Yes, value our people and family above all else. “To remember that all worlds draw to an end and that noble death is a treasure which no one is too poor to buy.” Roonwit the Centaur as breathed by C. S. Lewis
Indeed, and I’m really glad you liked the advice and analysis about how it might be applied. I must admit that this felt like ‘self-advice’ like all my philosophy essays. I can’t wait to continue this Hagakure analysis.
A study of surnames found that even today, the descendants of samurai are over-represented among societal elites such as doctors, lawyers, and professors (lawyers are not common in Japan like in the U.S.). Even today, they try harder overall.
I often see “advice” to young men that persuades them on to act pushy or aggressive, or stick to some kind of ideology, or to believe this or that, or to grind out a life of toil in an unprestigious career. But generally speaking, that isn’t what a real warrior caste did when faced with the modern world. They climbed the difficult mountains. Became people who could say “no”. And still have high social status as a result.
Interesting, I hope when I’ve children they have the sort of will and strength of a Samurai, and hope I too have it somewhere in me. Not a doctor, lawyer or professor.
I know one guy who is descended from the Samurai, he’s gone to Malaysia to teach Japanese and English, he’s now going for his MA and plans to become a professor of languages. I truly admire him though he spent his 20s lost, he’s now driven as hell.
Yes, value our people and family above all else. “To remember that all worlds draw to an end and that noble death is a treasure which no one is too poor to buy.” Roonwit the Centaur as breathed by C. S. Lewis
Well said, love that quote and glad to see someone else who values family!
You wrote a lovely essay full of nuggets of wisdom. For me it is faith and then family…. loving both in my life….. and not blinking too soon! 😊
Lmao yeah not blinking too soon is important haha, but yeah those things are the things worth living for.
Excellent article and advice. I liked seeing how it applied to writing, reminding the reader that this can be applied to all aspects of life.
Indeed, and I’m really glad you liked the advice and analysis about how it might be applied. I must admit that this felt like ‘self-advice’ like all my philosophy essays. I can’t wait to continue this Hagakure analysis.
Making history come alive are non-fiction history articles that get very little if any coverage
Ohhh cool and very good point.
A study of surnames found that even today, the descendants of samurai are over-represented among societal elites such as doctors, lawyers, and professors (lawyers are not common in Japan like in the U.S.). Even today, they try harder overall.
I often see “advice” to young men that persuades them on to act pushy or aggressive, or stick to some kind of ideology, or to believe this or that, or to grind out a life of toil in an unprestigious career. But generally speaking, that isn’t what a real warrior caste did when faced with the modern world. They climbed the difficult mountains. Became people who could say “no”. And still have high social status as a result.
https://faculty.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/gclark/The%20Son%20Also%20Rises/Japan%202012.pdf
Interesting, I hope when I’ve children they have the sort of will and strength of a Samurai, and hope I too have it somewhere in me. Not a doctor, lawyer or professor.
I know one guy who is descended from the Samurai, he’s gone to Malaysia to teach Japanese and English, he’s now going for his MA and plans to become a professor of languages. I truly admire him though he spent his 20s lost, he’s now driven as hell.