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Sierra Breeze Publishing
Pray for a Divine Wind
Pray for a Divine Wind
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$15.75 USD
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The first half of the book offers a detailed familiarization with Asian-Oriental history and an insight on Imperialism, respectively. If not for special education offerings and personal research, America's in depth knowledge about the Oriental world was most likely limited to reading Pearl S. Buck's novels, The Good Earth, China Sky, and Dragon Seed, or James Clavell's novels, Tai-Pan, Shogun, and Gai-Jin.
In the 13th Century, the Mongolian Empire led by Genghis Khan (and later, by Kublai Khan) would conquer China; then started to cross the sea to invade Japan. Twice the Mongol forces failed due to typhoons called "Divine Wind". (During the last part of WWII, the term 'Divine Wind' had another connotation associated with Japan's Kamikaze suicide bombers.) That aside, Japanese Imperialism blossomed in the late 19th Century and gathered momentum in 1937. However, by 1945, after Japan began to realize that awakening the people of the United States was a huge mistake, the Japanese began to pray for a return of that Divine Wind. The imperialists rudely learned that 'a fallen blossom never returns to the branch.'
Japan's religion was Buddhism/Shinto (a meld of nontheistic, Pure Land, Zen, and mythology using shrines & intense rituals).
A Samurai's life was far from that of peasant farmers or village merchants. (Albeit, farming was not beneath them during long periods of territorial peace.) The Samurai knew his place was beneath the Emperor, the Shogun, and the Daimyo just as well as he knew his responsibilities were far above that of the common people. Being militaristic was the Samurai way for centuries, becoming experts with longbows and swords (and even bamboo poles), wearing lacquered iron armor, staying fit, and often achieving good horsemanship. These warriors felt they were elite members of society; and the society felt they were as well.
Over the decades, they came to conduct themselves with a code of gallant standards; fundamental martial arts rules to which they adhered with loyalty & honor. It became a feudal or tribal law whereby warriors should moderate violence with a cunning wisdom and a respect for life.
FYI: (This unique set of values came to be known as 'Bushido' many years after the Samurai began to disappear. These codes became extreme to a fault. For instance, should a Samurai break the codes he can only regain his honor in committing suicide ('seppuku')! Bushido's unwritten moral principles included Righteousness, Courage, Respect, Honesty, Honor, Loyalty, Wisdom, and Charity.)
In the 13th Century, the Mongolian Empire led by Genghis Khan (and later, by Kublai Khan) would conquer China; then started to cross the sea to invade Japan. Twice the Mongol forces failed due to typhoons called "Divine Wind". (During the last part of WWII, the term 'Divine Wind' had another connotation associated with Japan's Kamikaze suicide bombers.) That aside, Japanese Imperialism blossomed in the late 19th Century and gathered momentum in 1937. However, by 1945, after Japan began to realize that awakening the people of the United States was a huge mistake, the Japanese began to pray for a return of that Divine Wind. The imperialists rudely learned that 'a fallen blossom never returns to the branch.'
Japan's religion was Buddhism/Shinto (a meld of nontheistic, Pure Land, Zen, and mythology using shrines & intense rituals).
A Samurai's life was far from that of peasant farmers or village merchants. (Albeit, farming was not beneath them during long periods of territorial peace.) The Samurai knew his place was beneath the Emperor, the Shogun, and the Daimyo just as well as he knew his responsibilities were far above that of the common people. Being militaristic was the Samurai way for centuries, becoming experts with longbows and swords (and even bamboo poles), wearing lacquered iron armor, staying fit, and often achieving good horsemanship. These warriors felt they were elite members of society; and the society felt they were as well.
Over the decades, they came to conduct themselves with a code of gallant standards; fundamental martial arts rules to which they adhered with loyalty & honor. It became a feudal or tribal law whereby warriors should moderate violence with a cunning wisdom and a respect for life.
FYI: (This unique set of values came to be known as 'Bushido' many years after the Samurai began to disappear. These codes became extreme to a fault. For instance, should a Samurai break the codes he can only regain his honor in committing suicide ('seppuku')! Bushido's unwritten moral principles included Righteousness, Courage, Respect, Honesty, Honor, Loyalty, Wisdom, and Charity.)
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