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| Samurai Tattoos |
One of the great strengths of the Japanese people is their code of honor and their forbearance. This was so well illustrated in their behaviour when the tsunami left such devastation. They remained calm and disciplined. There were no gangs of looters on the streets; there was no civil disorder. Their code of honor would not allow this. They trusted each other and they trusted their civil authorities. They waited in line for food supplies with patience and civility. This code of conduct was intrinsic to the Samurai way of life, which had a significant impact on Japanese society.
Samurai Courage and Honor
A Samurai was trained to act with courage, to never flinch in the face of danger and to give his life rather than lose honor. His aspiration was to fight with valour and to die with honor. This honor was passed onto his family so that their honor and reputation grew because of his deeds. On the other hand, a family could suffer lasting shame and loss of honor and reputation, if a warrior valued his own life above honor and did not fight and die with courage.
We Need Strength and Courage
Not many of us have to make the dramatic choices that faced the Samurai warrior, but life is about strength and courage. It is often the small day-to-day challenges we have to face that can weaken us and wear us down. It might be that we feel intimidated by some people or situations. It might be we are holding ourselves back in our job or in our life by not acting positively or not asserting ourselves. It might be we do not feel in control of some parts of our life and we need the strength to change them. Sometimes it is dealing with a situation we cannot change but need the strength to endure it.
Our Inner Strength
Each of us has to find our own way to develop the inner strength we need. The Samurai found it through the practice of Zen Buddhism, which inspired them to nobler aspirations. They were expected to act with integrity, loyalty and compassion and, above all, with courage and honor.
Your Kanji tattoo symbol can remind you of these aspirations and help you find the inner strength that was so much a part of the Samurai. A Kanji tattoo representing honor, courage or Samurai can connect you to this strength. Any one of these can be your Kanji symbol of strength.