Message from wrodriguez

[Anonymous]

I decided to review the film Twilight Samurai. I will provide a brief description of the plot and then describe how scenes in the film can be used in the classroom to highlight/illustrate key ideas in Japanese feudalism and Confucius thought.

Aside from having an application in the class, I found the film engrossing and thought it did a nice job engaging the viewer with the story. The story begins by showing the main character’s life, a low-ranking samurai, who supports his two daughters and mother, who suffers from dementia, on a very meager salary. It shows that while he does not present the picture of success to wider society he seems to find contentment in taking care of his family.

The story advances by providing the main character a love interest, in which he shows his until know unknown prowess in swordsmanship by defending her honor against her abusive ex-husband. From this incident comes an order from his superiors to kill a certain samurai who has refused to commit suicide, known as seppuku. For those that have not yet seen this film I will not spoil the ending by revealing if he gets the girl and or kills his adversary.

As far as its applicability in the class, for those teaching Confucius there are many scenes that allow students to see its teachings in action. For example, the Confucius belief that one must show a strong degree of respect for their elders is shown numerous times when we see the main character taking her of his aged mother, and showing deference to his uncle, despite his sometimes abusive behavior towards him. Again, one can see Confucius thought being practiced when the love interest acquiesces and goes against her own feelings so she can show respect and obey her brother and his wife wishes (the Confucius belief society works when people act based on what their role and relationship is to others).

With regards to Japanese feudalism, one can see it in action during the scene when the Japanese lord inspects his keep’s provisions and his samurai show complete deference and obedience to him. There are other scenes that show how feudalism operated in Japanese society when the samurai are working for their lord, like record keeping and inspecting troops training, and when the samurai talk about how one who does not have a lord is basically worthless.

Finally, one more scene that shows both feudal Japan and Confucius thought at work is when the main character’s lord is talking to his samurai. He sets a good example by being kind and wise (which in Confucius thought are part of the duties of rulers) when he could have yelled at his workers, and it also reveals how powerful the lord is in this particular hierarchy when the samurai working for him don’t even make eye contact with him and don’t speak unless spoken to.