Shogun

“There was no dignity for either the sufferer or the torturer. It removed the dignity from death, and without that dignity, what was the ultimate point of life?”

Omi watches Pieterzoon’s torture in the cauldron of boiling water. The samurais do not fear death, but the thought of an undignified, dishonorable end is intolerable to them. There is no honor in a man being tortured to death, and nothing dignified about the job of torture.

“Always remember, child [...] that to think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself it will spiral you down into ever increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline—training—is about.”

Kiku’s first teacher gives her a lesson in the discipline of mindfulness. Negative thoughts are natural and easy in a violent world. The women of the Willow World have to appear light and at ease when they are entertaining. A large part of their training involves thinking good thoughts even when there is little reason to do so.

“To serve is duty, duty is samurai, samurai is immortality.”

Yabu contemplates becoming completely loyal to Toranaga. The samurai code of service makes obedience to one’s lord is indistinguishable from duty. Treating one’s duty with seriousness guarantees positive karma and a desirable immortality. Yabu’s problem is the realization that whom he serves matters less for karma than the fact that he serves a lord honorably.