feelings. They expect them to be very strong.
5) It is considered polite to insult your wife because it is a reflection upon one’s self, showing that neither of you are perfect. If you glorify her, then you are basically saying your perfect, hence the whole reflection thing.
i really liked the quote you used in the answer for number three, it sound philosophical and it helped me to understand what you were getting at.
I like the way you thoroughly explained the process of seppuku and what it means.
I love how you came up with the idea that seppuke was like a refreash button.
1) Seppuku is the practice of suicide by disembowlment, or stabbing yourself in the abdomen. This was practiced because the soul was belived to be in the abdomen.
2) Seppuku was basically practiced as a method of repentance. It was practiced as a way to get rid of thier mistakes albeit fatal.
3) The importatnce of a samurai’s swords was that they represented a samurai’s honor and loyalty. They were also respected items.
4) Women were expected as the book states to use weapons, to be their own body guard, and to ironically show thier feelings, in sharp contrast with most of the world.
5) It is considered polite to insult your wife because when you were married you were considered one with your wife. If you praised her, you were viewed as praising yourself, which shows hubris. If you insulted her, it proved you had flaws.
i like how you compared what was expected of woman around the world, but i think that they chose well, i mean how alse are there so many ninjas?
I liked how, in number five, you made the connection to the Greek idea of hubris. It shows how alike cultures are throughout the whole world.
Nice usage of the word Hubris. I’m suprised none of us thought of you other than you. 🙂
1)Seppuku is a form of suicide that involves stabbing into the stomach with a knife.
2)To a samurai, the only way to make up for a crime or a lost battle was seppuku. Due to how harsh and slow the death was, one who carried out the ritual would retain his honor.
3)A samura’s sword represents the two qualities the all samurai were meant to uphold; honr and loyalty.
4)Woman were expected to speak as they thought, and to be able to protect themselves with weapons, which really makes me think of ninja assassin.
5)To insult your wife, is to insult yourself, therefore you are showing to you have flaws which is polite. Though i think this is odd, it does make perfect sense once you know the reason why.
I liked how in number four, you said that the way women were expected to act were sort of like ninja assassins. In today’s culture, especially in America, women are tending to fill the roles of assassins in movies and television. I wonder if any of this has to do with the teachings of Bushido.
I like how in number four, you said that it reminds you of ninja assassins. In today’s culture, especially in America, women have started to play the roles of these assassins in movies and television. I wonder if this has anything to do with the teachings of Bushido.
I find it kind of funny how if the samurai ends up proceeding with seppuku and survives is, they actually regain their honor they previously lost.
1) Seppuku is when you stab yourself in the stomach to perform suicide.
2) The samurai would perform this ritual to get rid of all your sins you made in life.
3) The samurai sword symbolizes that the holder is honorable and loyal.
4) Bushido taught women to act more different than normal women, it taught them to express what they feel, and to fight with weapons to defend themselves.
5) In the aspect of Bushido it is considered polite to insult your wife because she is like you so praising her is like praising yourself which is not humble.
Do you think Bushido taught the women the right way?
i think its interesting that the ritual of seppuku was another way to get rid of all the sins they had committed in their life relieved onto death
1. Seppuku is a form of suicide where you stab yourself in the stomach.
2. This ritual was preformed as a way of ridding you of all the sins and mistakes you have ever made.
3. The samurai sword’s importance is that it represents honor and loyalty.
4. Bushido prized the woman’s way to defend themselves without any weapon, but with there words and feelings.
5. It is polite to insult your wife because it shows you know her and that she is like you. You are showing awareness to her imperfections as if they were your own.
But what if you dont insult your wife do you come off mean ?
First, Seppuku was a form of suicide in which the samurai was kill himself by slicing open his stomach with his own blade, providing death to all who tried. The samurai would do this because it was seen as the honorable way for redemption against all the crimes one has commited. Next, the samurai’s sword was seen as the main symbols as to what all samurai were to have: loyalty and honor. With women, they were taught to express theit feelings to show that they weren’t just the maids of the sterotype. Finally, great treatment of your wife was considered wrong as the wife is a major piece of your life, meaning praisement of yourself that was again wrong. However, if you were insult her, it shows that both of you have flaws (You are rude and cocky of yourself and your wife isn’t perfect either).
1. Seppuku is where someone cuts into their stomach to kill themselves.
2. The samurai would perform this ritual to erase the sins they made in life.
3. The sword of a samuria represents their honor and loyalty
4. Women were taught to express their feelings and to protect themselves with weapons.
5.If you insult your wife it shows that you and your wife both have flaws, because you and your wife are considered one.
Who invented seppuku?
Thats a good question and why must you stab yourself with a knife rather than killing yourself an other way ?
1. Seppuku is a form of ritual suicide where somebody cuts into their stomach to kill themselves.
2. The samurai would perform this ritual to erase the sins they made in life.
3.A samurai’s sword represents the two qualities that all samurai were meant to uphold; honor and loyalty.
4.They were taught to express themselves and to defend themsleves with weapons as they always protected themselves.
5. If you respect your wife it is like respecting yourself. It looks bad to consider your self perfect anywhere in the world. So it looks bad upon your self if you dont insult your wife because by insulting her you tell her and everyone else that she is not perfect too.
1. Seppuku is a type of ritual death or suicidal act, where someone cuts into their stomach to die.
2. The samurai would do this so make up for any sins they have made in their life.
3. A samurai’s sword was made to represent two qualities they were all meant to have; honor and loyalty.
4. The samuarai were taught to express and defend themselves with their weapons, they always protected themselves well.
5. Respecting your wife was like respecting yourself, it looks bad to think of yourself as perfect anywhere in the entire world. Therefore it looks bad to insult a woman or your wife because you are saying that only you are perfect and no one else is either.
I think number five takes “becoming one person” in marriage a bit to the extreme. I wonder if any wives of samurai wondered how it would feel to be praised for once.
1. seppuku is a ritual suicide by self-disembowelment on a sword.
2. It was resorted to in order to avoid disgrace, act of junshi (suicide on the death of one’s lord)
3. the importance of a samurai’s sword, was to represent honor, and loyalty.
4. the samurai were, well taught to express and defend themselves with their weapons. and they had always protected themselves also.
5. It’s polite to insullt ure wife because if you praise your wife, she is a part of your life, you insulting ure wife is considered to praise youself. If you insult your wife, you are admitting that you both have your flaws and you both accept that.
I looked up the naginata weapon that the book said was a common “girl’s” weapon, and I was… “It’s a spear almost.” But I think I can understand why it was common.
1. seppuku is a suicidal ritual were one person kills them self by stabbing in to their stomach.
2. this was a way that a samurai would kill them self if they lost a battle. they would do this because it was a way for them not to lose their honor.
3. the sword stands for loyality and honor the two most importent things they have.
4. women were taught to use weapons to defend them self and to express their feelings.
5. praseing your wife is like praiseing your self. when you insault your wife it is amitting you both have flaws
1) Seppuke is a way to kill yourself. You kill yourself by stabing yourself in the stomach. You fall to the ground, you should make sure to fall fowards.
2) Seppuke was a way to regain one’s honor.
3) Samurai sowards were important because they displayed two important quaitlies of a samurai: honor and loyalty.
4) Bushido prized the women’s way of being able to express herself and being able to defend and protect herself with a weapon.
5) When you get married, the wife and husband become one. So if you said that your wife’s hot, your calling you self hot… This is arogent and not humble. But if you insult your wife, it’s like saying that “yes we have our positives but we also make mistakes.”
When I first read the 5th question, I was puzzled why insulting your wife would be polite but when I read your response, it made me look at it in a whole nother way. I actaully agree that it would arogent to compliment not only your wife, but also yourself.
1) seppuku is a ritual suicide by disembowelment and was
originally reserved only for samurai
2)It was used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies
3) It represents what qualites samuria should uphold, honor and loyalty.
4)The samuarai were taught to express and defend themselves with their weapons.
5) Its considerd polite to insult your wife because when your married you become one so to insult your wife means that you both arent perfect but your okay with it
I like the way you phrased your answer for number two, ” die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies.” It tells me “Would i rather be murdered, or die on my own terms” type of thing.
1. Seppuku is a form of suicide in which said samurai disembowels himself then is decapitated to ease the suffering.
2.It was only used when a samurai’s lord died, in which he committed suicide
3.A samurai’s sword’s importance was to represent honor and loyalty
4.The samurais were trained to use the sword as a form of self expression
5.If you insult any woman at all, its considered an act of hubris, as you’re saying to the japanese that you’re the only perfect man and everyone else is an imperfect being.
P.S: Do i get bonus points for using hubris?
1.) Seppuku is a way of suicide for the samurai by stabbing them self in the stomach to regain honor in something they have done or that is going to happen.
2.) It seems like a weird thing to me today but back then it must have been a common act because this book is written to describe samurai in general. What i got from the reading is that the samurai did this because the samurai will lose their honor if they lose and if they lose their honor the right thing to do is kill them self. I thought a good quote that well described my explanation was : “When honor’s lost, ’tis a relief to die; Death’s but a sure retreat from infamy,” The reason the samurai stab them self in the stomach is they believed that the “old anatomical belief as to the seat of the soul and of the affections” was in the stomach.
3.) The samurai’s sword is of great importance to him. It is symbolic to him it represents their loyalty and honor and what they are to uphold or maintain. ( it represents them as a whole )
4.) The women were taught to express there feelings and defend themselves to my understanding unlike many cultures even today that discriminate women.
5.) It is considered polite to insult your wife because once married you are thought of as one and if you are considered as one if you compliment your wife your are complimenting your self which is not humble or modest.
1.Seppuku is a suicide ritual during which a samurai disembowels himself and, to stop suffering, is decapitated.
2. Only used when samurai’s master/lord died, and he then committed suicide.
3.The sword represented honor and loyalty to a samurai.
4. The samurais were taught to use the sword as expression, like many people use arts.
5. In marriage, the husband and wife become one, so insulting your wife was okay, because it is saying neither of you are perfect and make mistakes. However, this could also be used the opposite way which would make you concieted.
I wouldnt want to be a samurai and go through seppuku even though it represents honor for not only for yourself but also for your master.
1. Seppuku is a form of suicide that the samurai used in order to die with honor instead of the harsh, painful kill from their enemies.
2. It was said that the samurai would do this to erase all their sins and die with honor. Seppuku was really common when a samurai’s lord or master would die which would cause them to commit suicide.
3. The importance of a samurai’s sword is that it represents their honor and loyalty in which they hold.
4. Bushido encouraged women to defend themselves and express themselves with swords and any other weapon.
5. It’s considered polite to insult your wife because when you get married, you become one and so if you compliment your wife, you are also complimenting yourself which is not modest according to the samurai.
1. Seppuku is a form of ritual suicide where somebody cuts into their stomach to kill themselves.
2. People would do it to escape from everything and to show their honor.
3. A samurai’s sword represents loyalty and honor, two things a samurai should have.
4. Women were taught to protect themselves with weapons and to always show their feelings.
5. It’s polite to insult your wife because if you praise her then you praise yourself but if you insult her then you are saying that you both have flaws and that you accept it.
1.) Seppuku is a type of ritual suicide which consists of someone cutting their stomach to kill
themselves
2.) ”It was a process by which warriors could expiate their crimes, apologize for errors, escape from disgrace, redeem their friends, or prove their sincerity”
3.) The samurai sword represents the loyalty and honor that the samurai possesses
4.) Women were taught to express their feelings and to protect themselves with weapons
5.) Praising one’s wife is like praising yourself because she is a part of your life so insulting her is like insulting yourself admitting you both have flaws
I like your answer for number 5 because what you are basically saying is that you and your wife become one person when they marry and they aren’t two separate people.
1. Sepuku is when the samurais would commit suicide by stabbing themselves in the stomach with a blade.
2.They would do this if they felt that they didn’t accomplish or do something well enough as well as if they do something wrong.
3. A samurai’s sword represents both honor and loyalty to what they are doing.
4. Bushido prized in women that they weren’t the stereotypical women, They knew how to defend themselves, and how to strongly show their emotions.
5. It was considered polite to insult your wife, because insulting her meant that she wasn’t perfect, yet you still loved her. This would then tell people that you loved your wife for who she was and would be with her no matter what.