Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川 家康, 1543 – 1616): the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate (徳川幕府), which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara (関ケ原合戦) in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration (明治維新) in 1868. Ieyasu Ikun (家康遺訓) is the kun left by Ieyasu. There is a great wisdom in the kun and many Japanese of the 21st century still follow the teaching. I have the kun in a frame placed on my desk so I can read it every day. I hope you will find this kun to be beneficial. Ieyasu Ikun (my translation of the original quote): “Ones life is like a long journey carrying a heavy load on his back. Therefore, do not rush.” 人の一生は重荷を負うて遠き道を行くが如し、急ぐべからず。 “You do not feel the lacking if you make it a norm. Remember the time of trouble if a desire arises in your mind.” 不自由を 常と思えば不足なし、心に望み起こらば困窮したる時を思い出すべし。 The strong patience is the foundation for the safety and a long life. Consider your anger as the true enemy.” 堪忍は無事長久の基、怒りは敵と思え。 “If you experience only of winning and not of losing, the lack of this experience will later result in a harm to you.” 勝事ばかり知って負けることを知らざれば害その 身にいたる。 “Blame only yourself and never the others.” おのれを責めて人を責むるな。 “It is better to be incomplete than to be excess.” 及ばざるは過ぎたるより勝れり。 “Be humble always. A beautiful dew on a leaf must fall when it becomes too heavy.” 人はただ身の程を知れ、草の葉の露も重きは落つるものかな。 (Note: The last sentence is normally excluded from the Ikun but I added it as I think it has a profound meaning and it is well fitting with the rest of kun.) More about Ieyasu: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 17:43:43 +0000
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