Values of Samurai

Kimberly Lang
Edward R. Murrow High School
Brooklyn, New York City

Aim: Should we live by the values of the Samurai?

Objectives: SWBAT identify samurai and bushido; describe and analyze the samurai ethic, loyalty and morality.

Motivation:
Explain that while the samurai warriors have long since been gone, their values are preserved in contemporary Japan. The Code of Bushido, the Samurai's code of honor, upholds loyalty, discipline, total dedication, honor and valor, and numerous examples of these elements can be witnessed today or in recent history.

During World War II, for instance, Japanese Kamikaze pilots showed loyalty to their country by willingly accepting death. Today, as Japanese people have great respect for their bosses, some businessmen commit suicide when fired, in an attempt to spare their bosses and family the burden of shame or dishonor. Just as the samurai were fearsome once, the Japanese people of today continue the tradition of high integrity and "death before dishonor."

Have the students answer the following questions:
1. What is the main idea of the samurai values?
2. Why might pilots and businessmen commit suicide?
3. Do we have such values in the U.S.? Should we?

Tasks: (see the enclosed handout)
Read document A and answer the following questions:
1. How would you describe the samurai code of behavior?
2. What were some of the values of the samurai?

Read document B and answer the following questions:
1. Why would a samurai commit suicide?
2. How would a samurai commit suicide?

Read document C and answer the following questions:
1. How would you describe Bushido?
2. Why would a samurai choose death?

Scenario Activity
- Pair students up and hand out copies of the enclosed worksheet.
- Have students complete the worksheet and then review the answers with the rest of the class.

The Samurai Legacy
Read the following excerpt to your students and have them answer the questions below:

Today, with they dying out of Samurais, Bushido no longer have a military force in Japan. However Bushido's ethical foundations still play a major part of Japanese culture and society. Bushido's stress on loyalty to the head of a group is still evident in the strong sense of loyalty workers have to their employers, students to their teachers, apprentices to their masters and to their country.

Today, with they dying out of Samurais, Bushido no longer have a military force in Japan. However Bushido's ethical foundations still play a major part of Japanese culture and society. Bushido's stress on loyalty to the head of a group is still evident in the strong sense of loyalty workers have to their employers, students to their teachers, apprentices to their masters and to their country.

These bushido values of the samurai once again become familiar to these workers who are loyal, honourable and are willing to sacrifice everything for the company. The Japanese also have a term "Business is war" which relates to bushido.
From: http://nepharion.lazee.org/legacybushido.htm

1. How has the code of Bushido influenced modern Japan?
2. What does "business is war" mean?
3. Do you agree?

Changing Value
Read the following excerpts to the class or show them on an overhead projection. Afterwards, answer the questions that follow.

"Male views about company life are also changing. A new breed of young Japanese workers scorn the maxim that the meaning of life is found in the discipline of work, developed by the Tokugawa period thinker Ishida Baigan. This generation refuses to take k jobs, employment considered kitanai, kitsui, kiken, ("dirty, difficult, and dangerous"). College graduates stated that they wanted plenty of holidays, no overtime, and generous salaries. To the shock of most adults, adolescents arrested for theft reported that their main motive simply was to get money for entertainment."
James L. McClain, Japan A Modern History

Breakdown of order in classrooms or gakkyuu houkai
Japan Insight, 6/3/02

We may be fed the stereotypical images of obedient students in Japanese schools. Most Japanese in the community find it hard to believe that in mores and more classrooms we see a breakdown in order in our schools today.

1. What is the main idea of these passages?
2. How would you describe modern Japanese values?
3. How is this different from Samurai values?
4. Is there a samurai influence in modern Japan?
5. Which set of values describes our society?
6. Which set of values is better for society?

Evaluation:
1. How would you describe the values of a samurai?
2. Should we live by these values?

Summary: Can traditional values survive in a modern society?

Additional Materials: Death before dishonor , Samuari