Before every Battle I come here to my Pagoda to reflect on the horrors of war ,I praise buddha for all things ,I know the kami dog spirit will be my copilot and I will beware the fox spirit that guides the bullets of my enemy. -VonSho
Interactive Axioms
The Hagakure and how it applies to the Game Warbirds
What is the Hagagkure?Hagakure translated roughly as “In the Shadow of Leaves” is a book written in 1700 by a Samurai turned Buddhist Monk . Considered one of the best written works on the subject of Bushido or “The Way of the Warrior”. Bushido was a philosophy that was deeply engrained in the culture of Japan and explains some of the actions and behaviour of such great aces as Saburo Sakai and Minoru Honda. The fanatic poise in the face of death , near suicidal tendencies in air combat, humility and pride dwelling together like the ying and the yang. Fascinating behaviour can be both attributed to the remarkable metal of these men as well as an ancient philosophy that had some effect on entire armed forces of Japan. So with respect to the real life actions and bravery of the pilots in combat I will be making referances to the Hagakure and how it applies to our Flight Sim and the flying of the Zero Fighter.To somewhat Sim the experience of the Zero it takes more than maneuvers but to get in the head if in a very humble and small way..of the actual pilots. After reading the Hagakure some of the actions and stories of Japanese Aces makes more sense if the actual martial valor itself still boggles the mind.
Ponder concepts of... Fight as already dead Die Facing your enemy To die attempting your goals is not a death in vain
Hagakure makes many referances to putting the attempt at your goals and the directness of your actions as a priority.One of the lessons may be that putting your attitude and priorities to be mindful in the execution of your orders and not the results. Many times it refers to praising the attempt over results , to many reading this they focus into the glorification of death but the hidden message is to take the focus off the "prize" of your actions but on the actions themselves.In western thinking it reminds me of the folk saying that life is not a destination but the journey. Thats how I think of several of the more morbid lessons of Hagakure. That the proper attitude , directness , lack of paralyzing fear , puts you in a mode for success. The fear of failure , cowardice and over anxious attitude can rob you of your win.If a warrior had an attitude of not fearing his own death and no fear of failure he will be prepared when oppurtunity presents itself.
I'm sure it can be interrpruted differantly but pride in the details rather than reward seems a constant theme.
Listen to everyones opinions as if they are of great importance is another part of the Hagakure , the advice being that when oppurtunity presents itself you will be ready.
A few poems first posted on the Target Rabaul Message board by...well Vonsho of course
Haiku Vonsho
Strips of misty breath
Twist and bend before my eyes
One wing in the sun
Haiku Vonsho
Leapt into the sky
To deftly prey and scar
Twilight waves I roost
Haiku Vonsho
I don't want to die
I miss my dog , the snow
Ships,Dive on sharks teeth
Tanka Poem Vonsho
Green cage Canopy
Sharp powder burst over shoulders
Fell on hilt ,grasp back
A louder roar an eclipse
crooked wing in iron circle
Tanka Poem Vonsho
Aloft in Ether
Last gilten sunlight ebbs
Isles dusky salter
Blind by eventide, reach out
Buoyed, resting upon a shoal
