Character Loyalty Definition of Terms

10 Samurai is depicted as some sort of spiritual killing machine, absorbed in loyalty and death, the death is not only of others, whom he dispatches with equanimity for his master, but also himself-which he is honor-bound to bring about when his lord dies Ihara, 1990:514. Being different from Hurst‟s statement, samurai was an educated ascetic with only one lord that fulfilled the fate in the way of warrior. He devoted his entire life to a piece moment of loyalty and honor. He was not just a spiritual killing machine without any code to manage his own manner. They lived in Bushido, samurai ethical code that applied as retainers‟ family. Bushido code applied in several aspect of life, not only in the Japanese militarism of the feudal era but also in the Japanese personality in the World War II era. In the related study, the writer analyzes one relevant principle of Bushido code in the post samurai era. It is Honor. Honor in the Japanese society in the World War II era is taken from the research of sociological study by Ruth Benedict entitled Chrysanthemum and the Sword . It is the study about patterns of Japanese life. The book informs about Japanese attitudes, manner, ways of thinking, and their world view that can be retrieved. From this book the writer quotes the discussion related to personal honor for Japanese people. To maintain good reputation, a Japanese first has to observe whether or not he has fulfilled a duty called giri to one‟s name. This is the very foundation and the most essential thing when one is to be called a real person of honor. 11 Giri to one‟s name is the duty to keep one‟s reputation unspotted. It is a series of virtues – some of which seem to an Occidental to be opposites. They are those acts which keep one‟s reputation, bright without reference indebtedness to another person. They include therefore maintaining all the miscellaneous etiquettes requirements of „proper station,‟ showing stoicism in pain and defending one‟s reputation in profession or craft Benedict, 1974:145. Based on those quotes, the writer finds out that Japan‟s militaristic tradition is old and, until its defeat in the World War II, it had been militarily active. Thus, the principle that Japanese people must observe can be said to have similarities with the ways of a soldier. This is a worldwide knowledge on Japanese culture; an extraordinary tradition despite its cruelness. The seppuku, an act of committing suicide by mean of disembowelment , is an alternative that has the effect of recovery for a wounded personal honor. Another opinion from Western may regard it as an act of cowardice, desperation, and the stagnancy of problem, but this is not at all about taking shortcut. This is a matter of chivalry as the strong Japanese military figure. Giri to one‟s name also demands acts which remove a slur or an insult; the slur darkens one‟s good name and should be got rid of. It may be necessary to take vengeance upon one‟s detractor or it may be necessary to commit suicide, and there are all sorts of possible courses of action between these two extremes Benedict, 1974:145 According to the quotes about giri and honor above, the writer figures out that the importance and the earnest of honor for Japanese people is, indeed, an important matter. Rather than living in the great shame, it is better to die an honorable death. Suicide is accepted ways to remitted all blemishes and recover the honor. There are,