Comparing Hagakure And The Unfettered Mind

Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s Hagakure and Takuan Soho’s The Unfettered Mind both reflect on the visions of warrior values based on Buddhist connections of the ways of the samurai. However, the Hagakure and The Unfettered Mind mention different Buddhist connections that are important to the samurai. For example, Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s Hagakure discusses the meaning of death of the samurai and the importance of samurai masters, while Takuan Soho’s The Unfettered Mind discusses the importance of the samurai’s thought process and about the samurai’s true self. However, both of the documents mention how samurai use the Taia samurai sword and their swordsmanship skills. Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s Hagakure and Takuan Soho’s The Unfettered Mind both discuss …show more content…
In the Hagakure, Yamamoto Tsunetomo mentions that the samurai must always think highly of their master and their master should always come first before parents, patron deities, and Buddhas. Yamamoto Tsunetomo states “Every morning one should first do reverence to his master and parents and then to his patron deities and guardian Buddhas. If he will only make his master first in importance, his parents will rejoice and the gods and Buddhas will give their assent”. Yamamoto Tsunetomo mentions that samurai should not depart from the master ever and should never stop thinking about their master. The samurai should put the master first just like how women put their husbands first. Yamamoto states “A retainer, too, should be just like this in thinking of his master. Not to forget one’s master is the most fundamental thing for a retainer”. At the end of Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s Hagakure, Yamamoto includes the vow of being good to his master in his list of samurai vows. This just shows how important masters are to the samurai. As for Takuan Soho’s The Unfettered Mind, Takuan believes that samurai should focus on gaining their true self. Takuan Soho mentions that enemies cannot see the samurai if he hides his true self, which is considered Buddha-nature. The enemy then would not be able to recognize the samurai and would only be able to see the samurai’s perceived self. For example, Takuan Soho states “People can easily see the perceived self; it is rare for them to discern the True Self. Thus I say, “The enemy does not see me””. Takuan Soho also mentions that the samurai will not be able to see the enemy since the samurai will not be able to see the enemy’s perceived self. Takuan Soho describes that the samurai has to receive enlightenment in order to