Shotku’s Seventeen Article Constitution

Shotku’s Seventeen Article Constitution, elements of Buddhist, Confucian, or Legalist thinking.
The elements reflected include the following, the idea that we should all cease wrath and refrain any form of angry looks. Moreover, we should not be resentful in the event of differing with others.
The ministers according to Buddhism should ensure decorous behavior as one of their leading principles
Commands should be obeyed especially the Imperial commands.
Moreover, harmony in the society is to be valued. We should, therefore, obey our fathers and more so the lords.
The spheres of duty should not be confused, and as such every man should have his charge. Wise men are to be entrusted with the office since in this world very few are born with the knowledge and the wisdom we all want.
What according to Kitabatake’s was distinctive about Japan in comparison to China and India?
The country is described as the country with the great eight islands produced by female and male Deity.
During the age of the gods the country was referred to us “even –Fruitful land of recovered plains and luxuriant rice fields.” This uniqueness has since been in existence.
The Chinese and the Japanese have a similar succession to the throne. However, unlike the Chinese the Japanese succession has never been inviolate. The succession of the Japanese’s has remained the same with no disruption since the beginning unlike other countries like China and India who succession to the throne have over been disrupted over the time.

What impression does Shonagon convert about the relationship of men and women at court?
In document 8.3, she believed that women relationship with men where they are relegated to household chores and just to stay at home should be scorned and should not be accepted. Thus she describes this as women who have no exciting prospects in life. Women relationship with men should thus be fulfilling with mutual respect for each other’s charge but not demeaning the other gender especially the women in the society.
A man should not sing songs of praise about another woman who is his past life, yet he has a woman who lives with him currently. This kind of relationship and behavior is disrespectful and thus should be scorned.
A good relationship between men and women is one which the lover who is good will show elegance at dawn at any time.
Men and women should not bring up one of their sons to be priests simply because they are first sons. The choice of the priesthood should not be enforced on them, but rather a personal choice and thus the son’s character and behavior should be scrutinized all the time.
What evidence can you identify of cultural borrowing in document 8.1 through 8.4?
The Japanese Bushido was their mode of cultural expression. The Samurai and other people observed and followed this to the latter. The Bushido, however, in practice incorporated some cultural borrowing which later became Japanese due to the inclusion of the elements. The Bushido absorbed Confucian together with values confessed by Buddhists. Moreover, they also incorporated the Shinto tradition.
The decorous behavior amongst the warriors and the officials is one of the guiding principles reflecting the cultural borrowing they have.
The elements of honor to people, selection of wise and knowledgeable warriors in the Samurai and putting the interest of others are clearly adopted into their culture.