A Brief History of the Samurai

Samurai (also known as bushi) were a type of Japanese military officer. The name is also used for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. This is also the etymology of the Japanese word “subaru.” Some believe that Subaru was originally a samurai and has changed over the years. By the late twelfth century, Subaru became synonymous with the word bushi, or warrior, the root of the word bushido. The samurai used and were experts in many weapons of their time, but their most famous weapon, and the symbol of who they were, was the katana (better known as the samurai sword. Its belief structure and culture were based on Bushido’s idea, which means “the way of the warrior”, and signified and advocated unquestioning loyalty to the master at all costs and obedience in all deeds, placing honour above life.

Bushido was so important to the samurai that they would die or commit suicide by a strict formal method called Seppuku, cutting their own stomachs with a sword before being captured or dying a dishonourable death. Here is a brief history of samurai time periods from AD 538 to today:

1. Asuka period (Asuka jidai, “flying bird period”), 538–710 AD
2. Nara Period (Nara-jidai) AD 710–7943. Heian Period (Heian-jidai or “time of peace and tranquillity”) AD 794–11854. Kamakura Period (Kamakura-jidai) AD 1185–16335. Muromachi Period (Muromachi-jidai) AD 1333–15736. Azuchi-Momoyama

Tokugawa period (Tokugawa-jidai) and Edo period (Edo-jidai).1603 to 18688.

Samurai Culture Today

538–710 ADIIn the Asuka period (Asuka jidai, “period of flying birds”)

538, Buddhism was introduced to Japan by Baekje, with whom they had an agreement for military support, and it was promoted by the ruling class. Prince Shotoku, reportedly a regent and politician, devoted his efforts to the spread of Buddhism and Chinese culture in Japan. Shotoku brought relative peace to Japan through the proclamation of the Jushichijo kenpo in 604, often referred to in Japan as the Seventeen Article Constitution, a Confucian-style document that focused on the types of morals and virtues of government officials and the emperor’s subjects. This thinking became a major influence on Samurai philosophy. After Japan’s defeat by Tang China and Silla, Japan underwent widespread reforms. One of these reforms was called the Taika Reforms (Taika no Kaishin) in 646, after the defeat of the Soga clan, which united Japan. This edict legitimised and required Chinese cultural practises and administrative techniques throughout the Japanese government and aristocracy. In 702, the Taiho Code and the later Yoro Code required the population to report regularly for a census, which was later used for national conscription. With the data from this census, Emperor Mommu introduced the law drafting a quarter to a third of men into the national army, which was modelled on the Chinese system and was called gundan-sei by later historians. The Yoro Code required the population to report regularly to a census, which was later used for national conscription. With the data from this census, Emperor Mommu introduced the law drafting a quarter to a third of men into the national army, which was modelled on the Chinese system and was called gundan-sei by later historians. The Yoro Code required the population to report regularly to a census, which was later used for national conscription. With the data from this census, Emperor Mommu introduced the law drafting a quarter to a third of men into the national army, which was modelled on the Chinese system and was called gundan-sei by later historians.

The Nara Period (Nara-jidai) lasted from 710 to 794 AD.

Japanese society in the Nara period was decidedly agricultural. Shinto was the predominant religion, which was based on the worship of natural and ancestral spirits (kami). One of the effects of the Taiho Code was to stop moving the capital when the ruler died, which was done because that city would have been considered polluted before the decree. The capital was moved to Heijo-kyo, or Nara, in 710. Economic activity boomed during the Nara period thanks to more roads and a more efficient tax collection structure. Outside the capital, however, commercial activity remained low and land reform systems declined. By the mid-eighth century, shoen (estates), one of the most important economic institutions in mediaeval Japan, became more important as landowners sought to improve their capacities and efficiency with land tenure. Local governments became stronger and less dependent on the larger government, while the old land distribution system developed by Prince ShMtoku and the increase in taxes resulted in some landowners losing their property and becoming furosha (‘golf people’-as thrown around by the waves, or homeless) and “public lands” increasingly turned into shoes, or state land. As the size of real estate grew, so did the need for security, and wealthy landowners needed better protection for their land and a way to collect taxes. Local governments became stronger and less dependent on the larger government, while the old land distribution system developed by Prince ShMtoku and the increase in taxes resulted in some landowners losing their property and becoming furosha (‘golf people’-as thrown around by the waves, or homeless) and “public lands” increasingly turned into shoes, or state land. As the size of real estate grew, so did the need for security, and wealthy landowners needed better protection for their land and a way to collect taxes. Local governments became stronger and less dependent on the larger government, while the old land distribution system developed by Prince ShMtoku and the increase in taxes resulted in some landowners losing their property and becoming furosha (‘golf people’-as thrown around by the waves, or homeless) and “public lands” increasingly turned into shoes, or state land. As the size of real estate grew, so did the need for security, and wealthy landowners needed better protection for their land and a way to collect taxes.

Heian period (Heian-jidai or “time of peace and tranquility”) AD 794–1185

Confucianism and other Chinese influences were at their peak during the Heian period. This period is also considered the pinnacle of the Japanese Imperial Court and is known for its art, especially poetry and literature. The role of samurai grew during this period as rich and powerful landowners hired them to protect their property. Two military clans, Minamoto and Taira, became so powerful that they took control of the country and brutally fought each other. In 1185, Samurai fought in the naval battle of Dan-no-Ura. Because of this struggle and their increasing military and economic power, the samurai gained more power in court politics. In 1156, the Japanese fought a civil war called the HMgen Rebellion (over the Japanese Imperial succession). This paved the way for the samurai to gain real power in the government. In 1160, the Heiji Rebellion brought the Minamoto and Taira clans to their full power, resulting in the defeat of the Minamoto clan by Taira no Kiyomori, who then became the first warrior to become an imperial advisor. He eventually took control of the central government and instituted the samurai, relegating the emperor to a symbolic position.

The Kamakura Period (Kamakura-jidai) lasted from 1185 to 1633 AD.

The Taira and Minamoto clans fought again in 1180, starting the Gempei War, which ended in 1185. The Minamoto no Yoritomo, the ruler of the Minamoto clan, then established the superiority of the samurai over the aristocracy. He became the Seii Taishogun and established the Kamakura Shogunate (or Kamakura Bakufu) in 1185, although it was not officially recognised until 1192. Kamakura is near his power base. Over time, the samurai clans became warrior nobility, or buke, meaning a higher, privileged class. At the same time, aristocratic culture began to influence samurai with pastimes such as calligraphy, poetry, and music, while at the same time, the aristocracy adopted certain samurai customs. In 1274, the Yuan dynasty of the Mongol Empire invaded Japan near the north of Kykshk. Over 10,000 Samurai gathered to meet this force of over 40,000. In 1281, the Mongol army mustered 140,000 men and 4,400 ships to attack Japan, which had amassed 40,000 of its own men. While they were preparing to attack with their ships, a typhoon struck the island, greatly weakening the Mongol army and aiding their defeat by the Japanese through the defences at the barrier of Hakata Bay. These winds became known as “Kamikaze” (‘divine winds’). These major meteorological events helped to cement the common belief that their land and people were sacred and protected. During this period, a blacksmith named Masamune (c-Masamune, also known as Goro Nyudo Masamune (Priest Goro Masamune)), developed a method of constructing samurai swords using layers of both mild and hard steel to make them both flexible and able to hold a very sharp edge without being brittle. This development brought the katana to the forefront of weapon development. This development was so legendary that there is an award for swordsmiths called the Masamune Prize, which is awarded at the Japanese Sword Making Competition. Samurai armour also progressed during this period.

AD 1333–1573 Muromachi Period (Muromachi-jidai)

Zen Buddhism became a big part of the samurai culture during this time, and it had a big impact on how the samurai thought about death and murder.

During the Warring States Period (sengoku jidai AD 1467–1573), Japan was in constant turmoil due to warring factions. This was of great value to the skills of the samurai, and their training with samurai swords was perfected. They brought firearms and the arquebus into their culture when the Portuguese introduced them to Japan in 1543, but the samurai sword remained the primary weapon of the samurai.

(Azuchi Momoyama jidai) 1573-1603

In 1582, General Akechi killed Nobunaga and captured his Azuchi Castle. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a general who fought for Nobunaga, fought back and defeated Akechi, taking control. Toyotomi Hideyoshi reunited Japan and introduced strict social caste systems. When he died in 1598, Tokugawa Ieyasu took over and increased the power of this system. They forced all samurai to choose between becoming farmers or working as warriors in a castle town or jMkamachi. He also forbade anyone but samurai to carry a sword. He used the samurai to invade China in 1592 and 1598, as well as Korea. These battles were known as Hideyoshi’s invasions of Korea, the Seven Years’ War (with reference to its magnitude), and the Imjin War. The samurai almost managed to win.

Edo period (Edo-jidai), also the Tokugawa period (Tokugawa-jidai), 1603-1868

The Warring States period (sengoku jidai) was a time of conspiracy and social strife, resulting in almost constant military conflict. This period lasted from the middle of the fifteenth century to the seventeenth century. During this time, the name Samurai became less defined as those born from the typical social structure became known as warriors, and thus became known as Samurai. Bushido was used as an important mechanism by which public order was controlled. During the Edo period, samurai held the highest rank in the social caste structure.

In 1615, a few years after Hideyoshi’s death, Tokugawa troops attacked and destroyed Osaka Castle, eliminating Tokugawa’s last potential rival, Toyotimi. After that, there was peace for about 250 years. Because of this peace, the importance of martial arts diminished and its teachings and skills suffered. Most classes of samurai became craftsmen or beurocrats. Their samurai swords became more of a symbol than a real thing, but they still had the right to kill anyone who disrespected them or their title.

from Choshu and Satsuma provinces defeated the Shogunate forces on behalf of the emperor during the Boshin War (Boshin Senso, “War of the Year of the Dragon”) in 1868. This led to the opening of Japanese society to the West in what is called the Meiji Restoration (Meiji ishin). The members of the Meiji government decided to follow the European military structure and based the country on the concept of “noblesse oblige”. This ended the samurai class. The last conflict in which samurai were of any importance was during the Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan SensM (Southwestern War)) in 1877 at the Battle of Shiroyama (Shiroyama no tatakai). This led to the opening of Japanese society to the West in what is called the Meiji Restoration (Meiji ishin). The members of the Meiji government decided to follow the European military structure and based the country on the concept of “noblesse oblige”. This ended the samurai class. The last conflict in which samurai were of any importance was during the Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan SensM (Southwestern War)) in 1877 at the Battle of Shiroyama (Shiroyama no tatakai). This led to the opening of Japanese society to the West in what is called the Meiji Restoration (Meiji ishin). The members of the Meiji government decided to follow the European military structure and based the country on the concept of “noblesse oblige”. This ended the samurai class. The last conflict in which samurai were of any importance was during the Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan SensM (Southwestern War)) in 1877 at the Battle of Shiroyama (Shiroyama no tatakai).

Samurai culture today

We still see many influences on our samurai culture, especially in movies. Tom Cruise’s The Last Samurai is probably the most famous in western popular culture and is one of my favorites. It shows the end of the samurai culture at the end of the nineteenth century. Many, many other movies have also been made about Samurai culture, most of them in Japanese, but many are now dubbed or English subtitled. Star Wars was heavily influenced by samurai culture and bushido. Even the Magnificent Seven were based on a samurai story: the Seven Samurai. Many, many books are also about the ideals that the Samurai once stood for.

The samurai culture has influenced many cultures over the years since it ended and will continue to do so as long as people like you want to read about it and retell its stories. Many people today still collect samurai swords and samurai armor, including the kabuto and other samurai accessories.