Inventing the Way of the Samurai: Nationalism, Internationalism, and Bushido in Modern Japan (The Past and Present Book Series)

Inventing the Way of the Samurai examines the development of the "way of the samurai" - bushido - which is popularly viewed as a defining element of the Japanese national character and even the "soul of Japan." Rather than a continuation of ancient traditions, however, bushido developed from a search for identity during Japan's modernization in the late nineteenth century. The former samurai class were widely viewed as a relic of a bygone age in the 1880s, and the first significant discussions of bushido at the end of the decade were strongly influenced by contemporary European ideals of gentlemen and chivalry. At the same time, Japanese thinkers increasingly looked to their own traditions in search of sources of national identity, and this process accelerated as national confidence grew with military victories over China and Russia. Inventing the Way of the Samurai considers the people, events, and writings that drove the rapid growth of bushido , which came to emphasize martial virtues and absolute loyalty to the emperor. In the early twentieth century, bushido became a core subject in civilian and military education, and was a key ideological pillar supporting the imperial state until its collapse in 1945. The close identification of bushido with Japanese militarism meant that it was rejected immediately after the war, but different interpretations of bushido were soon revived by both Japanese and foreign commentators seeking to explain Japan's past, present, and future. This volume further explores the factors behind the resurgence of bushido , which has proven resilient through 130 years of dramatic social, political, and cultural change. Cover 1 Series 2 Inventing the Way of the Samurai 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Introduction 10 Comparative Contexts 13 Overview 19 1 Before Bushidō: Considering Samurai Thought and Identity 24 Samurai in Historical Context 24 The Akō Vendetta in Samurai Consciousness and Historical Context 31 Balancing Letteredness and Martiality 36 The Crisis of the Samurai and the Limits of Nostalgia 43 2 First Explanations of Bushidō in the Meiji Era 51 Evolving Views of China, the West, and Japan 51 The Bushidō of Ozaki Yukio 54 Fukuzawa Yukichi’s View of Martial Honour 65 Uemura Masahisa and Early Connections Between Bushidō and Christianity 70 Suzuki Chikara: Bushidō, Militarism, and the Rise of Cultural Nationalism 76 The Foundations of Modern Bushidō 81 3 The Early Bushidō Boom, 1894–1905 85 A Modern War 85 Re-evaluating Foreign ‘Others’ 87 The Beginning of the Bushidō Boom 90 A Collection of Writings on Bushidō 94 Nitobe Inazō and the Internationalization of Bushidō 99 Inoue Tetsujirō and the Development of Imperial Bushidō 106 The Japanese Samurai and the Russian Bear 112 4 The Late Bushidō Boom, 1905–1914 120 Bushidō in Context 120 Imperial Bushidō after the Russo-Japanese War 123 Applying Bushidō to Spiritual Education 127 Bushidō in Literature in Late Meiji and Early Taishō 133 Bushidō for Historical and Patriotic Legitimization 141 Bushidō and Buddhism 144 Bushidō and Christianity 149 Considering the Late Bushidō Boom 156 5 The End of the Bushidō Boom 159 Nogi Maresuke and the Decline of Bushidō 159 Democracy, Internationalism, and Bushidō 166 Sports and Bushidō in Taishō 173 Bushidō and Taishō Education 176 Considering the End of the Meiji Bushidō Boom 181 6 The Shōwa Bushidō Resurgence 183 The Bushidō Revival of Early Shōwa 183 Institutional Bushidō in Early Shōwa 185 Bushidō and the Blurring of Civilian and Military Life 190 Challenges Facing Institutional Bushidō 196 Imperial Deviations from Institutional Bushidō 203 Bushidō in the Time of Crisis 207 Preparation for Total War 209 Bushidō and the Battlefield 216 Considering Early Shōwa Bushidō 221 7 Bushidō in Post-War Japan 223 The Rejection of Imperial Bushidō 223 Bushidō and Post-War Popular Culture 226 Post-War Historians and the Rediscovery of Bushidō 232 Internationalist Bushidō and the Revival of Nitobe Inazō 237 Bushidō and Japan’s Post-War Military 242 Considering Post-War Bushidō 250 Conclusions and Considerations 251 Diversity, Legitimacy, and Resilience 251 Select Bibliography 258 Index 282 The only book-length academic study of bushidō, an important subject for anyone with an interest in Japan •Provides an overview of modern Japanese history through the lens of a single concept •Offers a long-awaited re-evaluation of some of the longest-standing myths about Japanese thought and culture •The first book in English to take a historical approach to a subject that has traditionally been dealt with primarily on a philosophical level •Combines a variety of approaches and sources to provide a comprehensive history of a concept Inventing the Way of the Samurai examines the development of the 'way of the samurai' - bushidō - which is popularly viewed as a defining element of the Japanese national character and even the 'soul of Japan'. Rather than a continuation of ancient traditions, however, bushidō developed from a search for identity during Japan's modernization in the late nineteenth century. The former samurai class were widely viewed as a relic of a bygone age in the 1880s, and the first significant discussions of bushidō at the end of the decade were strongly influenced by contemporary European ideals of gentlemen and chivalry. At the same time, Japanese thinkers increasingly looked to their own traditions in search of sources of national identity, and this process accelerated as national confidence grew with military victories over China and Russia. Inventing the Way of the Samurai considers the people, events, and writings that drove the rapid growth of bushidō, which came to emphasize martial virtues and absolute loyalty to the emperor. In the early twentieth century, bushidō became a core subject in civilian and military education, and was a key ideological pillar supporting the imperial state until its collapse in 1945. The close identification of bushidō with Japanese militarism meant that it was rejected immediately after the war, but different interpretations of bushidō were soon "Inventing the Way of the Samurai examines the development of the 'way of the samurai'--bushidō--which is popularly viewed as a defining element of the Japanese national character and even the 'soul of Japan'. Rather than a continuation of ancient traditions, however, bushidō developed from a search for identity during Japan's modernization in the late nineteenth century. The former samurai class were widely viewed as a relic of a bygone age in the 1880s, and the first significant discussions of bushidō at the end of the decade were strongly influenced by contemporary European ideals of gentlemen and chivalry. At the same time, Japanese thinkers increasingly looked to their own traditions in search of sources of national identity, and this process accelerated as national confidence grew with military victories over China and Russia. Inventing the Way of the Samurai considers the people, events, and writings that drove the rapid growth of bushidō, which came to emphasize martial virtues and absolute loyalty to the emperor. In the early twentieth century, bushidō became a core subject in civilian and military education, and was a key ideological pillar supporting the imperial state until its collapse in 1945. The close identification of bushidō with Japanese militarism meant that it was rejected immediately after the war, but different interpretations of bushidō were soon revived by both Japanese and foreign commentators seeking to explain Japan's past, present, and future. This volume further explores the factors behind the resurgence of bushidō, which has proven resilient through 130 years of dramatic social, political, and cultural change"--Jacket Inventing the Way of the Samurai examines the development of the'way of the samurai'- bushidō - which is popularly viewed as a defining element of the Japanese national character and even the'soul of Japan'. Rather than a continuation of ancient traditions, however, bushidō developed from a search for identity during Japan's modernization in the late nineteenth century. The former samurai class were widely viewed as a relic of a bygone age in the 1880s, and the first significant discussions of bushidō at the end of the decade were strongly influenced by contemporary European ideals of gentlemen and chivalry. At the same time, Japanese thinkers increasingly looked to their own traditions in search of sources of national identity, and this process accelerated as national confidence grew with military victories over China and Russia. Inventing the Way of the Samurai considers the people, events, and writings that drove the rapid growth of bushidō, which came to emphasize martial virtues and absolute loyalty to the emperor. In the early twentieth century, bushidō became a core subject in civilian and military education, and was a key ideological pillar supporting the imperial state until its collapse in 1945. The close identification of bushidō with Japanese militarism meant that it was rejected immediately after the war, but different interpretations of bushidō were soon revived by both Japanese and foreign commentators seeking to explain Japan's past, present, and future. This volume further explores the factors behind the resurgence of bushidō, which has proven resilient through 130 years of dramatic social, political, and cultural change. This Volume Examines The Development Of The 'way Of The Samurai' (bushidō), Which Is Popularly Viewed As A Defining Element Of The Japanese National Character And Even The 'soul Of Japan' - To Provide An Overview Of Modern Japanese Social, Cultural, And Political History. Introduction -- Bufore Bushido: Considering Samurai Thought And Indentity -- First Explanations Of Bushido In The Meiji Era -- The Early Bushido Boom, 1894-1905 -- The Late Bushido Boom, 1905-1914 -- The End Of The Bushido Boom -- The Showa Bushido Resurgence -- Bushido In Post-war Japan -- Conclusions And Considerations Oleg Benesch. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [249]-272) And Index __Inventing the Way of the Samurai____bushido____bushido____bushido____Inventing the Way of the Samurai____bushido__ __bushido__ __bushido____bushido____bushido__