The Bushido Code: History and Modernity

Abstract

The article examines the historical and modern interpretation of the Japanese code of "Bushido", "The Way of the warrior", as the basic principles of morality and rules of conduct of warriors in life and society since about the X century. The penetration of the foundations of "Bushido" into the broad strata of society with the advent of the Edo era (1603-1867), gave it the character of national morality and equated it with the state ideology. An assessment is given of the transformation of the principles of "Bushido" into "Heimindo", "The Way of the commoner", in the XX century, an attempt to "elevate commoners to the status of samurai", preserving the ideals of loyalty, benevolence and justice in society. The preservation of the principles of "Bushido" in the Japanese national culture in the era of globalization is substantiated.