The trouble with this virtue is that it at first glance seems hard to pin down. Honestly it is one of the most important though, it is one that is rarely if ever associated in the modern age with the Samurai. Why is this the case though? Is it because the Samurai were all cruel, wicked men who enjoyed slaughtering each other?
To look at their literature starting with the Heike Monogatari, you’ll find that to the contrary this is hardly the case. There’s constant talk in the novel of sorrow at the cruelties inflicted upon the population by the likes of both Yoritomo and Kiyomori, there’s talk of how men hate to leave their wives, mistresses or children behind. The most hardened of warriors often bursting into tears, interestingly even the ‘Shogun’ of the book, Kiyomori bursts into tears when his daughter goes off to get married.
The notion that warriors are incapable of gentility, kindness or comporting themselves in the most remotely compassionate of ways prior to the modern era is laughable. It is one of many lies that have spread throughout the modern age, certainly there were those who comported themselves badly when in enemy territory such as the English forces during the 100 Years Wars, who inflicted untold atrocities upon France & Scotland at that time.
There were also innumerable crimes inflicted upon Anglo-Saxon England by Guillaume le Conquerant (William the Conqueror). Then there are the war-crimes of Henri II d’Anjou against Ireland, or the crimes of the likes of Ashikaga Tadayoshi from the Kenmu era, or Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi who while brilliant military-generals were horrible to their enemies.
But let us also remember how Charlemagne behaved mercifully to the Saxons when at last Widukind surrendered, or how kindly Caesar treated some of his Roman enemies, and there is also the incredible mercy Kiyomori showed his defeated enemy’s women and children.
The thing is mercy is an invaluable trait, one that is consistent with traditional ideals of honour and goodness. In modern times, when Bushido and Chivalry’s influence has faded the notion of such a virtue as Benevolence has likewise faded in influence.
Traditionally the Samurai were expected to show mercy to women and children. Supposed. Doesn’t mean they always did. The wars between the courts of the Ashikaga and their incompetent southern court enemies had little in the way of pity for one another.
Why is this the case? Why is it that Benevolence and pity are virtues even among the Samurai? Those brutal warriors of the east who could be as human as the rest of us? Because they were human. Man’s natural state is to cringe at the wickedness of the cruel and to react with fury and disgust, and wish to resolve the problem through masculine arts, just as women will cry out and complain.
It happens that benevolence as a philosophical virtue is one that has been more associated oddly enough with the Japanese nobility such as the Fujiwara, who took it to a greater extreme than one should according to modern tv at least. In these tv dramas they are often portrayed reacting effeminetely and fainting at the sight of blood. This is taking things to an extreme as said, and should be a moral lesson; fainting and swooning in horror at the crimes of another is to forfeit one’s masculinity.
As with all things balance is needed and is crucial in telling when to apply compassion and when to prove oneself of a harder nature. That said one must never let oneself become too hard of heart, as shown in the Lord of the Rings which presents the perfect balance and the importance of Benevolence for those more misfortunate than you.
The scene from the Lord of the Rings I refer to is that at the beginning where Frodo states that Bilbo ought to have slain Gollum. This is Frodo proving himself hard of heart with Gandalf reprimanding him, and later he is to show compassion to Gollum when he perhaps ought not to in the opinion of most people (Samwise included), and yet it is this act of sympathy and pity that wins the day against the blind and arrogant Sauron.
Another example might be Conan’s decision to rule magnanimously over Aquilonia when he could have ruled like a foreign despot. His Benevolent rule proves itself a massive boon whenever he happens to be dethroned early on in his reign, as the people come to love and adore him and honour him. He is the finest King they have had in many years, so that they are properly grateful and later when he is downtrodden in the Hour of the Dragon, they are the ones to show their Benevolence to him.
There is also Vorenus who shows Benevolence to his ingrate of a daughter and his stepson, only to be repaid this kindly act as with all others in a cruel manner. Yet it is this act that redeems him, and allows him to prove himself the wiser and kindlier man, and also the wiser than they will ever be. They will end in misery, he did not.
Benevolence you see also can be about balance. The universe has its own internal structure, this is reflected in art as much as in history. No good deed goes unpunished, but no wicked deed does either.
In the case of Jehanne D’Arc she did only good to those around her, and never did wrong yet what was her reward? To be tried by vassals of the English crown and slain cruelly without just cause or reason.
Queen Jane of England was a scholarly young girl who meant well, but was executed by the usurper Mary I, without a proper trial or chance to defend herself. One could also use the example of millions young men, of peerless quality slain at the Somme because British, German & French leadership was incompetent and could not figure out strategy let alone diplomacy and compromise.
These people had their goodness poorly rewarded, but never forget the fate of those who choose wickedness. It is usually worst. They are not only punished in the next life but in this one, as they as in the case of say Henry VIII died in pain and misery, same goes for King John, and also Commodus.
The good may die horribly, but they at least perish with their dignity and honour intact, while the wicked perish in humiliation and stupidity, stewing in their own juices.
Benevolence isn’t just a shield from the evil of the world, but also there to shield ourselves from these terrible fates. They are there to allow us to show more than we are given, to return what small goodness we have been shown, to do more for others. Benevolence when mixed with Ambition can make a truly good man a great man. Ambition as said is no vice except in excess.
It is ambitious to show ever greater kindliness and goodness and honour to others. Yet if we let that ambition and sympathetic side of ourselves die, an important part of ourselves will perish. It is easy to take from others, it is hard to give to others.
The question is; do the Japanese embody this virtue? I can certainly say they do. In my time there, the number of malicious people could be counted on one hand, while the compassionate were innumerable. You need someone to help guide you to a place? I got lost twice in Kyoto, and had people volunteer to take time out of their day and do their ‘Christian’ duty as they dubbed it and helped me.
Need someone to listen to your woes? They’ll listen. You need someone to help carry your bag or pick up your spilled groceries, they’ll listen, they’ll help, they’ll fetch a new bag and even try to cheer you up.
Nowhere will you find kindlier, more human people than they. That said, all that is asked is that you deal with them in an honourable manner. Do this, and they will treat you in like manner. So when dealing with the Japanese know that you will receive that which you dole out.
They are ambitious, kind and honourable as well as very much masculine and feminine with respect to their men and women. Benevolence is valued there, just as it is disvalued as weakness in other parts of the world. If more people looked to emulate Frodo, Samwise and Conan and also many Japanese people who could be found throughout Japan, the world would truly be a better place.
So harden your hearts against evil, but not against others. Benevolence might lead to a terrible end, but it might also lead to good increasing, which is a natural part of the world also, as can be seen in the case of the likes of Tolkien, Hugues Capet, the Japanese and so on. So harden, and soften at once, this is all one can see with regards to our hearts and with regards to honour.
Like all human behavior, honor must be evolutionary advantageous, or built into our makeup by God. (Take your pick.) Possibly both. Otherwise, we wouldn't indulge in it. Can't speak to God's reasons. He doesn't confide in me on such matters. But, I can reason that leaders and warriors who follow the rules would promote a saner, more stable society than rule by power-mad thugs who simply take what they want, whenever they want it.
"A life saved will travel the entire Galaxy and return to aid you in your darkest hour."