In modern popular culture, Japanese samurai are represented as medieval warriors, similar to Western knights. This is not a completely correct interpretation of the concept. In fact, the samurai were primarily feudal lords who owned their own land and were the basis of power. This class was one of the key ones in Japanese civilization of that time.
The origin of the class
Approximately in the 18th century, the same warriors appeared whose successor is any samurai. Japanese feudalism arose from the Taika reforms. The emperors resorted to the help of samurai in their fight against the Ainu, the indigenous inhabitants of the archipelago. With each new generation, these people, who faithfully served the state, acquired new lands and money. Clans and influential dynasties were formed that owned significant resources.
Around the X-XII centuries. In Japan, a process similar to the European one took place - the country was shaken by feudal lords fighting against each other for land and wealth. At the same time, imperial power remained, but it was extremely weakened and could not prevent civil confrontation. It was then that the Japanese samurai received their code of rules - Bushido.
Shogunate
In 1192, a political system arose, which was later called a complex and dual system of governing the entire country, when the emperor and the shogun - figuratively speaking, the chief samurai - ruled simultaneously. Japanese feudalism was based on the traditions and power of influential families. If Europe overcame its own civil strife during the Renaissance, then the distant and isolated island civilization lived for a long time according to medieval rules.
This was the period when the samurai was considered the most prestigious member of society. The Japanese shogun was omnipotent due to the fact that at the end of the 12th century the emperor granted the holder of this title the monopoly right to raise an army in the country. That is, any other applicant or peasant revolt could not stage a coup d'état due to inequality of power. The Shogunate lasted from 1192 to 1867.
Feudal hierarchy
The samurai class has always been distinguished by a strict hierarchy. At the very top of these stairs was the shogun. Next came the daimyo. These were the heads of the most important and powerful families in Japan. If the shogun died without leaving an heir, then his successor was chosen from among the daimyo.
At the middle level were feudal lords who owned small estates. Their approximate number fluctuated around several thousand people. Next came the vassals of vassals and ordinary soldiers without property.
At its peak, the samurai class made up about 10% of the total population of Japan. Members of their families can also be included in this layer. In fact, the power of the feudal lord depended on the size of his estate and the income from it. It was often measured in rice - the main food of the entire Japanese civilization. The soldiers were also paid with literal rations. For such “trade” there was even a system of weights and measures. Koku was equal to 160 kilograms of rice. Approximately this amount of food was enough to satisfy the needs of one person.
To understand the value of rice, it is enough to give an example of a samurai salary. Thus, those close to the shogun received from 500 to several thousand koku of rice per year, depending on the size of their estate and the number of their own vassals, who also needed to be fed and supported.
Relationship between shogun and daimyo
The hierarchical system of the samurai class allowed feudal lords who served well to rise very high on the social ladder. Periodically they rebelled against the supreme authority. The shoguns tried to keep the daimyo and their vassals in line. To do this, they resorted to the most original methods.
For example, in Japan for a long time There was a tradition according to which daimyo had to go to their master once a year for a ceremonial reception. Such events were accompanied by long journeys across the country and high costs. If the daimyo was suspected of treason, the shogun could actually take a member of the family of his unwanted vassal hostage during such a visit.
Code of Bushido
Along with the development of the shogunate, the authors of the shogunate were the best Japanese samurai. This set of rules was formed under the influence of the ideas of Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism. Most of these teachings came to Japan from the mainland, or more precisely from China. These ideas were popular among the samurai - representatives of the main aristocratic families of the country.
Unlike Buddhism or the doctrine of Confucius, Shintoism was an ancient paganism. It was based on norms such as the worship of nature, ancestors, country and the emperor. Shintoism allowed for the existence of magic and otherworldly spirits. In Bushido, from this religion, the cult of patriotism and faithful service to the state was primarily transferred.
Thanks to Buddhism, the Japanese samurai code included ideas such as special treatment to death and an indifferent look at life problems. Aristocrats often practiced Zen, believing in the rebirth of souls after death.
Samurai philosophy
The Japanese samurai warrior was raised in bushido. He had to strictly follow all the prescribed rules. These rules concerned both civil service, and personal life.
The popular comparison of knights and samurai is incorrect precisely from the point of view of comparing the European code of honor and the rules of bushido. This is due to the fact that the behavioral foundations of the two civilizations were extremely different from each other due to isolation and development in completely different conditions and societies.
For example, in Europe there was an established custom of giving your word of honor when agreeing on some agreements between feudal lords. For a samurai this would be an insult. At the same time, from the point of view of a Japanese warrior, a surprise attack on the enemy was not a violation of the rules. For a French knight, this would mean the treachery of the enemy.
Military honor
In the Middle Ages, every resident of the country knew the names of Japanese samurai, since they were the state and military elite. Few who wished to join this class could do so (either because of their ugliness or because of inappropriate behavior). The closed nature of the samurai class lay precisely in the fact that strangers were rarely allowed into it.
Clanism and exclusivity greatly influenced the norms of behavior of warriors. For them, their own dignity was the most important thing. If a samurai brought shame on himself by an unworthy act, he had to commit suicide. This practice is called harakiri.
Every samurai had to be responsible for his words. The Japanese code of honor required people to think several times before making any statement. Warriors were required to eat moderately and avoid promiscuity. A true samurai always remembered death and reminded himself every day that sooner or later his earthly journey would end, so the only important thing was whether he was able to maintain his own honor.
Attitude to family
Worship of family also took place in Japan. So, for example, a samurai had to remember the rule of “branches and trunk.” According to customs, the family was compared to a tree. Parents were the trunk, and children were just branches.
If a warrior treated his elders with contempt or disrespect, he automatically became an outcast in society. This rule was followed by all generations of aristocrats, including the very last samurai. Japanese traditionalism existed in the country for many centuries, and neither modernization nor a way out of isolation could break it.
Attitude to the state
Samurai were taught that their attitude towards the state and legitimate authority should be as humble as towards their own family. For a warrior there were no interests higher than his master. Japanese samurai weapons served the rulers until the very end, even when the number of their supporters became critically small.
The loyal attitude towards the overlord often took the form of unusual traditions and habits. Thus, samurai did not have the right to go to bed with their feet towards the residence of their master. The warrior also made sure not to aim his weapon in the direction of his master.
Characteristic of the behavior of samurai was a contemptuous attitude towards death on the battlefield. It is interesting that mandatory rituals have developed here. So, if a warrior realized that his battle was lost and he was hopelessly surrounded, he had to call given name and die calmly from the enemy's weapons. A mortally wounded samurai, before giving up the ghost, pronounced the names of Japanese samurai of senior ranks.
Education and customs
The class of feudal warriors was not only a militaristic stratum of society. Samurai were well educated, which was mandatory for their position. All warriors studied the humanities. At first glance, they could not be useful on the battlefield. But in reality everything was exactly the opposite. The Japanese might not have protected their owner where literature saved him.
For these warriors, a passion for poetry was the norm. The great fighter Minamoto, who lived in the 11th century, could spare a defeated enemy if he read him a good poem. One samurai wisdom said that weapons are right hand warrior, while literature is leftist.
An important component of everyday life was the tea ceremony. The custom of drinking a hot drink was spiritual in nature. This ritual was adopted from Buddhist monks, who meditated collectively in this way. Samurai even held tea drinking tournaments among themselves. Each aristocrat was obliged to build a separate pavilion in his house for this important rite. From the feudal lords the habit of drinking tea passed on to the peasant class.
Samurai training
Samurai learned their craft from childhood. It was vital for a warrior to master the technique of wielding several types of weapons. The skill of fist fighting was also highly valued. Japanese samurai and ninjas had to be not only strong, but also extremely resilient. Each student had to swim in stormy river in full attire.
A real warrior could defeat the enemy not only with weapons. He knew how to suppress his opponent mentally. This was done with the help of a special battle cry, which made unprepared enemies feel uneasy.
Casual wardrobe
In the life of a samurai, almost everything was regulated - from relationships with others to clothing. It was also a social marker by which aristocrats distinguished themselves from peasants and ordinary townspeople. Only samurai could wear silk clothes. In addition, their things had a special cut. A kimono and hakama were required. Weapons were also considered part of the wardrobe. The samurai always carried two swords with him. They were tucked into a wide belt.
Only aristocrats could wear such clothes. Peasants were prohibited from wearing such a wardrobe. This is also explained by the fact that on each of his things the warrior had stripes that showed his clan affiliation. Every samurai had such coats of arms. Transfer from Japanese language motto could explain where he came from and who he served.
Samurai could use any available item as a weapon. Therefore, the wardrobe was also selected for possible self-defense. The samurai fan became an excellent weapon. It differed from ordinary ones in that the basis of its design was iron. In the event of a surprise attack by enemies, even such an innocent thing could cost the lives of the attacking enemies.
Armor
If ordinary silk clothing was intended for everyday wear, then each samurai had a special wardrobe for battle. Typical armor medieval Japan included metal helmets and breastplates. The technology for their production originated during the heyday of the shogunate and has remained virtually unchanged since then.
Armor was worn in two cases - before a battle or a ceremonial event. The rest of the time they were kept in a specially designated place in the samurai’s house. If warriors went on a long campaign, their clothing was carried in a convoy. As a rule, servants looked after the armor.
IN medieval Europe The main distinguishing element of the equipment was the shield. With its help, knights showed their belonging to one or another feudal lord. Samurai did not have shields. For identification purposes, they used colored cords, banners, and helmets with engraved designs of coats of arms.
Warriors watch the hara-kiri of a samurai in white.
Samurai emerged during the Heian period around 710 AD with the goal of subjugating the local people in the Tohoku region in northern Honshu. Over time, they became increasingly powerful and became the military elite in Japan. They were ruling class from the XII to the XIX centuries.
The samurai commits hara-kiri, or seppuku, a ritual of suicide through the release of intestines.
Samurai followed a code influenced by Confucianism, which is known as bushido - literally "the way of the warrior." The unwritten and unspoken code glorified modesty, loyalty, mastery of martial arts and honor until death. The rules also called for heroic courage, fierce defense of family pride, and selfless devotion to the lord.
A group of samurai in ancient armor and weapons, circa 1870.
In the 15th and 16th centuries There were many warring factions, but their number subsequently decreased. Fearless warriors wore plate armor and a variety of weapons, including bows and arrows, spears, guns and, of course, the samurai sword. However, peace remained in the Edo period and many samurai became teachers, artists or officials as the need for mastery of martial arts became less important.
Photograph taken and colored by Felice Beato: women in a traditional Japanese shop, late 19th century.
When Emperor Meiji ascended the throne in 1868, he began to abolish the powers of the samurai. He first deprived them of their right to be the only army in Japan and began forming a Western-style conscript army in 1873.
One of the first war photographers, Venetian Felice Beato, took this photo around 1862.
The samurai became shizoku, merging with another social class under the influence of the Meiji reforms, and the right to carry a katana was lost, as was the right to execute anyone who publicly disrespected the samurai.
Group of samurai, circa 1890. Illustration for the booklet “In Japan: types, costumes and customs.”
The term "shizoku" (untitled nobility) remained part of Japanese culture until the end of World War II, but was abandoned in 1947. Despite the fact that at their peak, samurai made up no more than 10% of Japan's population, their influence is still very noticeable in Japanese culture, especially in modern martial arts.
A samurai in traditional attire and shoes blows into a sea shell.
Three Japanese samurai in full uniform.
Colorful traditional armor and ancient weapons on samurai, circa 1890.
Samurai is...
A samurai is a Japanese warrior. Stories about the courage and fortitude of the samurai have survived even to this day. The samurai class existed until the bourgeois revolution, and even after that some features in society were preserved. A samurai is not just a warrior; initially only feudal lords became such. The lifestyle and virtues of medieval samurai were widely reflected in art. Such popularization led to the distortion of some facts about the warriors of feudal Japan.
Origin
The meaning of the word samurai can be interpreted as “a person who served.” The first samurai appeared back in the 7th century. During Taika's reign, a number of different reforms were carried out. Thus, a privileged class of warriors emerged. Initially, these were people who already occupied a high position in society and were landowners. Samuraiism became widespread in the 9th century, when the Japanese Emperor Kammu waged a war against the Ainu. Over the next centuries, clear dogmas were formed that define a warrior. A set of rules "Bushido" appears, which states that a samurai is a person who puts loyalty to his master above all else. This is the practical difference from European chivalry. "Bushido" also pointed to kindness, decency, and honesty, but the focus still remained on loyalty to war and the master.
Ideology
Among the samurai, the most revered virtues were courage, loyalty, and lack of fear of death and suffering. This nihilism is due not least to the influence of Buddhism. The way of the warrior (literal translation of Bushido) also implied moral and psychological development. Many procedures, such as meditation, were designed to maintain balance and spiritual tranquility of a person. The main task of the “path of the spirit” was to cleanse oneself from emotional experiences and develop an indifferent attitude towards worldly vanity.
The absence of fear of death has become a kind of cult. A striking example of such an ideology is hara-kiri. This is a ritual suicide with a special knife. Harakiri was considered a worthy death for any samurai. The person who decided to commit it knelt down and then ripped open his stomach. Similar methods of suicide were observed among warriors ancient Rome. The stomach was chosen as a target because the Japanese believed that this is where the human soul resides. During hara-kiri, a friend of the samurai could be present, who would behead him after cutting him open. Such execution was allowed only for minor crimes or deviations from the code.
Who is a samurai
Modern art has somewhat distorted the image of samurai. In ancient Japan, a samurai was, first of all, a feudal lord. The poor classes could not belong to this movement. In addition to social prejudices, this was also due to material problems. Samurai ammunition and weapons were very expensive, and training lasted a lifetime. A warrior was raised from childhood. These were, first of all, hard physical training. The teenager had to constantly work and train. For this, he had a personal mentor, who was the ideal and spiritual image of courage for the student. Training mainly consisted of endless repetition of the same combat situations. This was done so that the fighter remembered actions under certain conditions at the reflex level.
Spiritual education of a samurai
In addition to physical training, there were also moral ones. From childhood, the father had to teach his son not to be afraid of pain and hardship. To strengthen the spirit, a teenager could be woken up at night and ordered to go to a place that was considered cursed. Also, in their youth, future warriors were taken to watch the execution of criminals. At some stages it was forbidden to sleep or even eat. Such hardships were supposed to strengthen the body and spirit of the samurai. Home, family and children were never a soldier's priority according to Bushido. Before going to war, he swore to forget them and not remember them until his return.
Among the samurai there was a special elite - the Daimyo. It was believed that these were the most experienced and brave warriors. However, in reality these were simply large feudal lords who actually ruled individual regions. A samurai is not necessarily a man. History has preserved many memories of women warriors.
Samurai weapons
Samurai- this is, first of all, a man in expensive armor. On the battlefield, this is what distinguished them from the ashigaru - the peasant militia. Samurai armor was difficult to make and could cost more than an entire settlement. Unlike European armor, samurai armor consisted mainly of metal plates. They were connected to each other with silk threads and covered with leather. The samurai used swords as weapons - katanas, something between a saber and a European knight's sword. In addition to the katana, the samurai carried a small dagger with him. Yari - spears with a long sting - were also used. Some samurai used bows. With the advent of firearms, armor lost its practical use and was used only as an attribute of high status. Some elements of armor were used as a manifestation military rank and in capitalist Japan. In the Russian film "The Priest" the samurai is shown in modern society, which is not uncommon.
Samurai are these Japanese guys who shot with a bow at 10 steps and sometimes hit, carried two swords in their belts and spoke in dog voices. Many consider them to be the cyber-hyber-warriors of all times, who could easily defeat a knight, a conquistador, or even a Roman legionnaire (although this is where the fiercest fights take place). Sweeping aside the legend-myths and completely refusing to compare them with a gopher, capybara or rhinoceros, I took the risk of compiling my top 10 most famous warriors among the samurai.
Top 10 samurai warriors
1. Minamoto Tametomo. Representative of a famous aristocratic clan. He did not live to see the famous war with Taira, for much earlier he took part in the rebellion of his relatives against Taira ("The Troubles of the Hogen Years", described in the work of the same name), which ended in failure. He was known as the famous cyber-yuber archer, who could shoot off anything at enemies - the kneecap, the head, once even fired at a ship, broke through the waterline and sank it. Naturally, most of his exploits are heroic tales created by the imagination of "Homer-san". After the failure of the rebellion, the enemies decided to punish Tametomo by cutting the tendons in his arms and depriving the archer of his strength. But even in this state, he shot them down when they came after him to the small island, where he was trampling into exile, and then, surrounded by hordes, the first in Japanese history made himself seppuku.
2. Minamoto Yoshitsune. The favorite hero of Japanese children and folklore in general. A funny dwarf, brother of the famous Yoritomo, who defeated the Taira and began to rule Japan as Shogun Minamoto. Despite his physical attributes, Yoshitsune proved himself both as a commander, practically in one person and taking out these Tairas (his brother, like all politicians in the world, then came to do everything ready), and as a dexterous and skillful warrior. Which was especially useful to him when an insidious brother-in-law ordered him to be captured and killed. Together with his faithful servant, the heroic monk Benkei and his wife Shizuka Gozen, the warlike dwarf fled into the thickets and hid through them for many years until his enemies surrounded him, which forced him to commit seppuku. Yoshitsune's Wandering Adventures is one of the most famous Japanese "samurai novels".
3. Ashikaga Yoshiteru. 13th shogun of the Ashikaga dynasty. By that time, this position had already become almost a pure fiction - the head of the bakufu military headquarters was used as a puppet by all sorts of feudal lords (in in this case- living near the capital Kyoto) in a struggle for power with each other. Yoshiteru had a strong character and always tried to follow his line, dreaming of returning real power to the shogunate. For this, in the end, insidious enemies attacked him at night in the palace. However, the shogun was also known as the best swordsman of his time - breaking a dozen and a half swords before the attackers were finally able to finish him off.
4. Hattori Hanzo. One of the most famous vassals of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hanzo was not just a brave warrior, a skilled swordsman, a spearman and a cunning tactician - he “had connections” among the shinobi clans (never call them anything! Never!!!), including the famous Iga and Koga, and even had the nickname “ Shinobi Shogun", that is, the leader of the spies. By the way, sometimes he himself took part in “night forays”. Naturally, such a person, simply a jack of all trades, was practically irreplaceable, and therefore he calmly lived to old age, avoiding the need to do seppuku for himself.
5. Sanada Nobushige, aka Yukimura. The Japanese consider Yukimura (he never bore this name, it “stuck” to him from novels) perhaps the best strategist and tactician of all time. He was just unlucky - the Sanada clan was small, the army was even smaller, and they mostly served their boss, the Takeda. And after the rise of the Tokugawa, they again backed the wrong horse - they defended the Toyotomi clan. In general, most of Yukimura’s exploits were attacks by small squads, in which he had to personally demonstrate bujutsu. His personal bodyguards were 10 famous martial arts masters - the “10 Brave Men of Sanada.” He died fighting - being seriously wounded in battle, he asked the servants to cut off his head.
6. Miyamoto Musashi. Perhaps in Japan, when they hear the word “samurai”, in 9 out of 10 cases they will immediately say “Musashi”. Although he did not really participate in any war (his whole life is a compendium of legends, where it is sometimes simply impossible to distinguish truth from fiction). But he became the classic image of a “ronin” - a warrior wandering back and forth, living by the sword, fighting in duels and hiding in the thickets of thickets (well, skin disease he had one - he smelled bad and itched). Having defeated many different masters of bujutsu, at the end of his life Miyamoto wrote the bestseller “The Book of Five Rings,” where, in a prophetic-pragmatic form (“if you fell, get up and jump again”), he outlined “the path of a true warrior.” And yes, there are hundreds of novels, movies and anime about him in Japan...
7. Yagyu Munenori. To some extent, the image of Munenori is the opposite of Miyamoto Musashi. The skilled swordsman “pulled everyone down with patience and labor” and, without faltering anywhere, serving as a bodyguard (and then commander of a detachment of bodyguards) of the Tokugawa clan, he was the first in the history of Japan to receive the title of daimyo and the position of “head of the shogunate’s security service” for his martial art. Yagyu also founded his own school of martial arts - Shinkage-ryu, in which representatives of the highest nobility, including the children of the shogun, have since trained. In general, “serve honestly - don’t worry about anything.”
8. Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi. But in reality, Munenori’s son was defeated by his “absentee rival” Musashi - when Jubei was sent into exile due to participation in an unsuccessful conspiracy, he disappeared there for 12 years. No one knows for sure what he did there, but a lot of novels and legends have been written about this time. Because Jubei possessed the family art of swordsmanship. And then, at the age of 36, he came to the shogun for a tournament, where he scattered the most famous opponents in different corners. The shogun was upset and “turned his heart” to the stunning warrior. Yes, and then he also wrote a book - “Records Born in Contemplation of the Moon” (and about the same thing).
9. Kondo Isami. When a squabble began between the shogunate and supporters of strengthening the power of the emperor in Japan in the mid-19th century, the idea arose to create a selected detachment of samurai to guard senior officials (several political assassinations occurred there), as well as for “special operations.” This is how first the Rosingumi appeared, and then the famous (manga and anime) Shinsengumi, headed by Konda Isami - a nobody at all, the son of a peasant who climbed to the top (and killed a couple of people along the way). At the head of his Red Guards, Kondo committed several high-profile deeds, and when the Boshin War began, he became the military leader of the shogun's army and, being wounded, was captured and executed. His enemies were too afraid of his reputation...
10. Nakano Takeko. Finally, the most famous female samurai in Japan. More precisely, onna-bugeisha - this is how during medieval wars they called women (sometimes concubines, sometimes wives) of samurai who served as their bodyguards, and then this word came to mean a female warrior in general, such as a “hero.” In general, almost all samurai girls were taught to use weapons, and the naginata (halberd) was even considered “typically feminine.” But Takeko became a martial artist at her father's school. And when the Boshin War began, she decided to join the army of the Principality of Aizu, supporters of the shogun. Officially, they did not want to allow women to fight, but they allowed them to “stand on the side and do whatever they wanted.” And Nakano assembled a squad of the same boys (received the original name “Women’s Squad”, or “Women’s Army”). In a battle with the emperor's army, Takeko received a bullet in the chest and asked her sister Yuko to cut off her head (purely the custom of male samurai, women killed themselves by piercing an artery in the neck) and take it away so that it would not fall to the enemies. In honor of her, a festival is still held about those places every year (well, Nipponians love this thing - don’t feed them bread).
The Japanese samurai have an almost mythical reputation. The idea of katana-wielding warriors adhering to a noble code is incredibly romantic. Moreover, it was supported by legends and films. But in fact many real facts they are silent about samurai, since this would destroy the romantic flair created by cinema and literature.
1. “Horo” capes
The samurai wore massive 2-meter horo capes, which were stuffed lightweight materials and soared around the samurai’s body at the slightest wind. The horo was supposed to protect the samurai from arrows. The horo was also the main status symbol of the war. An enemy killed in battle wearing a horo was buried with honors.
2. Samurai swords
In the 13th century, when Japan was attacked by the Mongols, the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun first encountered an army equipped with heavy armor. Their swords did not stand up to criticism at that moment. Thin Japanese weapons got stuck in Mongolian leather armor, and often simply broke in half. These thin samurai swords broke so often that they were forced to abandon them and begin making larger, heavier swords to resist the Mongols.
3. Samurai “sissies”
In feudal Japan, a man who spent the night with a woman was considered a sissy. Samurai believed that sex with women had a "feminizing" effect on a man's mind and body. The samurai married if he needed it to procreate, but he never allowed himself to get carried away by his wife. If a samurai was seen kissing his wife on in public places, then his masculinity was in question. At the same time, homosexual relationships were perceived as something ordinary.
4. The guarantor-lover
When a boy was learning the art of the samurai, he was often paired with an older man. The elder taught the boy martial arts, etiquette, a code of honor, and in return used him to satisfy lust. This was called "sudo", which means "the path from boy to teenager." When a boy turned 13, he usually swore allegiance to his teacher and lived with him for the next six years. This was considered completely normal. One Japanese poet wrote: “A young man without an older guarantor-lover is like a young girl without a groom.” It really was treated like a marriage.
5. Immediately and in front of a witness
If a samurai was treated disrespectfully by someone from the lower class, he could kill this person on the spot. There were several rules. The samurai had to do this immediately and in front of witnesses. Moreover, not doing this was considered shameful.
6. Right pant leg only
Samurai began to be paranoid about their bathroom after the incident of the daimyo Uesugi Kenshin, who was killed in the toilet in the 16th century. The killer sneaked into the toilet and stabbed Uesugi Kenshin with a spear, catching him by surprise with his pants down. After this, his rival Takeda Shingen became concerned that someone might do something similar to him and took action. Since then, all martial arts masters began to teach adherents to go to the toilet with their right pant leg completely lowered in order to ensure freedom of action. Samurai bathrooms were designed to be safe from assassins.
7. Post-mortem smell
A legendary samurai named Shigenari Kimura fought his last battle in 1615, defending a castle in Osaka. He boldly led his troops onto the battlefield, after carefully cutting his hair and fumigating his helmet with incense. Kimura knew that he would not survive and decided to "take care" of his future killer, leaving him with a fragrant corpse. He knew his head would be someone's trophy and he wanted it to smell good.
8. Dog in armor
At least one set of samurai armor, custom-made for a dog, survives today. Details are no longer known regarding how the dog armor was used, but scientists believe that it was likely that the armor was not intended for combat, but rather that it was used during parades or was simply ordered by someone from a collector. However, at one point in history, a samurai walked the streets of a Japanese city with a dog dressed in full battle armor.
9. Shakuhachi
One of the strangest types of samurai weapons are shakuhachi - bamboo flutes. Initially it was just musical instruments, played by Buddhist monks. Over time, flutes were transformed when a group of Buddhists called komuso began walking around with baskets on their heads, playing the flute and preaching. The samurai realized that these people with baskets on their heads were simply the perfect disguise and began to pretend to be them. The samurai spies who were sent to suppress uprisings looked like monks in komuso. At the same time, samurai flutes had spikes for use as self-defense weapons.
10. Samurai Devotion
The Samurai Code didn't actually exist until the 1600s, and before that, samurai constantly betrayed their masters. Even after this, the samurai's loyalty existed only on paper, but not in real life. If the owner did not care about the samurai and did not adequately reward the warrior who protected him, then the samurai, as a rule, used any chance to slaughter him and go to serve the one who pays more. When Western missionaries first came to Japan, they were shocked by how much betrayal and backstabbing they saw.
And in continuation of the Japanese theme, we publish.
The samurai embodied the image of an ideal warrior who revered culture and laws, who took seriously what he had chosen life path. When a samurai failed his master or himself, according to local customs he had to be subjected to the ritual of “seppuku” - ritual suicide, i.e. hara-kiri.
1. Hojo Ujitsuna (1487 - 1541)
Ujitsuna sparked a long-standing feud with the Uesugi clan - the owner of Edo Castle, which has now grown into the giant metropolis of Tokyo, but then it was an ordinary castle covering a fishing village. Having taken over Edo Castle, Ujitsuna managed to spread his family's influence throughout the Kanto region (the most populous island of Japan, where the capital of the state is located - Tokyo) and by the time of his death in 1541, the Hojo clan was one of the most powerful and dominant families in Japan
2. Hattori Hanzo (1542 - 1596)
This name may be familiar to fans of Quentin Tarantino, since it was based on the real life biography of Hattori Hanzo that Quentin created the image of the swordsman for the film Kill Bill. Starting at the age of 16, he fought for survival, participating in many battles. Hanzo was devoted to Tokugawa Ieyasu, saving the life of this man more than once, who later founded the shogunate, which ruled Japan for more than 250 years (1603 - 1868). Throughout Japan he is known as a great and devoted samurai who has become a legend. His name can be found carved at the entrance to the imperial palace.
3. Uesugi Kenshin (1530 - 1578)
Uesugi Kenshin was a strong military leader and also the leader of the Nagao clan. He was distinguished by his outstanding ability as a commander, resulting in his troops achieving many victories on the battlefield. His rivalry with Takeda Shingen, another warlord, was one of the most widely known in history during the Sengoku period. They feuded for 14 years, during which time they engaged in several one-on-one fights. Kenshin died in 1578, the circumstances of his death remain unclear. Modern historians believe it was something similar to stomach cancer.
4. Shimazu Yoshihisa (1533 - 1611)
This is another Japanese warlord who lived throughout the bloody Sengoku period. While still a young man, he established himself as a talented commander; later this trait allowed him and his comrades to capture most Kyushu region. Yoshihisa became the first to unite the entire Kyushu region; it was subsequently defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (military and political figure, the unifier of Japan) and his 200,000-strong army.
5. Mori Motonari (1497 - 1571)
Mori Motonari grew up in relative obscurity, but this did not stop him from taking control of several of the largest clans in Japan and becoming one of the most feared and powerful warlords of the Sengoku period. His appearance on the general stage was sudden, and equally unexpected was the series of victories he won over strong and respected opponents. He eventually captured 10 of the 11 provinces in the Chugoku region. Many of his victories were against much larger and more experienced opponents, making his feats even more impressive.
6. Miyamoto Musashi (1584 - 1645)
Miyamoto Musashi was a samurai whose words and opinions still mark modern Japan. Today he is known as the author of The Book of Five Rings, which describes the strategy and philosophy of samurai in battle. He was the first to use a new fighting style in the sword technique of kenjutsu, calling it niten ichi, when the fight is fought with two swords. According to legend, he traveled through ancient Japan, and during his travels he managed to win many fights. His ideas, strategies, tactics and philosophy are the subject of study to this day.
7. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 - 1598)
Toyotomi Hideyoshi is considered one of Japan's Founding Fathers, one of three men whose actions helped unify Japan and end the long and bloody Sengoku era. Hideyoshi succeeded his former master Oda Nobunaga, and began to implement social and cultural reforms that determined the future direction of Japan for a period of 250 years. He banned sword ownership by non-samurai, and also began a nationwide search for all swords and other weapons that were henceforth to belong only to samurai. Despite the fact that this concentrated all military force in the hands of the samurai, such a step was a huge breakthrough towards common peace since the reign of the Sengoku era.
8. Takeda Shingen (1521 - 1573)
Takeda Shingen was perhaps the most dangerous commander of the entire Sengoku era. When it turned out that his father was going to leave everything to his other son, Shingen allied himself with several other powerful samurai clans, which pushed him to expand beyond his home province of Kai. Shingen became one of the few who were able to defeat the army of Oda Nabunaga, who at that time was successfully capturing other territories of Japan. He died in 1573, suffering from illness, but by this point he was well on his way to consolidating power over all of Japan.
