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About The Hagakure
Hagakure Kikigaki, also known as Hagakure, is a book of Samurai wisdom written more than 300 years ago by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a clerk who served during the age of the Samurai underneath Nabeshima Mitsushige–A Japanese Daimyo. Daimyo is a term for a Feudal leader; someone who possessed land; similar to a King in Feudal society during the middle ages.
Hagakure is broken up into 11 books. The different books feel like different conversations between the Samurai. You’ll see, many pieces of wisdom repeated, or contradicted, which is important because philosophies work uniquely for each individual that adopts them.
Hagakure is a series of insights; wisdom passed down from Lord Nabeshima Mitsushige to Yamamoto Tsunetomo. Even though Yamamoto Tsunetomo is the author of Hagakure, he didn’t compile the wisdom into a book. Yamamoto Tsunetomo engaged in conversation with a man who very little is known about: Tashiro Tsuramoto. This man compiled the conversations with Yamamoto into the book Hagakure we now have today.
Hagakure translates to Hidden Leaves, or hidden by the leaves. This naming convention is in reference to the hidden wisdom of the Samurai. Hagakure was written during a time of peace. Samurai, meaning warrior, were the warrior-class of the era during Tsunetomo’s life. During this time the Samurai didn’t have much purpose–dueling was banned–as was Seppuku–ritual suicide. It was common for a Samurai to follow their master in death by committing ritual suicide. Seppuku, ritual suicide, occurred by slashing open the stomach; believed to allow the soul to travel to heaven so the Samurai could continue serving the master.
Nabeshima Mitsushige, Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s master, hated ritual suicide, and outlawed the practice in his domain. Because of this ban, Yamamoto Tsunetomo, at the event of his master’s death, committed to being a hermit for the rest of his life. At this period Tsunetomo penned Hagakure: his attempt to spread Samurai wisdom and the true Samurai way to younger Samurai.
Hagakure is a book of wisdom for the Samurai. It is a book of honor. Much of the advice listed within will not apply to modern life. But, many quotes and passages from Hagakure do translate to living a good life today. Hagakure is a wonderful book and a fascinating look into the minds of some of the greatest warriors to have ever lived.
Hagakure Quotes
As is usually the case with a man’s training, one will not succeed without being haughtily believing in your true worth as a man of service.
Relying only on cleverness and talents [devoid of single-minded devotion] is a lower form of service.
We can tap into knowledge that serves to steer us away from egotism by studying the aphorisms and deeds of the ancients.
This world is full of cowardly, spineless men who think only of self-gratification and satisfying their own greedy desires.
Presenting one’s opinions to others to help them rectify their faults is an important act of great compassion, and is the duty of a retainer.
In offering one’s opinion, one must first ascertain whether or not the recipient is in the right frame of mind to receive counsel.
If a bad habit has become ingrained over many years, it cannot be remedied easily.
It is good practice to think things through when going to visit somebody.
It is generally best to avoid visiting somebody unexpectedly when you have no business there.
The prepared warrior is not only able to solve problems in a quick and commendable fashion by virtue of his life experience, but he can react appropriately through his comprehension of measures to meet any scenario. He is always ready.
The pulse of a man is different to that of a woman.
There are few who can be thought of as a real man. This means that one man can surpass others by making just a small effort.
A mind ‘free of thought’ (munen) is one that is pure with ‘correct thought’ (shōnen).”
The point is to have correct thoughts without letting evil thoughts manifest.
Generally, a man who is not of a suitable high standing to speak his mind to his lord, but does so anyway, is disloyal.
Knowing the Way is to know your own faults.
Some people like to talk big, but act in a way that doesn’t match their words.
The middle path is generally the best way, but with regards to samurai engaged in martial affairs, this will not do. The samurai must strive to outdo others.
Winning from the outset is the only way to attain victory in the end.
Cowardly behavior learnt during boyhood will remain ingrained as a lifelong flaw.
Be clear in stating your opinion if you disagree with what is being said.
be mindful of where you are and who is around you when you are chatting.
You are a coward if you harbor a fear of failure when conducting your duties.
Never spurn a person who has shown you favor in the past.
A samurai’s word is harder than metal. Once I have decided something, not even the gods can change it.
Moro’oka Hiko’uemon, 26 year old Samurai at the time of this quote.
A calculating man is a coward. This is because he considers everything from the perspective of loss and gain, and his mind never deviates from this track.
One cannot accomplish great exploits in a normal frame of mind.
When challenged by adversity, charge onwards with courage and jubilation.
There is no need to reveal all that is on your mind. Your qualities will be apparent through your daily actions.
Nothing is impossible. With single-minded resolve (ichinen), heaven and earth can be moved as one pleases. There is nothing that cannot be achieved.
Be conversant with wise men, and seek lessons in morality from them.
A samurai who does not care much for his reputation tends to be contrary, is conceited, and good-for-nothing. He is inferior to a samurai who craves glory, and is thus completely unusable.
It is a timorous coward who winces at an important task and withdraws because of the danger. If you meet with failure in your mission despite your best efforts, it will be lauded as an honorable death.
Those who revel when times are good will wither in adversity.
Ittei said, “If I were to describe in a word what it means to do ‘good’ as a samurai, it is to withstand hardship. To not endure suffering is sinful.”
According to an old retainer: “A samurai should be excessively obstinate. Anything done in moderation will fall short of your goals. If you feel that you are doing more than is needed, it will be just right.”
You need nothing more than to maintain a pure mind, and stay vigilant as you execute your duties. Just live for each moment with single-minded purpose.
Success gained too early in life will not endure.
The extent of one’s courage or cowardice cannot be measured in ordinary times. All is revealed when something happens.
A man’s life is very short, so it is best to do what he enjoys most.
When someone blathers incessantly, it is probably an indication that something else is on his mind.
The thrust of one’s spear will be ineffective if lacking in fighting spirit.
One cannot advance without great courage.
The more hardship, the better.
There is nothing worse than having regrets. All samurai should take care not to do anything they will repent later.
Anything is achievable through single-minded endeavor (bannō-isshin).
Hagakure Passages
A certain man said, “There are two kinds of willpower: internal and external. A man who is deficient in either will be ineffectual. It is like a sword blade that’s sharpened and then stored in its scabbard. Every so often it is unsheathed to test its cutting power on an eyebrow, wiped clean, and then put away again. If a man is constantly swinging his sword about, others will keep their distance, and he will make no friends. A sword always inside its scabbard, however, will rust and become dull. Analogous to this, people will belittle a man who never reveals his power of will.”
Although presumptuous of me as a hermit, one who has taken the holy orders, not once have I desired to attain Buddhahood in death; instead, I only want to be reincarnated seven times as a Nabeshima clansman, with the determination resolutely etched in my gut to uphold the tranquillity of the Saga domain.
The following is my own professed oath: I will never fall behind others in pursuing the Way of the warrior. I will always be ready to serve my lord. I will honor my parents. I will serve compassionately for the benefit of others. By chanting these four oaths (shiseigan) every morning and night to the deities and to Buddha, you will become imbued with double your strength, and will never lag behind.
Yawning in the presence of others is impolite. If the urge to yawn suddenly arises, rub your forehead in an upward stroke to suppress it. If this is not enough to restrain the yawn, use the tip of your tongue to lock your lips shut, and cover your gaping mouth with your hand or sleeve to conceal it from others. Sneezes should also be stifled. Sneezes and yawns make you look very silly. There are many other points of etiquette that you should be mindful of at all times.
Master Jōchō pondered tasks for the coming day and wrote them down. Being organized keeps you a step ahead of others. When scheduled to meet somebody the following day, make a careful assessment the night before, contemplating appropriate greetings, topics of conversation, and points of etiquette.
Lord Yagyū once said, “I do not know how to defeat others. All I know is the path to defeat myself. Today one must be better than yesterday, and tomorrow better than today. The pursuit of perfection is a lifelong quest that has no end.”
There is a lesson to be learned from a downpour of rain. If you get caught in a sudden cloudburst, you will still get a drenching even though you try to keep dry by hurrying along and taking cover under overhangs of roofs. If you are prepared to get wet from the start, the result is still the same but it is no hardship. This attitude can be applied to all things.
It is said: “When you make a mistake, never hesitate to correct it.” A wrongdoing can be rectified immediately if you are quick to address the problem. It will look worse if you try to cover it up, and you will suffer more.
An ancient saying goes: “Think, and decide in seven breaths.” Lord Takanobu commented: “One’s judgement will diminish with prolonged deliberation.” Lord Naoshige said: “Matters decided at a leisurely pace will turn out badly seven times out of ten.
There is no point in one’s training in which one reaches the end. The instant you think you have finished, you have already strayed from the path. Realize that nothing you do is perfect until you have taken your last breath; then, when you are dead, you will be seen as having completed the Way.
I kept a diary when I was young, and called it “A Record of Regrets.” In it, I logged the mistakes that I made each day. Not a day passed when I didn’t commit 20 or 30 gaffes. There was no end to what I had to document because of my incessant blundering, so I eventually stopped. Now, when I reflect on each day before retiring, there is not one that is free of slip-ups in word and action. Indeed, it seems that a perfect day is impossible to pull off. Men who wriggle their way through life relying on their talents will fail to grasp this.
All that matters is having single-minded purpose (ichinen), in the here and now. Life is an ongoing succession of ‘one will’ at a time, each and every moment. A man who realizes this truth need not hurry to do, or seek, anything else anymore. Just live in the present with single-minded purpose. People forget this important truth, and keep seeking other things to accomplish.
I would proffer to physicians that if people who are sickly suppress their sexual desires for six months, or a year or two, they will recuperate without need of any special treatment. Most young men are weak-willed. It is woeful that they lack willpower to control their carnal urges [for the sake of their wellbeing].
As the saying goes: “The more water there is, the higher the boat rises.” A competent man, or one engrossed in a pursuit he enjoys, will relish the challenge of surmounting difficulties. There is a huge difference between these men, and those who feel as though they are drowning when the going gets tough.
