| Now, let's explain the origin of Hagakure's Japanese chivalry, primarily based on the
relations between Japan and the international society. |
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1. Japan used to be a dependency of China in the
former times. However, Japan leaves China later, and the periods of the genuine Japanese
culture of its own come up. |
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Scenery of the 5th
Century in Asia
"Wa" is the name of Japan in those days. |
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| 2. In 960, Tang Dynasty falls and Sung takes the control of
China. Then, the relations with Japan come out strongly. For example, in Saga Prefecture,
the birthplace of Hagakure, Taira Tadamori, who had been governing the region, became
powerful investing the profits from Kanzaki Sho into the trade with Sung. |
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Genpei Seisui Ki
The book describing wars around 1185. |
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The bell tower of
Tomyoji Temple
The base, in Saga, of the sect which had the headquarters in Nara and had the trade with
China at that time |
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This age was strongly influenced by the genuine Japanese culture, as well as by
Buddhism. This means the age of "mercy and sympathy" of the genuine Japanese
culture and Buddhism, or the age of "substantial" merits of the trade.
After that, in the Muromachi Period, Japan again became a dependency of Ming Dynasty of
China. In those days, in Ming, the emperor monopolized the trade. The emperor there, and
the tycoon here in Japan, becoming a dependency of the Chinese emperor, trying to earn
profits monopolizing the rade on both sides, were aiming at the same puropse in this
sense. You will see that it was still the age of the "substance and sympathy." |
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Kaito Shokoku Ki
The book on Japan written by a Korean scholar. It shows vivid movements of the Japanese
people toward the international trade. |
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The gate of Yoka
Shrine, Saga City
The general Shoni Masasuke, who built this gate, was also active in the trade with Korea. |
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