Japan Book Club: Bushido: The Soul of Japan – Part 7 (the last part)
As the year comes to a close, let’s also finish up Bushido: Soul of Japan. Hopefully when you’re finished with the book, you”ll be able to see how ancient ideals continue to impact Japanese society today, influence the rest of the world, and will be evident in the things we do and experience while we’re in Japan.
This week we’ll focus on the last three chapters of the book: Influence of Bushido, Is Bushido Still Alive?, and The Future of Bushido.
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 other aspects of Japanese society were or have been influenced by Bushido?
- Is Bushido still alive?
- What is the future of Bushido?
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. Other aspects of Japanese society that were/have been influenced by Bushido were democracy in Japan, known as, from the book, “otoko-date” which is the order of men, and knighthood that the samurais were apart of.
2. Bushido is still alive today, but only heredity, from generation to generation, but, the book says “. . . three generations in a century, ‘each of us would have in his veins the blood of at least twenty millions of the people living in the year 1000 A.D.'”, proving that Bushido has become a bigger influence since hundreds of years before.
3. The future of Bushido isn’t known; but, as the book tells, even after if it is long gone and forgotten, it will still have some effect on the world around it then.
I like that you included passages from the text, it makes it easier to understand. When you brought in from question two, a passage, it clarified what you were talking about.
I agree with Syd, it made your answers easier to understand than others. Just generally connecting with everyones answer to number three, we cant very well know the future of anything much less Bushido.
I hope that Bushido is still practiced in the future,and even if it isn’t, I hope that it is remembered well.
The main reason I think it should live on is because it’s so interesting
I like how you used refrences from the books it makes tthe comment relatible.
I find it interesting how Bushido influenced the democracy of Japan, while having its roots deeply intertwoven with those of feudalism.
I like how even though Bushido would be long ago forgeten, there would still be things influnce by it and bits and pieces left behind.
I agree with your answer to number3 it is going to leave an impcat on japan wether it dies or it dosen’t.
i enjoyed reading your explanation of the future of Japan. It really was a wonderful explanation
The entire idelology of bushido still living on, but could end up dead is interesting. It somehow still impacts Japanese socieoty as a whole today, but it reall might not be able to die off.
1. Japanese have used Bushido to create democrcy for their warriors or samuria.
2. Bushido is still alive today and is taought by the person from the next generation their family.
3. The future of bushido can not be told like everything else that will happen in the future. I personaly believe that it will keep living since it has effected the japanese in so many ways.
For question three I totally agree because some people can sy they know the future, but honestly, nobody knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. It is all a matter of opinion on seeing and telling the future, based on who is seeing/ telling it.
I think Bushido will continue on, but what if generations decide not to teach it to their children or they don’t have children and it eventually dies out?
History tends to repeat itself so even if it dies out the Asian culture is pretty strict on their beliefs so I’m sure not everyone will forget they still have books that will probably be given down generations don’t you think.
See, that is the one downfall about mankind: Our failure to learn from what has happened in the past. The Great Depression is (very close to) happening now adays, the downfall of empires, the apcoylse that is wipe out all and is to be anew, and it’s all our fault. We seem to never learn. And, actually, there is a video game is a series of mostly Japanese-only RPGs that gives a perfect example of this, and in which shows that technology is bound to to bring us to our end if we are nor careful. It’s called “Mother 3” if you would like to look it up. It’s can be seen as a forewarning to what can become.
Maybe that will happen but some people could still practice it and make a come back. We never know if it will get super popular again.
I agree with you I do think Bushido will still keep on”living”, because it is an important piece of Japan’s history. It will still be important to people who use it and it will always be in Japenese history.
I like how you answer question three and included yourself in it.
I find it very interesting on how you said that Japan made a democracy for their warriors.
1. Other aspects influenced by Bushido would be the democracy of Japan, and knighthood of samurais.
2. Yes, Bushido is alive, but only through families that choose to carry it on. It isn’t as popular as before so not everyone is familiar with it, but it has made a huge impact on society today.
3. Future of Bushido is pretty much undeclared, undecided, and unknown to people. Though, just like now, it may be rarely known, but it still continues to carry on and have an impact on us.
I think your second answer is very well explained and thought out, it helped me answer my own question as well.
I think that because Bushido still has an impact on Japan today, I think it will be intertwined with Japan’s next code of ethics, and it will never be fully released and detached from the culture.
I think that because Bushido has been such a big part of Japan for so long, people will still continue to follow its ways without knowing it. The people of Japan are exposed to this each and every day, much like we say the Pledge of Allegiance.
I like the words you use to describe future Japan, and honestly I think Bushido is a great thing and hope it lives on.
1) One other aspects that influenced Bushido was the democracy in Japan.
2) Bsuhido is still alive to this day, but it is taught to the next generation.
3) Bushido’s future is unknown at the time, just like everything else’s future. It will most likely continue on though. Unless future generations choose not to follow.
I’m curious about Bushido being practiced today, has it changed at all?
it probably has changed since it’s been distributed over hundreds of generation its bound to have changed.
I haven’t heard that much talk of people practicing it. It probably changed a lot of the years, like a rumor or myth.
you really dont know if its changed or not my guess is that it has because its been around for so long.
I think it is interresting how they got democracy out of Bushido; It seems very intereseting to me.
I like how in the last question that everythings future is unknown. There is really no way of telling.
I actually think that future generations will choose not to follow Bushido. They will certainly honor and respect it, but not follow it. This is because they just want to stay caught up with the present, and create their own way of living that is comfortable for them.
1. Bushido influenced the democracy of Japan.
2. Bushido, though not as popular, is passed down by generation from the families that still use it.
3. Bushido’s future cannot be told for sure. It may thrive again, for all we know, or it may die and be lost in Japan’s history.
If Bushido dies and is lost in Japan’s history, then won’t at some point will it come back. People are always studying history and discover the lost history, so maybe later it might come back.
i agree with you if it is lost it could come back, however, i do not think it would because you look at other things like greek mitholigy it is studdyed all the time but it never has come back.
I agree Blair. So many things in the world’s past have been forgotten at one point. But a good portion has been remembered again.
1. Bushido has influenced the democracy in Japan and the knighthood of samurai
2. Bushido is still practiced in Japan today. However, it is only practiced by families that choose to use it. Also, it is passed down through the generations.
3. Bushido’s future is unknown. It may continue to influence culture or it may die. I believe that, in today’s culture, it will soon be forgotten, but the ideas will still continue to infuence the culture.
I find it very interesting that Bushido has slowly dwindled in time and has become more and more rare. It is still in use but I wonder what the future holds for it. It may be less practiced but I don’t think it can ever truly be forgotten as people have taken time to write about it. The biggest difference I think is that you can never fully understand something by reading about it.
Bushido is like any popular song. The radio plays it everyday for months because everybody loves it, similar to how everybody practiced Bushido, and then it dies down. Then, you will only hear that song once a month and only a few people still love it, just like how many people know it is still around, but only a few people practice it.
1. Bushido has influenced many things, including Japan’s democracy (government) and the knighthood of samurai.
2. Bushido is still practiced by certain families throughout Japan, and it is passed down through generations.
3. Bushido’s future is just like your future and my future: we really don’t know what it’s effect will be years from now, but it still is alive in the hearts of many Japanese citizens.
Do you think that Bushido will exist in the future?
Tyler, that is all a dependace on how mankind is willing to adapt to new or old. Its seems as if humans to have everything repeat over a certain course of time, so I would predict that maybe if the world was willing to start anew, then yes, it would possibly come back and relive it’s glory days.
I believe that bushido will exsist in the future. Do you Tyler?
I agree on your connection to the book and your life. You don’t really know your future now and neither will Bushido. You have to wait and seee as you grow older, because that is the only way to find out what is the future of Bushido
i agree that people won’t know the future of bushido just like you won’t know your future.
1. Bushido influenced the democracy in Japan and the knighthood of the samurai.
2. Bushido is still alive today but is not as popular when it is used by families that practice it is taught to the next generation.
3. Bushido’s future is not for told and is uknown at this time but after its popularity has officially disintegrated it will still impact the world whether it is recognized or not.
I agree that even if Bushido disapears, the world will still have an impact on it. Plus, I like how you used the word disintegrated!
1. Bushido influenced both the Democracy of Japan and the Knighthood of the Samurai.
2. Bushido is still alive and used today, but it is not a big or popular as it used to be. Normally is is used by families and passed down by generation.
3. There is no knon future for Bushido, it is unknown because the popularity of it is gone. No one knows if it will impact the world or not.
1- other aspectsof Japenese society that have been influenced by Bushiodo was decmocarcy in Japan and the knithood of samuari.
2- Bushido is alive today,not as popular as back then, but it is past through the generations that use it.
3- the future of Bushido is not yet known, most likely it will be known but still very rare. Bushido will still, in some way, have an effect on the culture of Japan and the world.
I like how you you seem determined that Bushido will be known, even though it will be rare.
I agree with you, I think that Bushido will always be part of Japans culture, even if it isnt very popular.
Jessica, I believe that in history if anything made an impact on the country’s culture that it would be remembered. even if it fades away it will still be alive one way or another.
I don’t know if Bushido will ever be practiced like it was before but I agree with you,I don’t think it will ever be completely forgotten. It will be remembered through families and text like the one we just read.
1. Bushido influenced the democracy and the knighthood of the samurai in Japan.
2. Bushido is still alive today and is taught to the next generations.
3.The future of Bushido will get less and less popular as it already has. The future of Bushido is not known.
1) Japan’s social classes, and moral stanards were influenced by Bushido.
2) Bushido is still alive today. The book says “Busido, the maker and product of old Japan, is still the guiding principle of the transition and will prove the formative force of a new era.”
3) Nobody knows what will happen to Bushido. Some predictions in the book say that Bushido will crumble like fuedal Japan and a new ethics sytem will rise from it’s ashes. But, like everything else’s future we will have tho wait and see.
I like the reference to the book through out the three questions, it proves that you read and know what your talking about.
I have also thought about a new system of ethics taking over Bushido, but I guess only time will tell.
1. Bushido influenced democracy of Japan, and knighthood of samurais.
2. Bushido is alive today but it is only alive in familys who chosse to carry it.
3. Bushido’s future is not known. some people predict it will crumble. some predict if grow again.
in number three i ment it not if
1) Bushido also influenced Japan’s government and the knighthood of the samurai.
2) Bushido is still alive but isn’t quite as popular as it once was.
3) Bushido’s future is unkonw. The book did say, however, that Bushido’s days are numbered.
The aspects that Bushido have affected Japanese society as we know it today are the Dempcracy they currently hold, how the social classes are worked, and knighthood’s iner workings. Next, Bushido is not directly alive any more, but the way it’s ledgend have been passed down in Japanese culture will always keep it alive. Another point with it’a current state is that history does repeat itself, so history might see a exact example of Bushido is the future or something truely alike. Finally, like said before, it is a matter of history and how humans will adapt to new or old. It may be alive once again, or it might be something only in the minds of those of who know about it’s gold.
The metaphor you used relating Bushido to gold is interesting. I like it.
1) Bushido influenced both the Democracy of Japan and the Knighthood of the Samurai.
2)Bsuhido is still alive to this day, but it is taught to the next generation who choose to .
3)the future of bushido is not known but i think it would be forgotten
You explained it in so little words but I understood what you said.. And also agreed…
1. Bushido influenced Japan Democracy and the Knighthood of the Samurai
2. Bushido still exists today, but is taught only to the next generation that choose it.
3. Bushido’s future is unknown, but it’ll most likely continue to fade until a very small number practice it.
i think that instead of being passed down, it should be re-kindled, and maybe people would be able to understand what happens around them and think a little more….
1.) Not only were the Japanese democracy and knighthood of the samurai influenced but so were Europe’s knights based on the literary history of japan involving Bushido.
2.) Bushido is still alive today but it is a combination of the old and new of japan. Many things went into Bushido but not everything exists today. Only certain families will keep the ways of Bushido.
3.) o one really knows what will happen to Bushido in the future like everything but only that it will last through someone or something or at least parts of it will last
I liked how you stated that Europe’s knights were based off the literary history of Japan. You applied something that very little people know about, to Europe’s knights, which many people in our country have alot of knowledge about.
1. aspects influenced by Bushido would be the democracy of Japan, and knighthood of the samurais.
2. Yes, Bushido is alive, but only through families that choose to carry it on.
3. Future of Bushido is not known yet by people.
I think that because Bushido is passed down only through generation it will likely fade away, until the only resource of it is in books.
1. Japanese have used Bushido to create democrcy for their warriors or samuria.
2.Bushido is still alive but isn’t quite as popular as it once was.
3. The future of Bushido isn’t known; but, as the book tells, even after if it is long gone and forgotten, it will still have some effect on the world around it then.
1. Bushido influenced Japanese democracy.
2. Bushido is still alive but isn’t as popular as he once was.
3. Bushido’s future is unknown, but it may fade until little is practiced.
1. Other aspects of Japanese society that were influenced by bushido were the knighthood of the samurai and the democracy in Japan.
2. Bushido is alive, but is not and never will be as popular as it once was.
3. Nothing about the future of Bushido can be told, it can always be changed. Even though it will stiil partly stay alive, humans can’t tell the future.
I find it shocking that Bushido got less and less popular overtime since back then the Japanese were so dedicated to it.
I think that Bushido has become less popular because Japan has become more modernized and influenced by western society
1. The other aspects of society in japan influenced by Bushido was knighthood and japanese democracy.
2. Though barely popular as it once was, Bushido is still around.
3. Bushido will always change, and it can never be predicted on where it will go.
i agree with you on it can never be predicted on where it will go, it tells how people never know whats going to happen next in their lives.
1. The democracy of Japan and the knighthood of the samurai have been influenced by Bushido.
2. Bushido still exists to this day and some families still use it although it isn’t as popular as it used to be back in Japanese history.
3. The future of Bushido is unknown just like anybody or anything else’s future but even if it decreases in popularity or is forgotten, Bushido will always have a big effect on the world.
1) Bushido influenced both the Democracy of Japan
2)Bsuhido is still alive, passed down from generation to generation
3)the future of bushido is not known, but I think that it will never die completly. Some parts of Bushido will always be in Japanese culture.
1. Some aspects of the Japanese society has influenced both their democracy and the knighthood of the samurai by Bushido.
2. Bushido is still alive in Japan as said in the text, “Unformulated, Bushido was and still is the animating spirit, the motor force of our country.” It is, though, different from what it used to be. The book also describes Bushido as, “Deep-rooted and powerful as is still the effect of Bushido, I have said that it is an unconscious and mute influence. The heart of the people responds, without knowing the reason why, to any appeal made to what it has inherited, and hence the same moral idea expressed in a newly translated term and in an old Bushido term, has a vastly different degree of efficacy.”
3. Bushido’s future is unknown but as the author wrote, “Bushido as an independent code of ethics may vanish, but its power will not perish from the earth; its schools of martial prowess or civic honor may be demolished, but its light and its glory will long survive their ruins. Like its symbolic flower, after it is blown to the four winds, it will still bless mankind with the perfume with which it will enrich life.”
i always like how you pull quotes from the texts, it always makes me feel like your’e reading part of the book to me. :3
1)Bushido has invluenced some parts of the japanese democracy, as well as the way their society is now.
2/3)Over the years, the number of Bushido fallowers has decreased drastically, but bushido is still around, and though it may never be as commonly practised as it once was, it will always be a part of Japan’s history. It’s future may be unknown, but it is a casted footprint that will never fade, only show the person’s accoplishment.
1.) Other aspects influenced by Bushido would be the democracy of Japan, and knighthood of the samurai
2.) Bushido is alive by being passed from generation to generation
3.) The future of bushido is unpredictable but it will likely fade away
do you think that it will possibly fade away ??
1. other aspects of Japanese society that have been influenced by Bushido are democracy of japan.
2. bushido is still alive but only from generation to generation.
3. the future of bushido, is most likely to fade away, but it is not certain that it will.
1. Another aspect of Japanese society that has been influenced by Bushido are the samurais. Pretty much all of their actions were somehow related in one way or another to Bushido.
2. Bushido is still very much alive today. It might not be as popular, but it defiantly is around in certain families, more than others.
3. The future of Bushido is that it will most likely not be here in a few generations. Just due to how the popularity and the amount of people even knowing about Bushido has decreased already, i doubt that it will gain a rapid increase in popularity in the next hundred years or so.