yamamoto tsunetomo

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Thereissurelynothingotherthanthesinglepurposeofthepresentmoment....Livebeingtruetothesinglepurposeofthemoment.

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YamamotoTsunetomo(12June16591719)wasasamuraioftheSagadomainintheHizenProvinceofJapan,famousforhissayingsinHagakure[IntheShadowofLeaves],acontroversialexpositionofhisviewsonBushido(the"WayoftheWarrior").HeisalsoknownasYamamotoJocho,thenamehetookafterbecomingamonk.

Hagakure(c.1716)

HagakureIntheShadowofLeaves(alsotranslatedasHiddenbytheLeaves,HiddenbehindtheLeaves,andHiddenLeavesalsoknownasHagakureKikigaki)sayingstranscribed(c.1716)bythesamuraiscribeTsuramotoTashirovarioustranslations,butprimarilydrawingonthatofWilliamScottWilson(1979).ISBN4770011067

Prologue

Theelevenvolumesofthisbookaretobeburnedaftertheyareread.Therearesomepeopleinthisbookwhoarestillaliveandthisbookmayangerthem,somakesurethebookisburned.Tsunetomosaidthisrepeatedly.

Chapter1

AlthoughitstandstoreasonthatasamuraishouldbemindfuloftheWayoftheSamurai,itwouldseemthatweareallnegligent.Consequently,ifsomeoneweretoask,"WhatisthetruemeaningoftheWayoftheSamurai?"thepersonwhowouldbeabletoanswerpromptlyisrare.Thisisbecauseithasnotbeenestablishedinone'smindbeforehand.Fromthis,one'sunmindfulnessoftheWaycanbeknown.Negligenceisanextremething.

AstranslatedbyWilliamScottWilson

TheWayoftheSamuraiisfoundindeath.Whenitcomestoeither/or,thereisonlythequickchoiceofdeath.Itisnotparticularlydifficult.Bedeterminedandadvance.Tosaythatdyingwithoutreachingone'saimistodieadog'sdeathisthefrivolouswayofsophisticates.Whenpressedwiththechoiceoflifeordeath,itisnotnecessarytogainone'saim.Weallwanttolive.Andinlargepartwemakeourlogicaccordingtowhatwelike.Butnothavingattainedouraimandcontinuingtoliveiscowardice.Thisisathindangerousline.Todiewithoutgainingone'saimisadog'sdeathandfanaticism.Butthereisnoshameinthis.ThisisthesubstanceoftheWayoftheSamurai.Ifbysettingone'sheartrighteverymorningandevening,oneisabletoliveasthoughhisbodywerealreadydead,hegainsfreedomintheWay.Hiswholelifewillbewithoutblame,andhewillsucceedinhiscalling.

AstranslatedbyWilliamScottWilson.Thisfirstsentenceofthispassagewasusedasamilitarysloganduringtheearly20thcenturytoencouragesoldierstothrowthemselvesinto

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TheWayoftheSamuraiisfoundindeath...Itisnotparticularlydifficult.Bedeterminedandadvance.

Itisveryimportanttogiveadvicetoamantohelphimmendhisways.Itisacompassionateandimportantduty.However,itisextremelydifficulttocomprehendhowthisadviceshouldbegiven.

battle.Varianttranslations:Bushidoisrealisedinthepresenceofdeath.Inthecaseofhavingtochoosebetweenlifeanddeathyoushouldchoosedeath.Thereisnootherreasoning.Moveonwithdetermination.TosaydyingwithoutattainingonesaimisafoolishsacrificeoflifeistheflippantattitudeofthesophisticatesintheKamigataarea.Insuchacaseitisdifficulttomaketherightjudgement.Noonelongsfordeath.Wecanspeculateonwhateverwelike.Butifwelivewithouthavingattainingthataim,wearecowards.ThisisanimportantpointandthecorrectpathoftheSamurai.Whenwecalmlythinkofdeathmorningandeveningandareindespair,WeareabletogainfreedominthewayoftheSamurai.Onlythencanwefulfilourdutywithoutmakingmistakesinlife.BytheWayofthewarriorismeantdeath.TheWayofthewarriorisdeath.Thismeanschoosingdeathwheneverthereisachoicebetweenlifeanddeath.Itmeansnothingmorethanthis.Itmeanstoseethingsthrough,beingresolved.IhavefoundthattheWayofthesamuraiisdeath.Thismeansthatwhenyouarecompelledtochoosebetweenlifeanddeath,youmustquicklychoosedeath.ThewayoftheSamuraiisindeath.IhavefoundtheessenceofBushido:todie!

Accordingtotheirnature,therearebothpeoplewhohavequickintelligence,andthosewhomustwithdrawandtaketimetothinkthingsover.

Itisdifficultforafool'shabitstochangetoselflessness....Becausewedomostthingsrelyingonlyonourownsagacitywebecomeselfinterested,turnourbacksonreason,andthingsdonotturnoutwell.Asseenbyotherpeoplethisissordid,weak,narrowandinefficient.Whenoneisnotcapableoftrueintelligence,itisgoodtoconsultwithsomeoneofgoodsense.AnadvisorwillfulfilltheWaywhenhemakesadecisionbyselflessandfrankintelligencebecauseheisnotpersonallyinvolved.Thiswayofdoingthingswillcertainlybeseenbyothersasbeingstronglyrooted.Itis,forexample,likealargetreewithmanyroots.Oneman'sintelligenceislikeatreethathasbeensimplystuckintheground.Welearnaboutthesayingsanddeedsofthemenofoldinordertoentrustourselvestotheirwisdomandpreventselfishness.Whenwethrowoffourownbias,followthesayingsoftheancients,andconferwithotherpeople,mattersshouldgowellandwithoutmishap.

Varianttranslation:Whenallyourjudgementsarebasedonyourownwisdom,youtendtowardsselfishnessandfailbystrayingfromtherightpath.Yourownjudgementsarenarrowmindedandhavenopersuasivepowerorgrowthforothers.Itisbesttoconsultawisemanwhenafitdecisiondoesnotoccurtoyou.Awisemanisafairjudgefromanobjectivepointofview.Heispassingjudgementforthebenefitofothers,notforhisownsake.Ajudgementpassedusingonlyone'sownwisdomisjustlikethrustingastickintothegroundandexpectingittogrow!

Togiveapersonone'sopinionandcorrecthisfaultsisanimportant

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Wecannoteasilycorrectourdefectsandweakpointsastheyaredyeddeeplywithinus.

thing.Itiscompassionateandcomesfirstinmattersofservice.Butthewayofdoingthisisextremelydifficult.Todiscoverthegoodandbadpointsofapersonisaneasything,andtogiveanopinionconcerningthemiseasy,too.Forthemostpart,peoplethinkthattheyarebeingkindbysayingthethingsthatothersfinddistastefulordifficulttosay.Butifitisnotreceivedwell,theythinkthatthereisnothingmoretobedone.Thisiscompletelyworthless.Itisthesameasbringingshametoapersonbyslanderinghim.Itisnothingmorethangettingitoffone'schest.Togiveapersonanopiniononemustfirstjudgewellwhetherthatpersonisofthedispositiontoreceiveitornot.Onemustbecomeclosewithhimandmakesurethathecontinuallytrustsone'sword.Approachingsubjectsthataredeartohim,seekthebestwaytospeakandtobewellunderstood.Judgetheoccasion,anddeterminewhetheritisbetterbyletteroratthetimeofleavetaking.Praisehisgoodpointsanduseeverydevicetoencouragehim,perhapsbytalkingaboutone'sownfaultswithouttouchingonhis,butsothattheywilloccurtohim.Havehimreceivethisinthewaythatamanwoulddrinkwaterwhenhisthroatisdry,anditwillbeanopinionthatwillcorrectfaults.Thisisextremelydifficult.Ifaperson'sfaultisahabitofsomeyearsprior,byandlargeitwon'tberemedied.Ihavehadthisexperiencemyself.Tobeintimatewithallone'scomrades,correctingeachother'sfaults,andbeingofonemindtobeofusetothemasteristhegreatcompassionofaretainer.Bybringingshametoaperson,howcouldoneexpecttomakehimabetterman?

Varianttranslation:Itisveryimportanttogiveadvicetoamantohelphimmendhisways.Itisacompassionateandimportantduty.However,itisextremelydifficulttocomprehendhowthisadviceshouldbegiven.Itiseasytorecognisethegoodandbadpointsinothers.Generallyitisconsideredakindnessinhelpingpeoplewiththingstheyhateorfinddifficulttosay.However,oneimpracticalityisthatifpeopledonottakeinthisadvicetheywillthinkthatthereisnothingtheyshouldchange.Thesameapplieswhenwetrytocreateshameinothersbyspeakingbadlyofthem.Itseemsoutwardlythatwearejustcomplainingaboutthem.Onemustgettoknowthepersoninquestion.Keepafterhimandgethimtoputhistrustinyou.Findoutwhatinterestshehas.Whenyouwritetohimorbeforeyoupartcompany,youshouldexpressconcreteexamplesofyourownfaultsandgethimtorecalltomindwhetherornothehasthesameproblems.Alsopositivelypraisehisqualities.Itisimportantthathetakesinyourcommentslikeamanthirstingforwater.Itisdifficulttogivesuchadvice.Wecannoteasilycorrectourdefectsandweakpointsastheyaredyeddeeplywithinus.Ihavehadbitterexperienceofthis.

Allofman'sworkisabloodybusiness.Thatfact,today,isconsideredfoolish,affairsarefinishedcleverlywithwordsalone,andjobsthatrequireeffortareavoided.Iwouldlikeyoungmentohavesomeunderstandingofthis.

Tohateinjusticeandstandonrighteousnessisadifficultthing.Furthermore,tothinkthatbeingrighteousisthebestonecandoandtodoone'sutmosttoberighteouswill,onthecontrary,bringmanymistakes.TheWayisinahigherplacethanrighteousness.Thisisverydifficulttodiscover,butitisthehighestwisdom.Whenseenfromthisstandpoint,thingslikerighteousnessarerathershallow.Ifonedoesnotunderstandthisonhisown,itcannotbeknown.ThereisamethodofgettingtothisWay,however,evenifonecannotdiscoveritbyhimself.Thisisfoundinconsultationwithothers.EvenapersonwhohasnotattainedthisWayseesothersfromtheside.Itislikethesayingfromthegameofgo:"Hewhoseesfromthesidehaseighteyes."Thesaying,"Thoughtbythoughtweseeourownmistakes,"alsomeansthatthe

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Throughoutyourlifeadvancedaily,becomingmoreskillfulthanyesterday,moreskillfulthantoday.Thisisneverending.

highestWayisindiscussionwithothers.

Acertainswordsmaninhisdecliningyearssaidthefollowing:Inone'slife.therearelevelsinthepursuitofstudy.Inthelowestlevel,apersonstudiesbutnothingcomesofit,andhefeelsthatbothheandothersareunskillful.Atthispointheisworthless.Inthemiddlelevelheisstilluselessbutisawareofhisowninsufficienciesandcanalsoseetheinsufficienciesofothers.Inahigherlevelhehasprideconcerninghisownability,rejoicesinpraisefromothers,andlamentsthelackofabilityinhisfellows.Thismanhasworth.Inthehighestlevelamanhasthelookofknowingnothing.Thesearethelevelsingeneral.Butthereisonetranscendinglevel,andthisisthemostexcellentofall.ThispersonisawareoftheendlessnessofenteringdeeplyintoacertainWayandneverthinksofhimselfashavingfinished.Hetrulyknowshisowninsufficienciesandneverinhiswholelifethinksthathehassucceeded.HehasnothoughtsofpridebutwithselfabasementknowstheWaytotheend.ItissaidthatMasterYagyuonceremarked,"Idonotknowthewaytodefeatothers,butthewaytodefeatmyself."Throughoutyourlifeadvancedaily,becomingmoreskillfulthanyesterday,moreskillfulthantoday.Thisisneverending.

AmongthemaximsonLordNaoshige'swalltherewasthisone:"Mattersofgreatconcernshouldbetreatedlightly."Masterltteicommented,"Mattersofsmallconcernshouldbetreatedseriously."Amongone'saffairsthereshouldnotbemorethantwoorthreemattersofwhatonecouldcallgreatconcern.Ifthesearedeliberateduponduringordinarytimes,theycanbeunderstood.Thinkingaboutthingspreviouslyandthenhandlingthemlightlywhenthetimecomesiswhatthisisallabout.

Thewayofrevengeliesinsimplyforcingone'swayintoaplaceandbeingcutdown.Thereisnoshameinthis.Bythinkingthatyoumustcompletethejobyouwillrunoutoftime.Byconsideringthingslikehowmanymentheenemyhas,timepilesupintheendyouwillgiveup.Nomatteriftheenemyhasthousandsofmen,thereisfulfillmentinsimplystandingthemoffandbeingdeterminedtocutthemalldown,startingfromoneend.Youwillfinishthegreaterpartofit.

ConcerningthenightassaultofLordAsano'sronin,thefactthattheydidnotcommitseppukuattheSengakujiwasanerror,fortherewasalongdelaybetweenthetimetheirlordwasstruckdownandthetimewhentheystruckdowntheenemy.IfLordKirahaddiedofillnesswithinthatperiod,itwouldhavebeenextremelyregrettable.

CommentaryonthetaleofTheFortySevenSamurai(orthe"FortysevenRonin",orAkRshi,theAk"vendetta"),emphasizinghisviewthatBushidodemandspromptaction,andnotdelay,orconcernaboutsuccessandfailure.Variant:"Whatif,ninemonthsafterAsano'sdeath,Kirahaddiedofanillness?"

Althoughallthingsarenottobejudgedinthismanner,ImentionitintheinvestigationoftheWayoftheSamurai.Whenthetimecomes,thereisnomomentforreasoning.Andifyouhavenotdoneyourinquiringbeforehand,thereismostoftenshame.Readingbooksandlisteningtopeople'stalkareforthepurposeofpriorresolution.Aboveall,theWayoftheSamuraishouldbeinbeingawarethatyoudonotknowwhatisgoingtohappennext,andinqueryingeveryitemdayandnight.Victoryanddefeataremattersofthetemporaryforceofcircumstances.

Therearetwothingsthatwillblemisharetainer,andthesearerichesandhonor.Ifonebutremainsin

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Aboveall,theWayoftheSamuraishouldbeinbeingawarethatyoudonotknowwhatisgoingtohappennext,andinqueryingeveryitemdayandnight...

Itisnaturalthatonecannotunderstanddeepandhiddenthings.Thosethingsthatareeasilyunderstoodarerathershallow.

strainedcircumstances,hewillnotbemarred.

Oncetherewasacertainmanwhowasveryclever,butitwashischaractertoalwaysseethenegativepointsofhisjobs.Insuchaway,onewillbeuseless.

Itisnotgoodtosettleintoasetofopinions.Itisamistaketoputfortheffortandobtainsomeunderstandingandthenstopatthat.Atfirstputtingforthgreatefforttobesurethatyouhavegraspedthebasics,thenpracticingsothattheymaycometofruitionissomethingthatwillneverstopforyourwholelifetime.Donotrelyonfollowingthedegreeofunderstandingthatyouhavediscovered,butsimplythink,"Thisisnotenough."OneshouldsearchthroughouthiswholelifehowbesttofollowtheWay.Andheshouldstudy,settinghismindtoworkwithoutputtingthingsoff.WithinthisistheWay.

Incarefullyscrutinizingtheaffairsofthepast,wefindthattherearemanydifferentopinionsaboutthem,andthattherearesomethingsthatarequiteunclear.Itisbettertoregardsuchthingsasunknowable.

Itisnaturalthatonecannotunderstanddeepandhiddenthings.Thosethingsthatareeasilyunderstoodarerathershallow.

Intheeyesofmercy,nooneshouldhavehatefulthoughts.Feelpityforthemanwhoisevenmoreatfault.Theareaandsizeofmercyislimitless.

Militaryaffairsarenotmattersforonepersonalone,regardlessofhowusefulhetriestobe.Moneyissomethingthatonecanborrowfrompeople,butagoodmancannotsuddenlybecomeby.Oneshouldsustainamankindlyandwellfromthefirst.Andinhavingretainersitwillnotdotonourishoneselfalone.Ifyoudividewhatyouhaveandfeedyourlowerranks,youwillbeabletoholdgoodmen.

Apersonwhoisdiscreetinspeakingwillbeusefulduringthegoodtimesandwillavoidpunishmentduringthebad.

Forasamurai,asimplewordisimportantnomatterwherehemaybe.Byjustonesinglewordmartialvalorcanbemadeapparent.Inpeacefultimeswordsshowone'sbravery.Introubledtimes,too,oneknowsthatbyasinglewordhisstrengthorcowardicecanbeseen.Thissinglewordistheflowerofone'sheart.Itisnotsomethingsaidsimplywithone'smouth.Awarriorshouldnotsaysomethingfaintheartedevencasually.Heshouldsethismindtothisbeforehand.Evenintriflingmattersthedepthsofone'sheartcanbeseen.

Whendiscussingthingswithsomeone,itisbesttospeakappropriatelyaboutwhateverthesubjectmaybe.Nomatterhowgoodwhatyouaresayingmightbe,itwilldampentheconversationifitisirrelevant.

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Everyoneletsthepresentmomentslipby,thenlooksforitasthoughhethoughtitweresomewhereelse.

Whensomeoneisgivingyouhisopinion,youshouldreceiveitwithdeepgratitudeeventhoughitisworthless.Ifyoudon't,hewillnottellyouthethingsthathehasseenandheardaboutyouagain.Itisbesttobothgiveandreceiveopinionsinafriendlyway.

Thereisasayingthatgreatgeniusmatureslate.Ifsomethingisnotbroughttofruitionoveraperiodoftwentytothirtyyears,itwillnotbeofgreatmerit.Whenaretainerisofamindtodohisworkhurriedly,hewillintrudeupontheworkofothersandwillbesaidtobeyoungbutable.Hewillbecomeoverenthusiasticandwillbeconsideredratherrude.

Ifyouareslaininbattle,youshouldberesolvedtohaveyourcorpsefacingtheenemy.

IfeveryonewereinaccordandleftthingstoProvidence,theirheartswouldbeatease.Iftheyarenotinaccord,thoughtheywoulddoactsofrighteousness,theylackloyalty.

Thereisnotamanwhodoesnotgetsenilebythetimehereachessixty.Andwhenonethinksthathewillnotbesenile,heisalreadyso.

Ifoneisbutsecureatthefoundation,hewillnotbepainedbydeparturefromminordetailsoraffairsthatarecontrarytoexpectation.Butintheend,thedetailsofamatterareimportant.Therightandwrongofone'swayofdoingthingsarefoundintrivialmatters.

Chapter2

Thesupremestyleofloveisunknownlove.Iftheaffectionisknownbythebeloved,thatloveissnob.Ifyousacrificeyourlifeforthebeloved,andsherecognisesyourloveafteryoudie,yoursoulwouldbeappraised.

Afaultlesspersonisonewhowithdrawsfromaffairs.Thismustbedonewithstrength.

Thereissurelynothingotherthanthesinglepurposeofthepresentmoment.Aman'swholelifeisasuccessionofmomentaftermoment.Ifonefullyunderstandsthepresentmoment,therewillbenothingelsetodo,andnothingelsetopursue.Livebeingtruetothesinglepurposeofthemoment.Everyoneletsthepresentmomentslipby,thenlooksforitasthoughhethoughtitweresomewhereelse.

Totalkaboutotherpeople'saffairsisagreatmistake.Topraisethem,too,isunfttting.Inanyevent,itisbesttoknowyourownabilitywell,toputfortheffortinyourendeavors,andtobediscreetinspeech.

Theheartofavirtuouspersonhassettleddownandhedoesnotrushaboutatthings.Apersonoflittlemeritisnotatpeacebutwalksaboutmakingtroubleandisinconflictwithall.

Itisagoodviewpointtoseetheworldasadream.Whenyouhavesomethinglikeanightmare,youwillwakeupandtellyourselfthatitwasonlyadream.Itissaidthattheworldweliveinisnotabitdifferentfromthis.

Peoplewithintelligencewilluseittofashionthingsbothtrueandfalseandwilltrytopushthroughwhatevertheywantwiththeircleverreasoning.Thisisinjuryfromintelligence.Nothingyoudowill

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Everydaywithoutfailoneshouldconsiderhimselfasdead.

haveeffectifyoudonotusetruth.Inaffairslikelawsuitsoreveninarguments,bylosingquicklyonewillloseinfinefashion.Itislikesumo.Ifonethinksonlyofwinning,asordidvictorywillbeworsethanadefeat.Forthemostpart,itbecomesasqualiddefeat.

Feelingdeeplythedifferencebetweenoneselfandothers,bearingillwillandfallingoutwithpeoplethesethingscomefromaheartthatlackscompassion.Ifonewrapsupeverythingwithaheartofcompassion,therewillbenocomingintoconflictwithpeople.

Apersonwhoknowsbutalittlewillputonanairofknowledge.Thisisamatterofinexperience.Whensomeoneknowssomethingwell,itwillnotbeseeninhismanner.

Chapter10

Thebasicmeaningofetiquetteistobequickatboththebeginningandendandtranquilinthemiddle.

Aseverythinginthisworldisbutasham,Deathistheonlysincerity.

Chapter11

Ifawarriorisnotunattachedtolifeanddeath,hewillbeofnousewhatsoever.Thesayingthat"Allabilitiescomefromonemind"soundsasthoughithastodowithsentientmatters,butitisinfactamatterofbeingunattachedtolifeanddeath.Withsuchnonattachmentonecanaccomplishanyfeat.

Meditationoninevitabledeathshouldbeperformeddaily.Everydaywhenone'sbodyandmindareatpeace,oneshouldmeditateuponbeingrippedapartbyarrows,rifles,spearsandswords,beingcarriedawaybysurgingwaves,beingthrownintothemidstofagreatfire,beingstruckbylightning,beingshakentodeathbyagreatearthquake,fallingfromthousandfootcliffs,dyingofdiseaseorcommittingseppukuatthedeathofone'smaster.Andeverydaywithoutfailoneshouldconsiderhimselfasdead.

Thereisasayingoftheelders'thatgoes,"Stepfromundertheeavesandyou'readeadman.Leavethegateandtheenemyiswaiting."Thisisnotamatterofbeingcareful.Itistoconsideroneselfasdeadbeforehand.

Peoplewillbecomeyourenemiesifyoubecomeeminenttooquicklyinlife,andyouwillbeineffectual.Risingslowlyintheworld,peoplewillbeyouralliesandyourhappinesswillbeassured.Inthelongrun,whetheryouarefastorslow,aslongasyouhavepeople'sunderstandingtherewillbenodanger.Itissaidthatfortunethatisurgeduponyoufromothersisthemosteffective.

LateNightIdleTalk

Althoughitisunfittingforsomeonelikemetosaythis,indyingitismyhopenottobecomeaBuddha.Rather,mywillispermeatedwiththeresolutiontohelpmanagetheaffairsoftheprovince,thoughIberebornasaNabeshimasamuraiseventimes.Oneneedsneithervitalitynortalent.Inaword,itisamatterofhavingthewilltoshouldertheclanbyoneself.

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Howcanonehumanbeingbeinferiortoanother?Inallmattersofdiscipline,onewillbeuselessunlesshehasgreatpride.Unlessoneisdeterminedtomovetheclanbyhimself,allhisdisciplinewillcometonaught.Although,likeateakettle,itiseasyforone'senthusiasmtocool,thereisawaytokeepthisfromhappening.Myownvowsarethefollowing:

NeverbeoutdoneintheWayoftheSamurai.Tobeofgoodusetothemaster.Tobefilialtowardmyparents.Tomanifestgreatcompassion,andtoactforthesakeofMan.

IfonededicatesthesefourvowstothegodsandBuddhaseverymorning,hewillhavethestrengthoftwomenandwillneverslipbackward.Onemustedgeforwardliketheinchworm,bitbybit.ThegodsandBuddhas,too,firststartedwithavow.

Externallinks

HagakureKikigaki:OratedAphorismsofYamamotoJocho(http://www.hyoho.com/Hagakure1.html)Hagakure:TheBookoftheSamurai(http://web.archive.org/19991106065029/www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/9151/hagakure.htm)ZenandtheArtofDivebombing,orTheDarkSideoftheTao(http://www.friesian.com/divebomb.htm)byKelleyL.Ross,Ph.D.(http://www.friesian.com/ross/)

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