Hagakure ("In the Shadow of Leaves") is a manual for the Samurai classes consisting of a series of short anecdotes and reflections that give bath insight in te philosophy and code of behaviour that foster the true spirit of Bushido - the way of the warrior. It is a collection of thoughts and sayings recorded over a period of seven years, and as such covers a wide variety of subjects, often in no particular order.
The work represents an attitude far removed from our modern pragmatism and materialism, and posesses an intuitive rather than rational appeal in its assertion that Bushido is a Way of Dying, and that only a samurai retainer prepared and willing to dieat any moment can be totally true to his lord. While Hagakure was for many years a secret text known only to the warrior vassals of the Hizen fief to which the author belonged, it later came to be recognised as a classic exposition of samurai thought and came to influence many subsequent generations, including Yukio Mishima.
The author Yamamoto Tsunetomo (1659-1719) was a samurai retainer of the Nabeshima Clan, Lords of Hizen province, who became a Buddist monk in 1700 after the death of his lord. The book was dedicated to a younger samurai during the author's seclusion over a seven year period.
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