was invented by the sages.  Nor is it in accord with nature; it is a mere matter of aesthetics and ornament.  Of the five relations, only the conjugal is natural, while loyalty, filial obedience, and the rest were invented by the sages, and have been maintained by their authority ever since.’  Surely, among all heresies from ancient days until now, none has been so monstrous as this."[AY]

“Kujuro, a lad of fifteen years, quarreled with a neighbor’s son over a game of go, lost his self-control, and before he could be seized, drew his sword and cut the boy down.  While the wounded boy was under the surgeon’s care, Kujuro was in custody, but he showed no fear, and his words and acts were calm beyond his years.  After some days the boy died, and Kujuro was condemned to hara-kiri.  The officers in charge gave him a farewell feast the night before he died.  He calmly wrote to his mother, took ceremonious farewell of his keeper and all in the house, and then said to the guests:  ’I regret to leave you all, and should like to stay and talk till daybreak; but I must not be sleepy when I commit hara-kiri to-morrow, so I’ll go to bed at once.  Do you stay at your ease and drink the wine.’  So he went to his room and fell asleep, all being filled with admiration as they heard him snore.  On the morrow he rose early, bathed and dressed himself with care, made all his preparations with perfect calmness, and then, quiet and composed, killed himself.  No old, trained, self-possessed samurai could have excelled him.  No one who saw it could speak of it for years without tears....  I have told you this that Kujuro may be remembered.  It would be shameful were it to be forgotten that so young a boy performed such a deed."[AZ]

     “We are not to cease obeying for the sake of study, nor must we
     establish the laws before we begin to obey.  In obedience we are to
     establish its Tightness and wrongness."[BA]

“We learn loyalty and obedience as we are loyal and obedient.  To-day I know yesterday’s short-comings, and to-morrow I shall know to-day’s....  In our occupations we learn whether conduct conforms to right and so advance in the truth by practice."[BB]

“Besides a few works on history, like the Sankyo Ega Monogatari, which record facts, there are no books worth reading in our literature.  For the most part they are sweet stories of the Buddhas, of which one soon wearies.  But the evil is traditional, long-continued, and beyond remedy.  And other books are full of lust, not even to be mentioned, like the Genji Monogatari, which should never be shown to a woman or a young man.  Such books lead to vice.  Our nobles call the Genji Monogatari a national treasure, why, I do not know, unless it is that they are intoxicated with its style.  That is like plucking the spring blossom unmindful of the autumn’s fruit.  The book is full of adulteries from beginning to end.