Code of the Samurai

A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke

By: Thomas Cleary

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

Code of the Samurai is a 400-year-old explication of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido, the Japanese Way of the Warrior. Bushido has played a significant role in shaping the behavior of modern Japanese government, corporations, society, and individuals, as well as in developing modern Japanese martial arts within Japan and internationally.

The Japanese original of this book, Bushido Shoshinshu (Bushido for Beginners), has been one of the primary sources on the tenets of Bushido, a way of thought that remains fascinating and relevant to the modern world, East and West. This handbook, written after 500 years of military rule in Japan, was composed to provide practical and moral instruction for warriors, correcting wayward tendencies and outlining the personal, social, and professional standards of conduct characteristic of Bushido, the Japanese chivalric tradition.

With a bright, conversational narrative by Thomas Cleary, this book is indispensable to corporate executives, students of Asian culture, martial artists, or anyone sincerely interested in Japan and its people.

©1999 Thomas Cleary (P)2020 Tantor

Interesting

I liked learning about the samurai’s mindset. Nice to know what the samurai were all about.

More of a manual, but, it was still good to listen to.

A great read for philosophy as well as self-improvement.

This is a great book for any warrior looking to guide themselves in everyday life. This is a book to read and reflect on.

code of the samurai

great book with a lot of practical philosophy and application. very happy with my first audiobook

Pleasantly surprised

Though it reads as a manual, I found it quite an enjoyable listen. It inspires me to do more research on this subject, and I will be listening again.

Very enjoyable.

The narrator's voice was pleasing. I enjoyed the brief look into historical practices of the samurai. I would definitely recommend this book to other people who love Japan or want to learn more about samurai ideals.