A Warriors Code: Cyber Bushido
Bushido is Japanese for the “Way of the Warrior” It is the code by which the Samurai of Japan lived and died. It was their way of life, similar to the code of Chivalry espoused by medieval Knights of Western Europe. It evolved from the Samurai’s code which stressed the importance of frugality, martial arts mastery, and honor unto death. It’s evolution came as the result of the violent world in which the Samurai found himself for a thousand years. A world fraught with bloodshed and feudal warfare, it encouraged them to embrace the wisdom, peace and knowledge espoused by their their faith; a faith influenced by both Confucianism and Buddhism ultimately culminating in Zen. It was a code which spread through the warrior class, the class of the Samurai, quickly. It became ubiquitous throughout their ranks and was to be followed and embraced without question. To follow the code was to adhere to a lifestyle not suited for all, but for those who dared, it was a way of balance which lead to harmony and freedom. It required discipline, loyalty to one’s master, filial piety, and reverence to the Emperor of Japan. Additionally, it called for the Samurai to protect and show compassion to those who could not protect themselves (often those of a lower social station), while in all things, maintaining ones name; ones honor and reputation. Kato Kiyomasa, a Warlord of the Sengoku period said that if a man did not study the ways of Bushido daily, it would be difficult for that man to die a brave and manly death. Essentially, Kiyomasa advocated that all Samurai should engrave the business of the warrior (Bushido), in his mind well so that when called upon to act in offense or defense, that man would be prepared whatever came. Severe penalties were paid for failing to adhere to the code. Disgrace or dishonor was intolerable. So intolerable in fact that seppuku or ritual suicide was established and accepted as being the only way a Samurai who had been disgraced or dishonored could, regain his honor while removing the blemish from his name and the name of his family.
Bushido was comprised of seven primary tenets with, at times, three additional ones added depending on the time period and circumstances. They were as follows:
- Rectitude (義 gi )
- Courage (勇 yuu )
- Benevolence (仁 jin)
- Respect (礼 rei)
- Honesty (誠 makoto or 信 shin)
- Honor (誉 yo)
- Loyalty (忠 chuu)
- Filial piety (孝 kō)
- Wisdom (智 chi)
- Care for the Aged (悌 tei)
To the Samurai these were not merely empty words, used trivially carrying no weight in their meaning. These words were paramount to their existence and subsequently aided in defining who they were, what they believed and what separated them from those with no honor. Honor was everything and pride was to be mastered in the struggle to maintain ones honor. The Samurai were not without knowledge of war craft, tactics and strategy. This knowledge coupled with their adherence to their code, enabled them to remain centered and balanced. As such, they were prepared for both the conventional and unconventional encounted in battle as well as in their day to day existences. Furthermore, their comprehension of war craft and mastery of martial arts (their skills if you will), enabled them to contend with all manner of enemies (seen and unseen — mercenaries, assassins, shin-obi).
In our discipline there are paths which lead to many destinations; each one containing challenges and obstacles all their own. Our world, like that of the Samurai is a complex place. There are those who wish to do harm and subsequently pose threats to the established norm with no concern for others, especially those who cannot defend themselves. These threats vary, some being physical, some being “cyber” — all posing risks to our world, threatening imbalance and disorder. As a result, I feel that amongst our community, there needs to arise a warriors code of our own; a “Cyber Bushido” which sees those of us whose calling it is to protect those who cannot protect themselves while serving a greater good be defined. Though it may not need to be a carbon copy of the Bushido of the Samurai, it could benefit from the adoption of some elements considered essential to that code in addition to the tenets encouraged and embraced by the Samurai.
Our challenges are not presented at the end of a katana, nor are they necessarily quelled by a vigorous, honorable death in battler. However in some respects they are more complex than even the wisest of the Samurai could have imagined. Fundamental to our struggle is the code and our belief in its importance and unrepentant embracing of it, like the Samurai and their view of Bushido. Our enemies are both foreign and domestic (as research has demonstrated), and in many cases their reasoning and rationale for their actions varies but their dedication to their ends does not. With this in mind I challenge those who believe in that which is virtuous and good; that which is honorable and noble; that which is for the greater good to consider the concept of a cyber warriors code, our own Bushido.
Comments
Leave a Reply
Specialists, Generalists, Incompetence, and Cognitive Bias « Bad Penny on 01.24.2010
[...] there is a classical example that could be considered as a useful metaphor: Bushido. Will has his own rant on the subject which I [...]