Bushido, Part 3 summary
Part 3 of 17 · 4 min to read the part
In Rectitude or Justice, the narrator presents righteousness as firm, reasoned action and a defining virtue of the samurai, valued above learning or artistic skill. He then traces Giri from rational duty to social pressure, arguing that it can excuse harmful customs, hypocrisy, and fear of criticism.
What happens
- Warrior definitions present rectitude as decisive action guided by reason and as the essential support of samurai character.
- Mencius describes righteousness as a path, and the narrator connects his teaching with that of a greater Teacher.
- The prestige of the title Gishi shows how highly warriors value rectitude, even during peaceful times.
- The narrator introduces Giri as a duty grounded in reason that supports right action when love is absent.
- He argues that rigid social customs distort Giri into excuses for harmful obligations, hypocrisy, and fear of public criticism.
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What does Giri mean in its original sense?
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