10. Duty (Giri)
Duty (giri) was a powerful force in the life of a samurai, compelling them to fulfill obligations—whether to their lord, family, or community—regardless of personal hardship. This sense of duty often required personal sacrifice, with samurai placing collective needs above their own desires. Unlike some Western concepts of duty, which can be more individualistic, giri was inseparable from the social fabric of samurai life. Fulfilling one’s duty defined true honor and belonging.
