Samurai without a sword read the full version online. Gratitude, hard work, determination and dedication

Kitami Masao

Samurai without a sword

Translated from English by O. G. Belosheev according to the publication: THE SWORDLESS SAMURAI by Kitami Masao, – St. Martin's press, 2007.

* * *

Dedicated to my father, R. N. Clark, 1925–2006

This is what the name Hideyoshi might have looked like, written in his own hand.

Preface

Hideyoshi is the most remarkable—and most unusual—leader in Japanese history.

He was born in 1536 into a poor peasant family. It seemed that nothing foreshadowed his amazing fate. Hideyoshi was short, weakly built, uneducated and ugly. His protruding ears, deep-set eyes, frail body and red, wrinkled face made him strikingly similar to a monkey, which explained the nickname Monkey, which stuck to him for the rest of his life.

Hideyoshi was born at the height of the troubled “age of clan warfare,” when a military career or priesthood was the only option for an ambitious peasant. the only way avoid hard labor in the fields. His more than modest physical characteristics (height one and a half meters, weight fifty kilograms and a strong stoop) did not promise him success in the military field. And yet he managed to soar like a star to the heights of leadership and unite a country torn apart by centuries of civil strife. How did he do it?

Iron willpower, a razor-sharp mind, unbending perseverance and a keen understanding of human psychology - it was these qualities that allowed Hideyoshi to “transform skeptics into devoted servants, rivals into loyal friends, and enemies into allies.” Having not reached particular heights in mastering martial arts, this “samurai without a sword” used other weapons. His self-deprecating humor, cunning, and negotiating skills helped him surpass his high-born rivals and become the ruler of Japan. In a hierarchical society where the inviolable laws of caste boundaries reigned, Hideyoshi became a hero of the outcasts, an example for everyone who longed to decide their own destiny and sought to rise, like the heroes of Horatio Alger, “from rags to riches.”

In 1590, Hideyoshi became the supreme ruler of the country. Having received the title of regent from Emperor Goyozei, he enjoyed royal power. The imperial court honored him with the aristocratic surname Toyotomi, which means “generous minister.”

Historians have mixed assessments of Hideyoshi's reign, but his amazing achievements were overshadowed by his failures, and the fame of this outstanding commander and statesman continued to grow after his death (1598). Hideyoshi's life was chronicled—and embellished—in a detailed official biography, Taikoki (Tale of the Taiko), first published in 1625.

Today, four centuries later, every Japanese schoolchild knows the name Hideyoshi; Countless biographies, novels, plays, films and even video games are dedicated to him and his exploits.

Samurai as exemplary leaders

In the eyes of the modern reader, the figure of the samurai is in the role of a standard carrier leadership qualities looks doubtful. By and large, the Japanese knights of the feudal era, with their clearly undemocratic leadership style and adherence to the principles of unquestioning obedience and selfless devotion to the master, can hardly serve as an example for modern business people. The samurai were glorified by their exploits on the battlefield, but not by their mastery of management technologies. For the most part, they were poor businessmen, poorly versed in commerce, and often became victims of shameless deception in trade transactions.

But it is precisely for this reason that Hideyoshi’s personality deserves our attention. Unlike other samurai, who were completely devoid of business acumen, Hideyoshi showed himself to be a skilled salesman. Compared to his rude and oppressive colleagues, he looked like an egalitarian leader, a peasant who, thanks to his strength of character, managed to subjugate representatives of the noble class. His lack of skill with a sword was more than compensated by his talent as an organizer: Hideyoshi was able to ingeniously attract, hire, retain, reward and promote people up the ladder, which can be called the feudal version of the modern Asian corporation. His approach to leadership remains as fresh today as it was four centuries ago.

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Title: Samurai without a sword
Author: Kitami Masao
Year: 2013
Genre: Foreign business literature, Foreign psychology, Personal growth, Social psychology, Management, personnel selection

About the book “Samurai Without a Sword” by Kitami Masao

Kitami Masao has written an amazing work that should become a reference book for leaders of any rank. “Samurai Without a Sword” is an immersion in Japanese wisdom and philosophy, current advice on developing leadership qualities using the example of the life of a legendary personality - the Japanese ruler of the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Every Japanese schoolchild knows his name. This man went from a poor peasant to a great statesman. This work reveals the basic life rules of Toyotomi, which allowed him to achieve dizzying success. Reading this work is necessary for everyone who wants to radically change their life, becoming a winner in all its areas.

The book is divided into several sections, each of which contains important recommendations and step-by-step actions to achieve a particular goal. Kitami Masao gives detailed answers to such common questions among leaders: how to act in a critical situation, how to gain the trust of your colleagues and subordinates, how to motivate others, how to negotiate competently...

The author pays special attention to the personal and professional qualities of leaders, comparing them with the personality of the Japanese samurai. Modesty, patience, hard work, generosity - these are the traits that managers lack today. It is on them that the image of any Japanese figure of all times is built.

Starting to read the work “Samurai Without a Sword,” we become acquainted with the history and culture of the Land of the Rising Sun. Kitami Masao reveals to the reader the essence of the image of samurai, focusing on their amazing leadership qualities. By calling the main character a samurai without a sword, the writer indicates his exceptional talent for solving problems of any level exclusively by peaceful means (and this at a time when the martial art of the samurai was at the peak of its popularity). Thanks to his wisdom and incredible thinking, Hideyoshi saved Japan from many wars and bloodshed.

The book is written on behalf of this outstanding figure, which allows us to gain deeper insight into his thoughts and life experiences. He shares his achievements with the reader, talks about difficulties and ways to overcome them. It is noteworthy that his teachings were based on simple principles known to everyone to modern man— it is important to be able to accept them and use them correctly to achieve your goals. The main provisions of Japanese leadership philosophy are very clearly systematized, which makes this work a real encyclopedia of personal growth.

On this moment Kitami Masao's book "Smurai Without a Sword" is the only work of this author, so it is quite difficult to judge his talent and his author's style. However, already in this work he showed his ability to combine well-known, but long ago forgotten rules in one text. This book contains the most important rules and methods of developing a leader according to Kitami Masao.

In short, this book is about a simple peasant who had neither money, nor a noble pedigree, in a word - nothing. But he did not want to live his life like all his ancestors and relatives, so he decided to take the path of bushido. He decided that he would achieve his goal, but fate decreed that he was not destined to wield a katana. But this does not lead a man astray, and instead of developing his strength, he develops himself and his intellect. And thanks to this, in the end he manages to protect Japan from bloody wars and civil strife. This peasant was the legendary historical figure of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, whose wisdom is still revered, and his teachings are still relevant today.

It is difficult to find anything superfluous or out of the ordinary in this book. Everything is woven together, like a web skillfully created by a spider. In Kitami Masao's book "Samurai Without a Sword" any reader can learn several lessons and understand the main idea - if you are not given one thing, you can always achieve your goal in another way. Unlike many books where the author seeks to encrypt his message, the book “Samurai Without a Sword” is literally open to everyone: all postulates and rules lie on the surface.

In his work, Kitami Masao draws attention to the fact that his fate depends not only on the person himself. We must not forget about those who are nearby. Much attention is paid in Kitami Masao’s book “Samurai Without a Sword” to the family, and specifically he says that it is necessary to listen to the advice of your wife

It cannot be said unequivocally that this is more of a historical work or a set of rules derived from the biography of a historical figure. But in any case, Kitami Masao’s book “Samurai Without a Sword” is valuable because it is understandable to everyone, and therefore can become a life companion for any person. It’s easy to find advice on your questions about how best to proceed or what needs to be done. But at the same time, the author does not insist on unconditional trust in what is written, leaving room for personal reflections and decisions.

There are no complex plots or intrigues in this book, it's a simple story. ordinary person, who managed to achieve his goal and leave his mark on history. And a common thread throughout this story is the answers to questions such as “how to motivate people,” “how to distinguish yourself,” “how to organize people,” and stuff like that. There is also a place for warnings in the book. Kitami Masao does not forget what can happen when a person becomes a leader and describes all situations and logical conclusions.

Why does this book have such an impact on the reader? It is likely that the principle “learn from the mistakes of others” works here, because main character He didn’t do everything flawlessly, but he managed to go per aspera ad astra (Latin: through thorns to the stars). Or maybe it’s the unobtrusiveness of the narrative and the ease of style. The book is full of meaning and life experience, which, unfortunately, is now beginning to be forgotten.

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Translated from English by O. G. Belosheev according to the publication: THE SWORDLESS SAMURAI by Kitami Masao, – St. Martin's press, 2007.

* * *

Dedicated to my father, R. N. Clark, 1925–2006

This is what the name Hideyoshi might have looked like, written in his own hand.

Preface

Hideyoshi is the most remarkable—and most unusual—leader in Japanese history.

Hideyoshi was born at the height of the troubled “age of clan warfare,” when a military career or the priesthood was the only way for an ambitious peasant to escape hard labor in the fields. His more than modest physical characteristics (height one and a half meters, weight fifty kilograms and a strong stoop) did not promise him success in the military field. And yet he managed to soar like a star to the heights of leadership and unite a country torn apart by centuries of civil strife. How did he do it?

Iron willpower, a razor-sharp mind, unbending perseverance and a keen understanding of human psychology - it was these qualities that allowed Hideyoshi to “transform skeptics into devoted servants, rivals into loyal friends, and enemies into allies.” Having not reached particular heights in mastering martial arts, this “samurai without a sword” used other weapons. His self-deprecating humor, cunning, and negotiating skills helped him surpass his high-born rivals and become the ruler of Japan. In a hierarchical society where the inviolable laws of caste boundaries reigned, Hideyoshi became a hero of the outcasts, an example for everyone who longed to decide their own destiny and strived to rise, like the heroes of Horatio Alger, “from rags to riches.”

Today, four centuries later, every Japanese schoolchild knows the name Hideyoshi; Countless biographies, novels, plays, films and even video games are dedicated to him and his exploits.

Samurai as exemplary leaders

In the eyes of the modern reader, the figure of the samurai as a standard bearer of leadership qualities looks dubious. By and large, the Japanese knights of the feudal era, with their clearly undemocratic leadership style and adherence to the principles of unquestioning obedience and selfless devotion to the master, can hardly serve as an example for modern business people. The samurai were glorified by their exploits on the battlefield, but not by their mastery of management technologies. For the most part, they were poor businessmen, poorly versed in commerce, and often became victims of shameless deception in trade transactions.

A common thread in Hideyoshi’s instructions is the idea that a leader must himself be a servant of the people, and not turn them into his servants. These days this ethical principle is rarely used. According to Hideyoshi, the key feeling that motivates true leaders to dedicate themselves to serving others is gratitude. You may find, as I did, how powerful this approach to leadership resonates. modern society– and what striking parallels can be seen between the actions of the Monkey King and the most pressing political problems of the twenty-first century. Hideyoshi is as different from many of today's leaders as he was from his samurai contemporaries four hundred years ago.

But if Hideyoshi was not a typical samurai, then what were samurai in general like? How's the social class?

A Brief History of the Samurai

The history of samurai began in the seventh century AD, when the Yamato clan came to power in Japan, whose leaders became the founders of the imperial dynasty. The word "samurai" originally meant "one who serves" and referred to people of noble birth who guarded members of the imperial court. This moral principle of service formed the basis for the formation of the social and spiritual roots of the noble class of samurai.

Over time, the Yamato clan found it difficult to provide centralized control of the country, and they began to transfer military, administrative and tax functions to former rivals, who turned into regional governors. As the Yamato clan and the imperial court weakened, local rulers gained strength. Over time, some of them received the status daimyo- feudal princes who ruled their estates independently of the central government. In 1185, Prince Minamoto no Yoritomo, the governor of the eastern provinces and a distant descendant of the imperial family, established a military dictatorship in the country. This date marked Japan's entry into the period of feudalism (1185–1867). The type of government founded by Yoritomo was called shogunate and existed in Japan for almost 700 years.

The political stability achieved by Minamoto in 1185 did not last long. Power passed alternately into the hands of opposing clans until the regime of centralized military rule collapsed in 1467. Japan was plunged into the abyss of anarchy. Thus began the infamous “era of the fighting provinces,” a bloody century of struggle between appanage princes who defended their domains and tried to gain the upper hand over their rivals through assassinations, political alliances, dynastic marriages, mutual adoptions, and open warfare. In the merciless struggle to consolidate power, daimyo often killed their own children and even parents.

By the time Japan plunged into a troubled era of civil strife, samurai had come to refer to armed government officials, police commanders and professional soldiers - in short, almost anyone who carried a sword and was ready to use it.

Despite all the chaos of the period of military anarchy, feudal Japan maintained a strict hierarchy of power. The formal ruler was considered the emperor, a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, to whom every citizen of the country was obliged to kneel. However, the emperor's power functions were almost symbolic; in fact, they limited themselves to handing out official titles. The emperor was completely dependent on the ruling princes, who financed the maintenance of the court, and did not play a role in the practical management of the country's affairs.

Following the emperor on the social ladder was the court aristocracy, consisting of princes, princesses and other nobles of imperial blood. The aristocrats were removed from the practical management of the country and maintained their houses at the expense of inherited fortunes and cash receipts from appanage princes.

The shogun was formally subordinate to the aristocracy, but in fact this man possessed all the fullness of real power and not only the aristocrats, but also the emperor himself were powerless before him. This supreme military ruler served as the president or prime minister, making day-to-day decisions to govern the country. The chaos that reigned in the era of the fighting provinces was also explained by the fact that the country did not have a shogun with unquestioned authority. The main goal of this period in Japanese history was the desire of ambitious provincial princes such as Oda Nobunaga, Hideyoshi's patron, to force their way to Kyoto, receive the title of shogun from the emperor and unify the country.

The next rung of the social ladder was occupied by holders of the title daimyo (“ big name"), hereditary feudal princes who headed large clans, owned huge fiefdoms and maintained numerous armies. Some of them were capable warriors who created provincial empires literally from scratch, others were former governors who refused to recognize the authority of the central government over themselves and became sovereign owners of the provinces. There were also many treacherous vassals who usurped the power of their overly trusting overlords. Daimyo built castles on their lands, ruled the growing cities and fed themselves by taxes from the townspeople and peasants.

Next in the social hierarchy were the samurai, who were in the service of the daimyo. The best of these medieval Japanese knights were selflessly loyal to their overlords and strictly observed a code of honor bushido(usually this term is translated as "ideals of chivalry" or "Way of the Warrior"). The worst were not much different from highwaymen.

Even lower – social status Ronin, free samurai who had no master. Ronins were either people from impoverished families, or those who lost their jobs when their master went bankrupt or was defeated in battle. Among the ronins there were many honest warriors and bandits. Representatives of this social group- the last ones who were allowed to have a surname; commoners did not have such a privilege.

At the base of the social pyramid were townspeople, artisans, traders and peasants - the working people who made up the vast majority of the country's population. These people had no titles and only had the name they received at birth. In addition, they were the only Japanese citizens required to pay taxes.

In this motley picture of classes, the samurai turned out to be the brightest, central figures of Japanese history, romantic archetypes comparable to European medieval knights or cowboys of the Wild West. But after the death of Hideyoshi, the role of the samurai changed dramatically. With the reign of peace in the country, the need for professional military personnel has sharply decreased. Samurai began to engage less in combat training and began to pay more attention to spiritual development, enlightenment and the fine arts. By 1857, when the carrying of swords in public was prohibited by law and the warrior class was abolished, they became what Hideyoshi had been almost three centuries earlier - samurai without swords.

Nevertheless, their legacy helped transform Japan into the most powerful industrial country in the world after the United States. Japanese corporations owe much of their success to the traditional warrior virtues of discipline, loyalty, and fair play, and the structure of modern Japanese society conforms to Hideyoshi's image of an egalitarian leader.

Notes on the text

Although Hideyoshi left behind thousands of letters and other documents, scholars continue to debate even such basic facts about his life as his year of birth (not surprising, given that he was born a quarter of a century before William Shakespeare). Historians still question the authenticity of some of his exploits and are trying to establish the background behind the many prisoners he imprisoned. political unions. Nevertheless, the general contours of Hideyoshi's life and key achievements are recognized as facts.

Readers should understand that there are no historical documents in which Hideyoshi articulates the maxims of leadership. They are extrapolated by the author from Taikoki, from real events, from everything we know about Hideyoshi's personality, judging by his letters and other documents.

I used all the power of my imagination to give Hideyoshi's voice a note of thoughtfulness and remorse in the right places, despite the obvious evidence that last years in life he demonstrated exorbitant vanity and arrogance (some historians believe that in old age he developed serious problems with the psyche). To draw leadership lessons from his life, I had to imagine that the Monkey King, towards the end of his days, decided to indulge in reflection and wanted to pass on to his descendants his wise instructions based on an honest assessment of his own colossal successes - and disastrous failures. I ask you to forgive me for this liberty.

Translation Notes

“Samurai Without a Sword” is a translation of the book “Toyotomi Hideyoshi no Keiei Juku” by the writer Kitami Masao. People who speak Japanese will notice that in original text Some changes have been made. I did this for three reasons.

First, the management issues that Hideyoshi addressed in Kitami's book are closely related to social traditions and business practices that are characteristic of Japan but unfamiliar to most readers. For this reason, in this edition I have shortened some of the topics and focused on the topic of leadership, which people of different cultures understand in the same way.

Secondly, all Japanese know who Hideyoshi was, many have heard about his adventures since childhood, while most readers of Samurai Without a Sword hardly know anything about our main character or his exploits in the era of the warring provinces. To fill in such gaps that Kitami could have easily omitted, I had to draw on a number of historical documents, biographies and scientific studies.

Thirdly, I call Hideyoshi “the samurai without a sword.” It may be objected that, given the horrific consequences of some of our hero’s actions, he does not deserve such a nickname. But I believe that this phrase accurately expresses his inability to master martial arts and his desire to defeat his opponents by peaceful means. Readers should know that I came up with the name "Samurai Without a Sword" specifically for the Hideyoshi figure; it cannot serve as a characteristic of the entire class of peace-loving samurai, is not used in Kitami’s text and has no analogue in the Japanese language.

By the way, about the language. I wanted to make the English version fun and inspiring for a wide range of readers, but to do this I had to make compromises as the author and translator. I present Japanese names in the proper order (last name first, then first name), but for the sake of simplicity I use the part of the characters' full name that will be easier for readers to remember, whether it's the last name or the first name. As a result, Hachizuka Koroku becomes Koroku for me, and Shibata Katsuie turns out to be Shibata (I believe that it is already difficult for most readers to remember and distinguish such unusual and similar names as Mitsunari and Mitsuhide, Masanori and Masamune, etc.). Therefore, in order not to overload the text, I have left the minor characters nameless and minimized the use of archaic sixteenth-century place names, many of which are unknown even to native Japanese speakers.

Another problem relates to the name of our main character. Thanks to his many promotions, Hideyoshi's name changed so often that even Japanese readers have difficulty remembering what names he went by. different stages of your career. I simplified matters by using only one name in the book, which he received at birth: Hideyoshi.

I struggled with these and other difficulties for a long time, but finally decided that strict adherence to scientific facts would make this book intolerably boring for all but the most passionate lovers of Japanese history. I hope you will be pleased with the result.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Kitami Masao for allowing this book to be adapted for English-speaking readers; my agent Martha Jewett for her valuable advice and tireless support of this project; and James Reid Harrison for editorial assistance.

Tim Clark Tokyo, Japan
and Portland, Oregon
August 2006

Japanese wisdom and philosophy have a special appeal; many residents of European countries turn to Eastern teachings in difficult times. The book "Samurai Without a Sword", written by Kitami Masao, will tell about the philosophy of the famous historical figure of Japan of the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It is written as if he himself were sharing his thoughts, which allows you to become even more immersed in his ideas. The narrative reads more like a memoir and autobiography than a textbook, but it contains a lot of useful information.

This book will benefit those who want to achieve their goals, who strive to become a leader. And although Toyotomi Hideyoshi lived in the 16th century, his advice remains relevant in the 21st century. At a time when in Japan power was passed down only by blood line, and Toyotomi was from a simple peasant family, he was able to achieve a high position in society. He became a leader and was able to unite the country, which at that time was in a difficult situation. Toyotomi became a samurai, as he dreamed of as a child, only he defended his beliefs and interests of his country not with the help of a sword, but with the power of his mind, his wisdom. That is why the book has such a title.

Here we talk about how to go step by step towards your goal, what you need to do to become a leader. The author also talks about what those who have already become leaders need to be wary of. After all, often there, at the top of the social ladder, people forget about their promises, about humanity and justice. The book talks about the important qualities of a leader, which are modern world For some reason, patience, hard work and generosity have ceased to be valued.

The author tells how to behave in difficult situations, how to build relationships with colleagues and motivate subordinates. The book provides food for thought and information on how to learn to resolve all issues peacefully, thanks to wisdom and a special type of thinking.

On our website you can download the book “Samurai Without a Sword” by Kitami Masao for free and without registration in fb2, rtf, epub, pdf, txt format, read the book online or buy the book in the online store.

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Samurai without a sword read the full version online. Gratitude, hard work, determination and dedication

About the book “Samurai Without a Sword” by Kitami Masao

* * *

Preface

Samurai as exemplary leaders

A Brief History of the Samurai

Notes on the text

Translation Notes