Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Yamamoto Tsunetomo, also read Yamamoto Jōchōwas a samurai of the Saga Domain in Hizen Province under his lord Nabeshima Mitsushige. For thirty years Yamamoto devoted his life to the service of his lord and clan. When Nabeshima died in 1700, Yamamoto did not choose to follow his master in death in junshi because the master had expressed a dislike of the practice in his life. Instead, Yamamoto followed his lord's wishes and refrained from junshi. After some disagreements with Nabeshima's...
NationalityJapanese
ProfessionSoldier
Date of Birth11 June 1659
CountryJapan
As long as people overlook matters, then inferiors can, without any fear, lead an easy and peaceful life.
In China there was once a man who liked pictures of dragons, and his clothing and furnishings were all designed accordingly. His deep affection for dragons was brought to the attention of the dragon god, and onde day a real dragon appeared before his window. It is said that he died of fright. He was probably a man who always spoke big words but acted differently when facing the real thing.
The Four Oaths: Never be late with respect to the way of the warrior; be useful to the lord; be respectful to your parents; get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of man.
Looking comparatively at the good things, you will see that they are not excluded from wisdom, humanity and bravery.
As everything in this world is but a sham. Death is the only sincerity.
It is better to have some unhappiness while one is still young, for if a person does not experience some bitterness, his disposition will not settle down.
Tether even a roasted chicken.
Covetousness, anger and foolishness are things to sort out well. When bad things happen in the world, if you look at them comparatively, they are not unrelated to these three things.
The saying 'the arts aid the body' is for samurai of other regions. For samurai of the Nabeshima clan the arts bring ruin to the body.
One should be wary of talking on end about such subjects as learning, morality or folklore in front of elders or people of rank. It is disagreeable to listen to.
There is one transcending level, and this is the most excellent of all. This person is aware of the endlessness of entering deeply into a certain Way and never thinks of himself as having finished.
You cannot tell whether a person is good or bad by his vicissitudes in life. Good and bad fortune are matters of fate.
By inconsistency and frivolity we stray from the Way and show ourselves to be beginners. In this we do much harm.
Even if one's head were to be suddenly cut off, he should be able to do one more action with certainty.