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Amazing. Japanese culture is the only one I know of where suicide is encourage and respected—is there any reason for that?

sjg007 12y ago
Samurai?
tixocloud 12y ago
This might help your understanding: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido#Seven_virtues_of_Bushid.C5.8D_.28as_visioned_by_Nitobe_Inazo.29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido#Seven_virtues_of_Bushid... As I understand it, the Samurai live by the 7 virtues: - Rectitude - Courage - Benevolence - Respect - Honesty - Honour - Loyalty I wouldn't be surprised if these virtues continue to play a huge role in today's society. That said, I'm also not sure how serious people live by these virtues.
- vacri 12y ago
  Read your link in more detail. The 7-virtue noble warrior-poets aren't actually how samurai behaved. That was a turn-of-last-century propaganda movement.
scott_s 12y ago
Hungarian culture also looks more positively on suicide than others. I learned this from Freakanomics, which did a very interesting episode on suicide: http://freakonomics.com/2011/08/31/new-freakonomics-radio-podcast-the-suicide-paradox/ http://freakonomics.com/2011/08/31/new-freakonomics-radio-po...
whytaka 12y ago
I'd been raised in a semi-Japanese home environment but wouldn't call myself an expert. Many people would point to the Bushido culture when it comes to the aura of honor surrounding suicide. However, I think it may go even deeper. From what I understand, Japan has never been a fully self-sufficient economy. The peasantry were always under some feudal rule and a lack of resources had been the norm. Tragic practises like carrying the elderly into the woods to be abandoned and die were not uncommon. The elderly knew when they had become more of a liability than an asset to the family and graciously accepted their fate.
- cyorir 12y ago
  Referring to ubasute[0].Seems more to be an aspect of folklore and popular culture than an actual practice, although it has made for the premise of a good film [1]. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubasute http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubasute [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Narayama_(1958_film) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Narayama_(1958_fi...
aestra 12y ago
This may help http://www.pbs.org/mosthonorableson/shame.html http://www.pbs.org/mosthonorableson/shame.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan#Cultural_attitude_toward_suicide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan#Cultural_attit... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppuku http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppuku http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banzai_charge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banzai_charge

sjg007 12y ago

Samurai?

tixocloud 12y ago

This might help your understanding: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido#Seven_virtues_of_Bushid.C5.8D_.28as_visioned_by_Nitobe_Inazo.29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido#Seven_virtues_of_Bushid... As I understand it, the Samurai live by the 7 virtues: - Rectitude - Courage - Benevolence - Respect - Honesty - Honour - Loyalty I wouldn't be surprised if these virtues continue to play a huge role in today's society. That said, I'm also not sure how serious people live by these virtues.

vacri 12y ago
Read your link in more detail. The 7-virtue noble warrior-poets aren't actually how samurai behaved. That was a turn-of-last-century propaganda movement.

scott_s 12y ago

Hungarian culture also looks more positively on suicide than others. I learned this from Freakanomics, which did a very interesting episode on suicide: http://freakonomics.com/2011/08/31/new-freakonomics-radio-podcast-the-suicide-paradox/ http://freakonomics.com/2011/08/31/new-freakonomics-radio-po...

whytaka 12y ago

I'd been raised in a semi-Japanese home environment but wouldn't call myself an expert. Many people would point to the Bushido culture when it comes to the aura of honor surrounding suicide. However, I think it may go even deeper. From what I understand, Japan has never been a fully self-sufficient economy. The peasantry were always under some feudal rule and a lack of resources had been the norm. Tragic practises like carrying the elderly into the woods to be abandoned and die were not uncommon. The elderly knew when they had become more of a liability than an asset to the family and graciously accepted their fate.

cyorir 12y ago
Referring to ubasute[0].Seems more to be an aspect of folklore and popular culture than an actual practice, although it has made for the premise of a good film [1]. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubasute http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubasute [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Narayama_(1958_film) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Narayama_(1958_fi...

aestra 12y ago

This may help http://www.pbs.org/mosthonorableson/shame.html http://www.pbs.org/mosthonorableson/shame.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan#Cultural_attitude_toward_suicide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan#Cultural_attit... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppuku http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppuku http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banzai_charge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banzai_charge