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In A Grove Analysis

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Honor encompasses all virtues and morals taught throughout one 's lifetime; for it is a privilege to obtain and a repercussion to lose. Commonly recognized in Japanese culture, the lessons taught upon ethics are continuously being passed down generation after generation. The values were first developed and influenced by Zen Buddhist and Confucian thinking and beliefs. Some aspects include but are not limited to integrity, respect, and generosity (“Bushido”). One notable Japanese writing, “In a Grove,” depicts what true Japanese tradition and culture is. It takes the reader through a series of testimonies that are used in an effort to solve a murder case and prosecute the assassin. Ryunosuke Akutagawa effectively manifested how crucial honor …show more content…

Essentially, Japanese culture is distinctly demonstrated through the traditional clothing worn by the characters in the testimonies. Dating back for centuries, clothing has always had a tremendous impact and influence on Japanese society. As the traveling Buddhist priest gave his testimony to the high police commissioner he described a woman that had “[a] scarf hanging from her head hiding her face from view” (Akutagawa 1). Women are valued as people who should be cared for and obtain a high level of self respect; therefore, the scarf acts as a form of protection that ensures modesty. Japanese culture focuses on the conscious designs that are well known in the west for their modesty. The increase of Muslims entering Japan intensifies the importance of being decorous; it is common to see women wearing hijabs on …show more content…

Dating back to the 12th-century, samurais were known as fierce warriors who influenced Japanese society through their superlative traits. The alleged murderer Tajomaru recounts the scene where he “...seized him from behind. Because he was a train, sword-bearing warrior, he was quite strong, but he was taken by surprise, so there was no help for him” (Akutagawa 3-4). Samurais are skillful fighting machines that have an intense background training with powerful weapons such as bows, arrows, and swords. Samurais receive a high level of respect from the public due to their hard work, skills, and dedication to their Lord (Andrews). Samurais were primary source of defense for the people in pre-modern Japan; therefore, there are seen as the people who protect the community at all cost. The acknowledgement of the man attacking Tajomaru back portrays the code in which samurais live by. Honor is a significant attribute that samurais follow; their self honor will not be diminished without a fight. Furthermore, samurais are so highly influential and praised in Japanese culture because of the high morals and values they endure. Aside from being able to skillfully attack, samurais are often described as being flawless. The ostensible mother in law of the murdered man describes him as “a samurai...he was of a gentle disposition, so I am sure he did

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At 14 they trained to become samurai warriors, and lived by the code of bushido. The knight training started at 4 or 5 where they learn to ride a pony, at age 7 the served as a page to his father ’s overlord,Then they practiced with a blunted or wooden swords. At the age of 14 they could become a squire, squires helped the knight they feed them, they dressed them, and helped them in battle. Then if they got approved to become a knight they would become a knight at

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344 Words | 2 Pages

There were many similarities and differences between Samurai and Knights, but I believe that the differences are greater than the similarities, in other other words I believe that there are more similarities than differences. The Samurai were honorable warriors in Japan that were loyal to his Daimyos. The Knights were honorable warriors in Europe who were loyal to his lord. I’m going to analyze documents related to social position, training and armor, and their beliefs. To better determine if the differences are greater than the similarities.

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851 Words | 4 Pages

In Document C1, which was adapted from Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire, it says that children began training to become samurai by learning swordsmanship through fencing with bamboo sticks, which is also known as the art of Kendo. Since the samurai had practiced wielding a sword and fighting with longer than the knight, if the battle had devolved into a sword fight, the samurai would be the victor. It also says that in the same document that, “In their schooling they had physical training.” On the flipside, the knights had not received as harsh training as the samurai, mainly being a squire for a knight and learning from them, and squires were much older than the samurai-in-training who were children. And while the knights did start their training at 4 and 5, the beginning of their training focused on riding a horse (which also had to wear armor because of ranged weapons, meaning that even the horse was slow).

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133 Words | 1 Pages

In the beginning of World War II he was winning wars, and the people of Imperial Japan loved him. Then he started losing and eventually went into seclusion. The Evil Prime Minister was tried for war crimes and found guilty of waging wars of aggression, violating the international law. Hideki Tojo was responsible for the death of five million people. The more people they, killed and the more deaths he caused,

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Rough Draft Japanese POW Camps The Japanese prisoner of war camps were prisons ran by savages, with no rules. These camps were built for soldiers that surrendered in World War Two, and lasted until the end of the war. These camps were ran by savages that saw us less than dogs, and treated people worse than the Germans did. "There were many indeed who became so demoralized that they abandoned every tenet of personal integrity, honor, loyalty, and the accepted standards of human behavior.”

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961 Words | 4 Pages

Toyotomi Hideyoshi impacted Japanese government in many ways. He acknowledged that an unstable peace and constant uncertainly had led to the practice of samurai farming and peasants to take up arms. To combat this, he issued decrees that defined the social status and duties of all Japanese. He banned everyone from having weapons besides samurai. Samurai were ordered back to towns.

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This is partly because the character of Fukuji is a respectful and wise man who understands when he is being baited but he is also considered lower than the ronin in the hierarchy. Katherine Paterson accurately depicted Takanobu the ronin in the story and his position in the japanese feudal system. Takanobu is a low ranking soldier who works for any employer much like a ronin in that time

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532 Words | 3 Pages

All of this leads to an impact on military, feudalistic society and Japan’s history. To commence, Samurai’s are important in Japanese history because they helped start feudalism and the Shogun’s rule. It all started when the central government had no authority over the large landowners. The Daimyo refused to pay their taxes, so when the Jurisdiction came to collect, the daimyo had this huge army of Samurais.

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Also stated in “The Way of the Samurai,” and “Le Morte d’ Arthur,” the codes that a samurai follows is Bushido and Chivalry, the moral code that a knight follows (Doc. E). In Bushido, a samurai keeps a state of peace between other people, but uses his weapons only when necessary. One will be respectful between father and child, older sibling to younger sibling, and husband to wife. In Chivalry, knights are to be helpful to

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823 Words | 4 Pages

This atrocity showed Japan’s need to show superiority to its enemies. Both of these horrific events proved each country’s need to show superiority which is directly linked with their ultranationalistic

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932 Words | 4 Pages

The Kamakura period, which saw the emergence of samurai as a specific class, began the practices and code of samurai. Seppuku, a form of ritual suicide and one of the more widely known samurai practices, also developed during this time (Pletcher). The Kamakura period brought the concept of feudalism to Japan and established the rank of shogun: the military leader of Japan. The shift to a military government was reasoning behind the samurai class and evident through the loyal and honorable, yet stoic and disciplined, culture of this time (“Kamakura Period”). The bushido code faced much outside influence, but core emphasis was placed on living frugally, upholding honor, and honing athletic and mental strength in order to remain fearless during battle.

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995 Words | 4 Pages

what really fascinates me is that the samurai weren’t a rare elite force; however, they were an entire social class and they were about 10 percent of Japan’s population at that time. What really grabbed my attention is the way the dress up, they were stylish and at their time they were rock stars in their style of clothing. The samurai dressed up to move with speed, to have freedom of movement and travel. The weapons were unique

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528 Words | 3 Pages

Many similarities and differences stood beside the Samurai and the Knights, but was there more similarities than differences between them? Samurai and Knights were both powerful warriors back then. The Samurai had lived in Feudal Japan, and knights had lived in different parts of Europe. They both had different culture ideas, and of course different language, and yet also they both had similarities of them both. These are Social positions, Military training and armor, and Code of Honor.

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604 Words | 3 Pages

Truth and perspective can often be misleading. In "In a Grove," by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, several characters give their own testimonies regarding the murder of a samurai and the assault of his wife. However, these testimonies contradict each other in specific details. Although a perpetrator has been identified and captured, no conclusion regarding the true sequence of events that occurred can be found due to the confusing nature of the situation. The conflicting accounts of the events leading to the samurai 's tragic end create an ambiguous tale in which different viewpoints and opinions regarding the scenario are explained.

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954 Words | 4 Pages

As Aristotle (and Buddha) believed that the “moraity of a person is a seamless whole” (Ciulla, 2003). Hence, the leadership will be guided by the person in his or her full cpacity as a moral, ethical, and virtuous being. Virtue involves having the necessary attitude toward pleasure and pain. For instance, when faced with danger, a coward will suffer excessive fear while a rash person will least likely suffer enough fear. A person who is virtuous exhibits all the virtue principles that were listed by Aristotle.

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