Yojokun: Life Lessons from a Samurai by Kaibara Ekiken

How To Live - Basic, Simple And To The Point

The dawn of the 17th century saw peace descend on Japan. With the

value of their martial skills on the decline, the samurai sought new spiritual,

moral, psychological, and physical moorings. Tsunetomo Yamamoto,

author of the now-classic Hagakure, combined a Confucian sense of

justice with a Zen-influenced abandonment of the ego to espouse loyalty

and death as paramount qualities of the samurais calling.

Kaibara Ekiken (16301714), a samurai physician with philosophical and Buddhist leanings, took the opposite approach. He sought ways for a

healthier, more rewarding life. In his Yojokun: Life Lessons from a

Samurai, he collected six decades of study and observation to compile one

of the most remarkable commentaries of his age.

Ekikens sweep was vast. In Yojokun, he combined his knowledge of

holistic health, the principles of chi (the material force that pervades all

things) and jin (human heartedness), Buddhism, Confucianism, and the art

of living. He addressed concerns that ran from mental and physical health

to spiritual matters. His discourses examined the intake of food and drink,

sexual practices, sustaining stamina and health in old age, overindulgence

and restraint, bathing and healthy habits, and more. And throughout his

discussion he wove a subtle but potent spiritual and philosophical thread.

Yojokun offers startlingly profound and fresh insights into many of the

same problems that concern us today. Translator William Scott Wilson

notes Ekikens relevance for the 21st century: The Yojokun, then, is not just

a vestige of quaint Orientalia, but rather a living guide to a traditional Way

of life and balanced health. If we do not immediately understand some of

its more exotic prescripts, it may be wiser not to dismiss them outright, but

to approach the work as Ekiken himself might have: with humility, curiosity,

respect, and imagination.

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My Personal Review:

Japanese is an extraordinarily challenging language for foreigners to

speak, let alone read, yet William Scott Wilson has demonstrated an

amazing gift for translating classical Japanese works into English in a way

that holds true to the original work while finding modern relevance and

meaning for the readers of today. The acclaimed translator of Hagakure, The Unfettered Mind, The Book of Five Rings, The Demon's Sermon on

Martial Arts, Taiko, The Life-Giving Sword, and many other immortal

volumes, Wilson has once again lived up to his stellar reputation with this

latest book. Written by samurai physician Kaibara Ekiken (1630 - 1714),

Yojokun means "Lessons on Nurturing Life." It is a very unique tome in

feudal Japanese literature; rather then a martial compendium or Zen

treatise, it is a compilation of precepts for living life to its fullest.

Ekiken, a prolific author, lived during the Takugawa Shogunate, an

extraordinary era of peace in Japanese history where feudal samurai had

to adjust to a world without constant warfare. Best known as a scholar of

Confucianism, his diverse interests included agriculture, astrology,

astronomy, biology, botany, linguistics, martial arts, mathematics,

medicine, military strategy, topology, zoology, and more. He traveled extensively, meeting not only with some of the finest scholars of his day,

but also with artisans and farmers in his search for wisdom. Unlike most of

his peers, he wrote for the common man as well as for the elite classes,

using unpretentious language that nearly anyone could understand. His

book on the plants of Japan classified more then 1,500 species, while his

book on the topography of Chikuzen Province (now part of Fukuoka

Prefecture) is still studied today.

Warning against the dangers of excess, Ekiken preached balance in all

things, eating, drinking, work, rest, and even sexual relations. His

approach was preventative, believing that herbal medicine, acupuncture,

moxa (heat) treatments, and hot springs, all common remedies of the day,

should be considered treatments of last resort. In a society where his

compatriots were focused on honor in death, Ekiken boldly declared the

body a "treasured gift from Heaven and Earth," stating that "to damage or destroy it thoughtlessly is the highest ingratitude." By balancing one's

mental, physical and spiritual health Ekiken believed that most people

could live happily and healthily for a hundred years.

Practicing what he preached, Ekiken lived to be 84 at a time when the

average person rarely lasted more then 62 years. The book holistically

covers everything from healthy eating and drinking to sleeping, bathing,

preparing tea, choosing a good doctor, using medicine, sustaining old age,

and raising children. Much of Ekiken's advice is as relevant today as it was

when first written nearly 300 years ago. Good advice is timeless.

This particular translation omits certain details of the original work that

cover treatments best left to professionals such as recipes for medicinal

herbal remedies. The only odd thing about the books is the translator's use

of the Chinese word ch'i rather then the Japanese ki when referring to the

flow of life energy. Perhaps this is because Ekiken's work frequently

referred to The Yellow Emperor's Classic on Medicine, the definitive

medical text of the ancient world that came to Japan via China.

Nevertheless, Yojokun is a fascinating and surprisingly relevant read.

Lawrence Kane

Author of Martial Arts Instruction and Surviving Armed Assaults; co-author

of The Way to Black Belt, The Way of Kata, and The Little Black Book of

Violence

Note: Originally reviewed for the March/April issue of ForeWord Magazine

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