The Hagakure: Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Warrior ethics have been studied in famous books and popular movies such as Shogun and The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. The Hagakure was originally written in the early 1700s over a seven year period. Dictated by Yamamoto Tsunetomo to an assistant, the book was never meant to be published, but after Tsunetomo's death the assistant published it to honor his master. Inside this ancient text are all the deep and mysterious ways of the Samurai. Page after page of topics unfold, ranging from the best way to face death to not looking foolish in a rainstorm. The Hagakure is chock full of Zen-like wisdom and maxims, and presents a revealing look at history's greatest warrior society, Japan in the age of the Samurai. Many use The Hagakure today as a guidebook on ethics, while others are awestruck by this glimpse at the Samurai's way of thinking.