Book #02 - Hagakure I
Book #02 - Hagakure I
Name of the Book: Hagakure I
Name of the Author: Tsunemoto Yamamoto
Genre: History (Martial Arts)
Pages: 114
Date: 06.09.2012 - 13.09.2012
Short description: Hagakure (‘Hidden by leaves’) was written three centuries ago by a Samurai named Tsunemoto Yamamoto, who was forced into giving up his live as a Samurai and instead live the life of a monk. In this book the ‘bushido’ - the way of the samurai and the way of the sword - is described in short ‘sequences’ with various different topics, all concerning the way a samurai should lead his life, from how to not yawn to commitment to a daimyo.
Own Statement: (Spoiler-free)
There are two major ways one can read the book - from a historical point of view or from a philosophical point of view. Historically the book is interesting because it informs us about the life of the Samurai in 1700. It gives inside knowledge about minor details in etiquette - yawning is just one of them of cause, but a rather amusing one - but also discusses questions about honour and traditional rites, such as seppuku. The main values that this book seems to want to manifest are loyalty, bravery and manners, it was meant as a manual for younger samurai, after all. But that is only half the deal with this book. Many aspects of the book can be read in a philosophical way; for example considering how to start or to end your day, how to conquer your fears, how to deal with critique. It really depends on how you want to read the book. I thought both aspects really interesting. Of cause one shouldn’t actually take all of that book as a guide to life, as I doubt that the kind of devotion the book speaks about should be applied on today, and I’m really against reasoning for suicide, but still that books makes you think - which is why I didn’t read it in one sitting, though it is totally possible from the length of it. But if you give it time and actually think about some things the author suggested, try to apply them to your own situation, the book can pretty much be re-read every day. Just that it is possible for everyone to apply something of the book to his or her life predicates something about the value the book can have, if you let it. I know that I will re-read it for sure.