Literally “the way of the warrior,” Bushidō is the code by which all samurai in Rokugan strive to live, yet each clan’s interpretation of the tenets of Bushidō is slightly different. All samurai are taught to embrace the ideals of Bushidō and strive ever toward them, at the expense of personal gain. Not even the Kami upheld Bushidō without flaw; the strictures put down by Akodo are nearly impossible to maintain in their entirety, and the struggle to adhere to them consumes a samurai’s existence.
To protect these lands and their way of life, the samurai servants of great lords follow Bushidō.This Way of the Warrior elevates samurai from the rest of society while also chaining them to near-unattainable ideals. They must embody righteousness and honor, loyalty and duty, and courtesy and compassion, as well as courage in the face of death. A samurai is expected to uphold these virtues in their every word and deed, even when these ideals conflict with one another.
A samurai’s reputation for adhering to the Code of Bushidō reflects not only on the individual,but upon that samurai’s household, family, and clan. Should they prove unable to live up to these expectations, only ritualized suicide, or seppuku, can wash away the stain on their honor.According to Bushidō,there is no room in a samurai’s life for anything that would get in the way of these ideals. Love and ambition, pride and greed—even happiness—are to be sacrificed for the sake of Bushidō.Yet, samurai are still human, made from the mingling of Lady Sun and Lord Moon, order and chaos. The tenets of Bushidō would not be ideals to strive toward if they were easy to realize in daily life.
The Samurai’s Struggle
Many Rokugani plays have been written chronicling the impossible choices facing a samurai as their human feelings, or ninjō, conflict with their obligations to society, or giri.Those things that would get in the way of Bushidō are real and meaningful forces in a samurai’s life, and it is the rare soul who can resist their call completely. Ninjō and giri,the opposing forces of a samurai’s inner desire and the external demands placed upon them by their lord and by fate. Whether a samurai chooses happiness or duty in a given moment has narrative and mechanical consequences not only for themself, but for all of the Emerald Empire. When they serve their lord with distinction, tales of their glories may spread to the corners of the Empire or even be recorded for the ages.
Bushido Tenents
Compassion (Jin)
“Through intense training, the samurai becomes quick and strong. They are not as other people. They develop a power that must be used for the good of all. They have compassion. They help their fellows at every opportunity. If an opportunity does not arise, they go out of their way to find one.”
The Celestial Heavens appointed the lords and samurai of Rokugan to rule over the lower castes, but with power comes responsibility. Compassion represents the noblesse oblige of the buke and kuge toward the bonge. Most clans interpret this to mean extending physical protection over peasants, but other clans go even further.
Courage (Yū)
“Rise up above the masses of people who are afraid to act. A samurai must have heroic courage. It is absolutely risky. It is dangerous. Only in acceptance of one’s death may a samurai live their life completely, fully, wonderfully. Courage is not blind; it is intelligent and strong. Replace fear with respect and caution.”
Every samurai lives three feet from death at all times. A samurai must be prepared to give their life for their lord, their clan, and the Empire at a moment’s notice. To die in service to one’s lord furthers one’s karma, and thus samurai eagerly embrace the idea of a noble death in service to their family.
Courtesy (Rei)
“Samurai have no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. A samurai is courteous even to their enemies. Without this outward show of respect, we are nothing more than animals. A samurai is not only respected for their strength in battle, but also by their dealings with others. The true inner strength of a samurai becomes apparent during difficult times.”
The social order isn’t just important to Rokugan—it is, in a literal manner, what the Heavens rest upon. A samurai is required to maintain appearances and withstand adversity, exhibiting courteousness even when faced with the most vile lack of it. It is for this reason that courtiers practice indirect insults and the art of the subtle insinuation.
Duty/Loyalty (Chūgi)
“For the samurai, having done some ‘thing’ or said some ‘thing,’ they know they own that ‘thing.’ They are responsible for it and all the consequences that follow. A samurai is intensely loyal to those in their care. To those they are responsible for, they remain fiercely true.”
Samurai are expected to do their duty to their lord and their subordinates without hesitation or reservation, no matter the cost to their own reputation. Of course, any duty given by their lord is expected to be within the bounds of Bushidō and bring honor to the samurai by obeying it. Should a samurai feel their duty conflicts with the other virtues of Bushidō, they may commit seppuku in protest, a rare exception to needing a lord’s permission to end one’s life. The sentiment is impossible to ignore: the lord has forfeited the samurai’s honor, and no one without honor is fit to serve.
--Note: Almost all samurai call this tenant Duty, where nearly every Scorpion calls this tenant Loyalty
Honor (Meiyo)
“A true samurai has only one judge of their honor, and that is themself. Decisions you make and how those decisions are carried out are a reflection of who you truly are. You cannot hide from yourself.”
Meiyo is the most subtle, yet the most basic and all-encompassing virtue. Samurai without honor cannot truly follow the other virtues of Bushidō, for they act as others expect and not as their own conscience dictates. If their own honor is intact, however, they will follow the ways of Bushidō and pursue justice without flaw or failure, even when commanded otherwise by their lord.
Righteousness/Honesty (Gi)
“Be acutely honest throughout your dealings with all people. Believe in justice, not from other people, but from yourself. A true samurai knows in their heart that there are no shades of grey in the question of honesty and justice. There is only right and wrong.”
Righteousness is the sunlight glinting off the katana, bright and painful to the eye. There is only truth and falsehood, justice and injustice, and it is the samurai’s job to live in accordance with justice and ensure that justice is meted out.
--Note: Some samurai may call this tenant Honesty.
Sincerity (Makoto)
“When a samurai has said they will perform an action, it is as good as done. Nothing will stop them from completing their deed. They do not have to ‘give their word,’ nor do they have to ‘promise.’ The action of speaking alone has set the act of doing in motion. Speaking and doing are the same thing.”
Samurai must align intent with their word and deed, acting with complete and total conviction, whether they serve themselves or their lord. A convincing manner is more valued in Rokugan than the absolute truth, for the samurai who speaks with sincerity has committed the totality of their being to the sentiment.
The Code Of Bushidō: Honor Gains and Losses (Reminder, Lore, and Examples)
The Code Of Bushidō: Honor Gains and Losses (Reminder, Lore, and Examples)
__________
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.
Re: The Code Of Bushidō
In addition to the table found in the 4th Edition Legend of the Five Rings Core Rulebook, the following are some examples of Honor Loss and Gains per each tenant of Bushidō.
It is important to remember that Honor mostly represents what your character knows about themselves, not what the outside world knows. In contrast, Glory represents more what the outside world thinks of your character, and not what your character thinks of themselves. This means that many acts that may require you to lose or gain honor do not need to be seen by anyone, simply your character knowing that they have done it is enough.
With this in mind, players should post in their Private Forum any time they believe they should take an Honor Loss or Gain, linking to the post in question. GM's will also occasionally browse threads themselves to find loses or gains.
References to your Lord can be broad, but essentially your Lord is The Emperor, your Family Daimyo, Clan Champion, or any person you are placed under direct service to.
Compassion
Example Honor Losses of Compassion include:
Example Honor Losses of Courage include:
Example Honor Losses of Courtesy include:
Example Honor Losses of Duty/Loyalty include:
Example Honor Losses of Honor
Example Honor Losses of Righteousness/Honesty include:
Example Honor Loses of Sincerity include:
It is important to remember that Honor mostly represents what your character knows about themselves, not what the outside world knows. In contrast, Glory represents more what the outside world thinks of your character, and not what your character thinks of themselves. This means that many acts that may require you to lose or gain honor do not need to be seen by anyone, simply your character knowing that they have done it is enough.
With this in mind, players should post in their Private Forum any time they believe they should take an Honor Loss or Gain, linking to the post in question. GM's will also occasionally browse threads themselves to find loses or gains.
References to your Lord can be broad, but essentially your Lord is The Emperor, your Family Daimyo, Clan Champion, or any person you are placed under direct service to.
Compassion
Example Honor Losses of Compassion include:
- (Minor) Verbal cruelty to a foe or stranger, allowing easily prevented suffering, tormenting animals
- (Major) Verbal cruelty to a friend, physically harming someone for revenge alone, letting an ally die without trying to save them
- (Massive) Murdering someone of lower status in cold blood, physically harming someone for fun
- (Minor) Giving someone a common useful item, spending multiple consecutive scenes helping a friend, treating a foe’s wounds after a battle
- (Major) Giving up your chance to be awarded 6 or more glory for someone else, saving someone’s life despite knowing they may trouble you later
- (Massive) Giving away an irreplaceable item, completing a dangerous heroic task for someone else who cannot repay you.
Example Honor Losses of Courage include:
- (Minor) Allowing fear for yourself to influence your actions, leaving a lost battle to protect your lord
- (Major) Allowing fear to prevent you from acting entirely, fleeing to save your own skin
- (Massive) Committing a despicable act out of fear, sacrificing someone else to save yourself
- (Minor) Refusing to back down from an armed enemy while unarmed, accepting a challenge from a foe you know to be a superior warrior
- (Major) Facing an inhuman foe such as an oni alone, preventing a comrade’s massive breach, suffering a strike for your lord
- (Massive) Preventing your lord ‘s major or massive breach, suffering a deadly strike for your lord
Example Honor Losses of Courtesy include:
- (Minor) Drunkenness or coarse language in the presence of someone of higher status, letting an insult to your clan or family pass without remark
- (Major) Directly insulting someone of equal or higher status, letting an insult to your ancestors, sensei, or lord pass without remark
- (Massive) Directly insulting your lord
- (Minor) Paying a sincere compliment to a foe, allowing a tired foe a moment’s respite, letting someone of higher status receive aid first
- (Major)Giving an unarmed foe a weapon or setting aside your own weapons to fight fairly
- (Massive) Taking an enemy of higher status captive without killing or maiming them
Example Honor Losses of Duty/Loyalty include:
- (Minor) Refusing an order to protect your lord’s interests, intentionally misinterpreting an order
- (Major) Refusing an order from your lord
- (Massive) Forsaking your post for another lord
- (Minor) Refusing to commit an act of disloyalty to your lord despite personal feelings
- (Major) Refusing to obey an unjust order from someone who is not your lord
- (Massive)Dying in your lord’s service
Example Honor Losses of Honor
- (Minor) Touching dead flesh anywhere other than at war, persuading another to act dishonorably
- (Major) Neglecting your duty to pursue your earthly desires, killing in an unjustified duel
- (Massive) Refusing seppuku when required
- (Minor) Persuading someone to abandon a dishonorable plan to help you
- (Major) Negotiating to avoid an unjustified duel
- (Massive) Offering to commit seppuku for failure
Example Honor Losses of Righteousness/Honesty include:
- (Minor) Abetting or covering for a comrade’s major breach of honor, lying to someone of equal or lower status for personal gain
- (Major) Abetting or covering for a comrade’s massive breach of honor, lying to someone of higher status for personal gain
- (Massive) Murdering someone of equal or higher status, lying to your lord for selfish gain
- (Minor) Delivering bad news to your lord without deflecting blame, taking responsibility for the failure of a subordinate
- (Major) Retiring from a post you can no longer fulfill, relinquishing a claim or large gift to your lord
- (Massive) Refusing to deny true allegations of a failure requiring you to lose 9+ glory or status
Example Honor Loses of Sincerity include:
- (Minor) Breaking your word to someone of equal or lower status, misleading a friend
- (Major) Breaking your word to someone of higher status, manipulating someone for fun
- (Massive) Deceiving or manipulating your lord
- (Minor) Publicly revealing a truth that damages your reputation (a loss of 3 or more glory)
- (Major) Giving (honest) testimony against a political ally that jeopardizes future relations
- (Massive) Forfeiting 6 or more glory to claim responsibility for your lord’s mistake
__________
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.
Re: The Code Of Bushidō: Honor Gains and Losses (Reminder, Lore, and Examples)
The Clan's Views On Bushido
Each clan has one or more tenets it views as paramount, even above the others. When a character loses due to defying one of their own clan’s paramount tenets, they double the amount of honor they must lost.
When a character is awarded honor as a result of making a personal sacrifice for this tenet, they double the honor they are awarded
Crab: Courage
Crane: Courtesy
Dragon: Sincerity
Lion: Honor
Phoenix: Righteousness
Scorpion: Duty and Loyalty
Unicorn: Compassion
Each clan has one or more tenets of Bushidō it views as less significant than the others.
When a character loses honor due to defy this tenet, halve the amount of honor they must lose (rounded up, to a minimum of 1).
When a character is awarded honor for making a personal sacrifice in the name of this tenet, halve the honor they are awarded (rounded up, to a minimum of 1)
Crab: Courtesy
Crane: Courage
Dragon: Duty and Loyalty
Lion: Compassion
Phoenix: Sincerity
Scorpion: Honor and Righteousness
Unicorn: Courtesy
Each clan has one or more tenets it views as paramount, even above the others. When a character loses due to defying one of their own clan’s paramount tenets, they double the amount of honor they must lost.
When a character is awarded honor as a result of making a personal sacrifice for this tenet, they double the honor they are awarded
Crab: Courage
Crane: Courtesy
Dragon: Sincerity
Lion: Honor
Phoenix: Righteousness
Scorpion: Duty and Loyalty
Unicorn: Compassion
Each clan has one or more tenets of Bushidō it views as less significant than the others.
When a character loses honor due to defy this tenet, halve the amount of honor they must lose (rounded up, to a minimum of 1).
When a character is awarded honor for making a personal sacrifice in the name of this tenet, halve the honor they are awarded (rounded up, to a minimum of 1)
Crab: Courtesy
Crane: Courage
Dragon: Duty and Loyalty
Lion: Compassion
Phoenix: Sincerity
Scorpion: Honor and Righteousness
Unicorn: Courtesy
__________
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.
Re: The Code Of Bushidō: Honor Gains and Losses (Reminder, Lore, and Examples)
Value || Description
- 100 || Honor Is Stronger than Steel: The character believes that Bushidō is worth upholding at any cost, and do so even unto death.
- 80–99 || Never Stray from the Way:The character has given up much to embody the ideals of Bushidō, and they shall continue to do so as honor requires. They would rather forfeit their personal desires than fail to live up to their own expectations.
- 65–79 || My Honor Is My Life: Those who live in accordance with Bushidō are strengthened by it, and can endure the hardships it requires of them. Rarely, they may slip, but afterward they cannot easily forgive themself.
- 30–64 || Honor Is the Ideal: Most samurai are brought up to believe in Bushidō and strive to embody its virtues. When the character speaks and acts, it is with honor in mind, but they are still human and periodically succumb to temptation, or they are sim-ply willing to sacrifice their honor if they must. Importantly, they still feel guilt over betraying their ideals.
- 20–29 || Honor Is about Appearances: While the character does not reliably uphold the virtues of Bushidō, they still recognize the importance of honor to society and play the part of a samurai.
- 1–19 || Honor Is a Nicety: They believe that most of the tenets get in the way of what they need—or want—to accomplish. Their reality no longer aligns with samurai ideals, so they have given up on such luxuries
- 0 || Make My Own Code:The character has completely lost faith in Bushidō and adheres to another code—or none at all!
__________
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.
Re: The Code Of Bushidō: Honor Gains and Losses (Reminder, Lore, and Examples)
Emotional Strife
Rokugani ideals state that samurai are to maintain proper decorum at all times, keeping their emotions under a tight leash except in specific situations. However, samurai are people, and thus they still experience the challenges, joys, frustrations, and sorrows that make up life.
Although specifics vary by region and tradition, Rokugani culture at large idealizes a samurai who maintains a stoic outward demeanor. Joys and sorrows alike are to be accepted with the same stern affect. However, the truth of the matter is that no human being can uphold this ideal perfectly all the time—without an outlet for their emotions, a character will eventually become unfocused, distracted, and exhausted
Ninjō
Every samurai has a ninjō (“human feelings”), which represents a personal desire, ideal, or question that is core to them. Some examples:
Create a future with (or for) the one you love
Become the greatest duelist in the Empire
Create a secure future for a small group
Create a work of art that wins eternal praise
Take revenge on a powerful foe for the death of a loved one
Protect a group from a particular enemy
Found a new school
Uncover lost secrets vital to combating a specific foe
Discover your true parentage
Achieve a particular rank within your clan
Become the captain of a ship
Giri
Every samurai also has a giri (“sworn duty”), representing the way in which they serve their lord. Some examples:
Restore the reputation of your teacher’s dōjō
Invent a new weapon that will give your clan an advantage
Protect your lord (or other charge who appears in the campaign)
Capture a particular region of land held by an enemy clan
Persuade a powerful leader to join your lord
Negotiate a trade agreement with a major ally
Gather information and use it to topple an enemy faction
Keep a particular secret of your lord from becoming public
Maintain the reputation or prosperity of a specific shrine
Attend to the needs of a particular kami
Retrieve a set of sacred artifacts for your clan
Assassinate specific members of an enemy faction
Rokugani ideals state that samurai are to maintain proper decorum at all times, keeping their emotions under a tight leash except in specific situations. However, samurai are people, and thus they still experience the challenges, joys, frustrations, and sorrows that make up life.
Although specifics vary by region and tradition, Rokugani culture at large idealizes a samurai who maintains a stoic outward demeanor. Joys and sorrows alike are to be accepted with the same stern affect. However, the truth of the matter is that no human being can uphold this ideal perfectly all the time—without an outlet for their emotions, a character will eventually become unfocused, distracted, and exhausted
Ninjō
Every samurai has a ninjō (“human feelings”), which represents a personal desire, ideal, or question that is core to them. Some examples:
Create a future with (or for) the one you love
Become the greatest duelist in the Empire
Create a secure future for a small group
Create a work of art that wins eternal praise
Take revenge on a powerful foe for the death of a loved one
Protect a group from a particular enemy
Found a new school
Uncover lost secrets vital to combating a specific foe
Discover your true parentage
Achieve a particular rank within your clan
Become the captain of a ship
Giri
Every samurai also has a giri (“sworn duty”), representing the way in which they serve their lord. Some examples:
Restore the reputation of your teacher’s dōjō
Invent a new weapon that will give your clan an advantage
Protect your lord (or other charge who appears in the campaign)
Capture a particular region of land held by an enemy clan
Persuade a powerful leader to join your lord
Negotiate a trade agreement with a major ally
Gather information and use it to topple an enemy faction
Keep a particular secret of your lord from becoming public
Maintain the reputation or prosperity of a specific shrine
Attend to the needs of a particular kami
Retrieve a set of sacred artifacts for your clan
Assassinate specific members of an enemy faction
__________
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.
Primary colors divide us and love us
Eye on the others surviving among us
American pie getting sliced up above us
Trickling down while we're dying of hunger.