The Way of Which Warriors? Bushidō & the Samurai in Historical Perspective

Abstract

Modern commentators have too often attempted to treat bushidō as an enduring code of behaviour readily encapsulated in simplistic notions of honour, duty, and loyalty. The historical reality, however, is anything but simple. Samurai ethics and behavioural norms varied significantly from era to era—most especially across the transition from the medieval to early modern age—and in most cases bore scant resemblance to twentieth-century fantasies about samurai comportment.

Keywords

• bushidō, samurai, honour, duty, loyalty, war stories