This essay is concerned with the role that religion played in the life of the samurai. The central question hereby is: “How is the religion of the samurai expressed in their views towards death?”. First, as little introduction, I will explain what a samurai is and how they emerged. I will argue that Bushido was the central concept in the live of the historical samurai. Hereby I will make use of a helpful semiotic interpretation of Bushido, in accordance with what some famous semiotics said about the mechanism of Japanese culture in general. Finally, through discussing bushido and the influence of Zen, the role of religion and meaning of death for the samurai will become clear.

The history of the samurai started around the 8th century. The central court could not reign the whole country out of one place and therefore they

Some topics in this essay:
Taia Takuan, Moreover Buddhist, Emptiness Understand, Sword Master, Japan West, Kamakura Bakufu, Zen Buddhism, Christianity Japanese, Japan Bushido, Shintoism Bushido, empty center, japanese culture, organizing principle, zen japan, mechanism japanese culture, sword soul, bushido samurai, sword opponent, views towards, absorbed bushido, period peace, contemplates death living,