t The Fhilosophicatr Research Society, ì[nc.

3910 Lo¡ Feliz Blad. - Lot Angelet, Calif . 90027 - 663-2167

M,{NLY P. HALL HENRY L. DRAKE

President - Founder Vice-President

CONTRIBUTON,SI BT'I¿ETIN - OCTOBER 1976

Ï{E CODE OF IETÀSU

Dear FrÍends:

HE DRAMATIC CHANGES which transformed Japan from a feudal etate to a

r¡rited noÀern natl.on occuned ln the lnterr¡al- betreen L573 and L6O3.
The transforuation ras largel-Y due to the l-abors of Oda Noburaga
(ts%-trez ) Toyotorni Hideyoshi 0¡%-t¡98), and Tokugara Ieyasu
(t¡â2-tota ) Nobunaga ras a n-illtarist, Hideyoshi an opportrnl'str and
Ieyasu a statesman. After the death of Hldeyoshl in L598, Ieyasu
picked up the refns of governnent end estabHshed a llne of Prine
ministers or shoguns who rere the real nrlers of the countrx¡ tn 1603
to L867. Ieyasu ras resolved to end forever the Ínternecine strÍfe that had pI-agued
the eor¡ntry for centuries. He realized that Japan must have an enduring synbol that
could survive alL poritical change. This alread.,v vxl'sted in the person of the
emperor whose spíritual prestige ras universally accepted, but whose polítiea1 poter
raã drtually nl1. ÌIe wãs a culture s¡rnboI and bis court at l(yoto ras the gatherfng
place of poets, artists, musicians, prlests, arrd scholars. Ieyasu believed that
ltrere shoúa be a cl-ear distlnctlon between the lnperial court and the ghogrrtal
government, so he moved the Latter to Edo rhich was renaned Tolçyo. He contLnued to
nake eerenonial Journeys in homage to the etperor, rhose glory shouLd not be suLlled
by involvenent ln the machinery of politics.
Havlng solved this natter to his satisfaction, Ieyasu next turned his attention to
the feudal Lords dweJ-líng 1n their hfgh castles surrornrded by falthful fiefs. These
lords or dalnyo vere ever ratchful- of each other, resolved to erpand thelr oçn do-
nalns ff opporbrrnity afforded. Ttre ner shogun took the attitude that no state could
run stlootbly rhil-e lhe var.ious seetlons of the cor,ntr¡r, indivlduaLl,y or in conbl'ne,
,-,- Íere stronger than the natlonal governnent. He later erpanded thfs thinH.ng to
lnclude varlous inetltutions or areas of speciaLlzed interest rhfch cor¡ld lnfluence
legfslatlon at the expense of the cltizens. He issued edicts to forbld the further

Ä NON-pRo¡rT oRcANrz-{TIoN, FouNDED rtrt 1934,oEucATED To rHe ¡IssÉrrI¡tATIoN oF USEFUL KNOIVLEDGE

IN THE FIELDS OF PHILOSOPHY, COITP-{RATIVE RELIGIOI{, AND PSYCHOLOGY
building of castles and to cr¡rb the a¡nbltlons of the feudal lords. He hlt upon the
happy aãvice of requirlng eaah of then, rlth an appropriate retinuer to make an
annüâf vislt to Tokyo rhère they rere recelved rlth aLl conslderatlon. These vÍsl-
tatlons were gLittertng affaLrs, marked by great ponp and circunstanee, and fncluding
of course hanãsone gifts to the shogrrnal government. Thfs drained aray the fi¡nds
that uright be used for conspiracy. He also lfked to keep pronfnent nembers of the
feudal familles 1n lokyo as pernarient guests. By such mea¡Ít feyasu g::ad.uaL1y ex-
tended the shogunal power to the pofnt rhere revolt agalnst lt ras vlrtuaLly im-
possible. He allowed everyone to keep face, but he kept porer.
Ieyasu was deeply eoneàrtred over the well-belng-of the cltizenry. He ras not a des-
pot nor an autocrat, but a patenral írnage guardlng the seeu¡fty of hÍs cor¡ntl-ess
chl1dren. Disctpllie Ías nècessary, md lt nust be enforeed çhen any faetion by
Lts conduct endangered the eormon good. In one brÍef statenent his policy could
be suÍrmaflzed: rVenerate the emperor and obey the shogur.n It cane to be assumed
that this,procedure
-renember was
ttthe way of 'the gods.r
-One
of leyasurs naxíns ras ttwhen you
eat rlee, the famer.rf He therãfore dld much to protect the agricultural-
class, and he elevated its dígnltles above those of the nerchant lho bartered the
labors of everT nan, but grew no rice himself.
The shog¡n reaLlzetl that the confllct between realth and poverty led to perpetual
t¡nrest. He ras not lncLlned to regulate incomes, but he kept a ratchful eye on hor
the noney was spent. llhen the vlfe of a rlch Osaka nerchant paradect the streets in
an extravagant èostune attentled by a retinue 9f servants, the governnent seized her
wardrobe. ResoLved to have her way, she bought a ner and more er¡lensLve outfit and
repeated theoffense. At this potni the govérnnent confl.scated her_huslan$rs for-
tune. It ras the duty of the nore opulent to set a hlgh standard of nodesty and
propriety.
The Kabrrki theatre ças heavily patronized by the pubLlc anrtl ras the prlncipal- forn
of entertalnment for all- the tovnsfolk. It folloned that certain actors beeame
vealt¡ry and thelr conduct outraged the shogUnal morals. ScandaLs fnvolvlng the
theatrâ rere lncreasingly frequent and nany of the actors l-ed dfssolute lives.
They weré prouptþ penáI1zed by belng erlled to some insignfftcant area to repent
their nlsta.kes. Solne of them rere never permitted to return to Toþo; others
cor¡1d not cone back for geveral years. A tatohful- eye ras also kept on theatre
progra¡ml.ng. The Japanese are a subtl"e peopl-e and the audience, readlng betreen
ih"-lin"s, notlced vãrlous crlticlsns of the government. The plays rere pronptl-y
censored an¿ the whole fleld of perfor:ming arts ras held accor¡ntable for double-
neanlngs that nlght creep ln to their productlons.
Tlnegraphic arts rere also closely supervlsed. Ukiyo-e artlst€-were a Bohenian 1ot,
ana ãearty all of then produced,plctures rith political- overtoneì. To control- this
sltuatlon, censorshlp sèals adtted. on each print lndicated governnent approval. Even
wlth thfs precautlor¡ artists rer.e frequently reprlmanded and some Íere lnprisoned
for short ler:ns. Dióeontent was not forbldden but eor¡Ld not be dfsplayed in publlc.
Leglttnrate grlevances could be presented to proper official-s. The sa¡ne controls
weie applleã to literature. Authors rere not pernltted to circul-ate rorks rhlch
rere rèlarded as ttetrlmentaL to the noral Life of the corrntrT or respect to a dul-y
establlãhed. authority. It ras assumed that books tere to fr¡rrove the publÍc nínd,
strengthen natlonal lntegrlty, and be properly lnfor:natl.ve. For nan¡r yearsr nåps
of Jafan coul,d not be roa¿e lor general dfstribution for fear that they night glve
vital lnfonnation to forelgn porers. A print by lliroshige showlng the Japanese
coastline ras rithhelct frorn clrcuLatlon as late as tïorld llar If, nearly one hr¡ndred
years after it was orlglnally made.
In splte of these restrlctlons Japan r¡nder the earller Tokagawa shogur¡s prospered
greatly. Much flne art ras produced and old feudal soldfers nade ma4¡\ of the beau-
tiful obJects nor highly prlzed by collectorg. Folk art also e:çerienþed a golden
age, and-Japan enJoyãa a¡¡ enduring peace for over 250 years. Ieyasu wàs a patient
sta¡t. One of hls favorite saylngs ras nf,lfe ls llke a Long Journey rlth a healy load.
Iæt your steps be slor but steady and you 1111 not stunbLe.r In hfs personal l1fe
he practiced forbearance and inner quietude, a¡rd consf.dered a¡ger as nånrs greatest
enenry. He also naintaÍned that whener¡er he was inclined to find fault with otherst
it was best to first find fault wlth hrrnself. In many ways he ras a rnlque figure
1n Japanese history. IÍl.s ambltions were for hls country and not for hlnseLf.
Ieyasurs attitude on rellgious natters was tolerant ar¡d concillatory. He reallzed
that the spirltual beliefs of the people were part of the endurlng forndation.
Havlng supported the rystical vl.rtues of the emperor he dld everXrthlng posslbLe to
unite Shlntolsn and Buddhlsnthroughthe firnctlons of the lrperfaL court. lhen
Ieyasu dled in L6L6, the Tokugawa fqrnily began to eontenplate the bulldl.ng of a
'inâuSöIëtln"fu hts honor; Tn'L622¡ the emperor.conferred upon hin the posthumous . ,

tltle, Tosho-Daigongen, or the rrEast llhmlnating Incarrratfon of Bodhisattva.r

ftris deslgnatlon c1ear3"y revealed a conbinatlon of Shlnto a¡rd Buddhist honors. The
Toshogu Shrine at Níklco is one'of Japants most popular tourist attraotLons. ltre
nagnÍficent group of bulldíngs, rlth thefr red a¡rd gold decoratlons and lntr cate
carvings, ar.e Lndeed a spl-endid tribute to the great shogun. Here, it is fondl-y
beLleved that the spirlt of Ieyasu lives in peaceful grandeur, and memorlal-
servlces in hls honor and in honor of the third shogun are held annually. The
bulldings are Ín e grove of huge cr,¡ptonerÍa trees. Sone of the subordinate fiefs
paid their respects by planting malL trees. After three centurfes, fffteen
thousand oryptonerla trees overshador the sacæd precinct. They l1ne the hlghvay
leadlng to the shrine for nlles llke an arrny of falthful guardlans. feyasu rould
have been the flrst to polnt out that nortaLs endure for onLy a short tlne, but
trees live on to renlntl us alrays of the ronders of nature.
Ieyasuts philosophy of governnent ras sirple. Flrst re mrst tr¡rov rhat Ls necessar.¡r,
not only for today, but for ttre future. Leaders mræt have the authorfty to enforce
Just lars, for lf there is any reatrmess in governmental stnrcture the people rlll-
be left to their orn devleee and rlLl falL lnto confuslon a¡rd dlsse2slon. Prfn-
ciples nust never be conpronfsed.
Alraye nost slncereLy,

r/r4

Torsorwr, Istasg
The folloning l-ist of books is recomrended readÍng. These books nay be ordered from
The Philosophleal Resggrreh Society, Inc. (address on page one). Please add 351 lor
handliqg. Californfá residents, include sal.es tax. Note: PrÍces are subject to
change çithout notlce.

lITI,E AUÏIOR PRICE

FÍxed Stars & Constellations ln Astrology VÍvian Robson $ 6.50

Folk Art Shoya Ïoshlda (p) 3 .2,
FoIk Ants of Japan Hugo Munsterberg 9 75
Footprf.nt of the Buddha E.F.CR Ludoryk , 00
Forerururer, The KatrlÍl GÍbra¡r 5 00
Foundations of Tibetan Wsticisn La'na Covinda (p) 1 50
Fragnents of a Faith Forgotten G.R.S. lrtread 10 00
Freud & Psychoanalysis (#4) CarI G. Jung L' 00
From l¡lessmer to ChristÍan Science Frnk Podnore 10 00
From Pioneer to Poet (Slgns of the
Zodlac Analysed) Isabelle M. Pagan 8.95
Future Is Nor, The Arthur lT. Osborn (p) 2.50
Fleld of Zen, The D. 1. Suzr¡ki (p) 1.00
First & Last Freedon, The J. Ihishnanurti (p) L.g5
Fancy Paper Flowers (Japan) KÍyo Sekiye ,.25
Fro¡n IntelLect to Intuitlon Alice Bailey (p 2.2'
Finding of the thlrd Eye, Ttre Vera Alder (p 3.r0
Farbher Reaches of Hunan Nature, The A. H. Maslor (p 2.95
hmdamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy G. de Punrcker (p 3.ro
Footprlnts of Oautena the Buddha llarie B. By1es (p r.75

BOOKS BY l,fANLf P. IIALL

Adventures in Understanding $6. 50 Self -llnfoldnent 6.50

The Guru ,. ,o lTre Storïy of Astrology 6.50
Healing, the Divíne Art g. 00 îne1ve lïorld Teachers 6.r0
Jourrrey in Truth 6. 50 The lVay of Heaven 5.00
Pathrays of Philosoplty 6. ,o llo:rds to the Tflse 6.50

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