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Japan and the Shackles of the Past
R. Taggart Murphy
1 mention · 1 episode · 1 podcast
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“R. Taggart Murphy discusses the paradox of samurai ethics becoming more rigid and militaristic during the peaceful Tokugawa period, despite the lack of actual combat experience.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: samurai ethics in bureaucracy
For: Historians and students of Japanese culture
Key quote: “As the actual experience of battle receded into the mists of history, the ethos of the samurai became paradoxically ever more rigid and militaristic, with stress on absolute loyalty to the superior, preparedness to carry out any order even at the risk of death, and a disdain for softness and physical comfort.”
The host discusses how the samurai's warrior ethics were adapted to bureaucratic roles during peacetime, highlighting the paradox of applying battlefield standards to non-combat situations. R. Taggart Murphy's book provides insight into this transformation and the implications of maintaining rigid ethical standards in a different context.