BUSINESS: The Ultimate Resource

June 2004 Upgrade 21

MANAGEMENT LIBRARY Hagakure

by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Why Read It?

It should take no more than seven breaths to make a decisionso wrote Yamamoto Tsunemoto 300 years ago. His book, the Hagakure, is the code of honor of the samurai of old Japan. The key virtues it commends are: assertiveness and integrity, determination and sympathy, courage and loyalty.

Getting Started
Hagakure (In the Shadow of Leaves) is a spiritual guide to professional and private success for an 18th-century samurai. It shows the way to resolution and loyalty and sharpens understanding of, and trust in, ones own abilities. Inner peace is a decisive factor in asserting oneself in conflicts, remaining calm when making personal decisions, and achieving wisdom in the conduct of life.

Contribution
1. Fearless devotion to ones lord The warrior must above all things honor his lord and be unfailingly devoted to him in spirit. This makes him supremely valuable as a follower. 2. Know the limits of your own wisdom If no worthwhile idea comes into ones own head, it is better to ask a wise man for advice. The wise man, who is not personally involved, can make a candid and disinterested judgment of the case. 3. Be careful in criticizing others Reproaching others in order to correct their faults, which is a highly gracious and sympathetic act, is one of the most important services a follower can render. It does, however, demand extraordinary tact.

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2004

BUSINESS: The Ultimate Resource

June 2004 Upgrade 21

4. Be prepared for any situation Military tactics and strategy reveal both capable and incapable men. The former are not only wise through experience, but also ready, at the decisive moment, to solve any problem admirably, guided by their previous study of a great variety of cases. They are prepared for any situation. The latter, on the other hand, have not considered the possibilities in advance. If they solve a problem, it is by sheer good luck. 5. Matters of great importance should be approached calmly In this rule, Yamamoto Tsunetomo advises that one should formulate a response to serious issues in advance, so that when one faces a crucial situation it is easy to make a decision. 6. Learning through following the example of others Students in all disciplines are more inclined to imitate their teachers imperfections than their strengths. This is unprofitable. Find out other peoples strong points and copy them. This way, anyone, no matter who he is, can become a good example and teacher. 7. Watch what you say Others can easily draw a man of weak convictions over to their side. If at a gathering one is fascinated by another man, one sometimes hears oneself cry out Precisely!, even though he is speaking carelessly about something he has not considered deeply. A third party will surely take such an exclamation for assent. Be on your guard, therefore, whenever you meet with others. 8. Be decisive An old proverb says: Consider quickly and decide inside seven breaths. Prince Takanobu once commented: Long consideration blunts the sharp edge of a decision. Prince Naoshige said: In seven out of ten cases, things that are delayed over turn out wrong. Swift action is expected from a samurai in everything he undertakes. 9. Avoid promotion while you are young To be promoted when young cannot lead to good results for those who wish to be useful samurai. It is therefore better to rise gradually at around the age of fifty. 10. Throw away petty logic Yamakzi Kurando once remarked: A follower who tries too hard to get to the bottom of things is not an asset. Such a mans mind is obsessed with questions: is this or that action loyal, justified, appropriate for a follower or not? Things are then analyzed from the standpoint of reason and justice, which the author advises against.

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2004

BUSINESS: The Ultimate Resource

June 2004 Upgrade 21

11. How one helps ones lord One should praise a calm and cheerful master without reserve and ensure he can do his duty without failingwith the long-term objective of cultivating the positive sides of his character. 12. How to settle a dispute Before considering a matter in conference, the chairman should discuss the case in detail with the person directly involved. Afterwards he should hear the opinions of others present, and then make his decision. Otherwise everyone feels insulted. 13. How to win in discussions If one is pressed to give a definite answer in a lawsuit or controversy, Tsunetomo says one should gain time by saying: I shall give you my answer after due reflection. One can also add, I should like to give the matter further thought, in order to gain breathing space.

Context
The book contains the lesson, rules, and stories of the Japanese samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo. He became a Zen Buddhist monk, being forbidden by a decree of his lord from committing seppuku (or harakiri) when the latter died. Yamamoto dictated Hagakure to the scribe Tashiro Tsuramoto between 1710 and 1716. It was produced during the Genroku era, considered a period of decadence. The Tokugawa shogunate had pacified the country and suppressed uprisings by the feudal lords. The philosophy contained in Hagakure is a counterblast on behalf of the mighty warrior to the Confucianist academic rhetoric of the shogunate. Hagakure is also presented as an alternative to todays advisors and seminars on power and careers. While the preoccupations of modern managers are clearly different from those of the author, the book nonetheless offers an insight into the life and thought of another culture and another age.

The Best Sources of Help

Yamamoto Tsunetomo. Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai. (trans. Wilson). London: Kodansha Europe, 2000.

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2004