Although the words "samurai" and "bushi" are very close in meaning, but still "bushi" (warrior) is a broader concept, and it does not always refer to a samurai. Also, in some definitions, samurai is a Japanese knight. The very same word "samurai" comes from the verb "saburau" - in literal translation means: to serve a superior person. Samurai are not just knights, they were also the bodyguards of their daimyo (see below), and at the same time servants in the ubiquitous life. The most honorable position is the caretaker of the sword of his master, but there were also such positions as the caretaker of the umbrella or the "giver" of water in the morning, after sleep.

Story

Origin

According to the most common opinion, samurai originated in the 8th century in the east, northeast and extreme south of Japan. On the outskirts of the empire, the Ainu tribes that settled here from ancient times fiercely defended their lands from the imperial troops. The basis of the samurai was runaway peasants and free hunters who were looking for "land and freedom" on the borders of the empire. Like the Don and Zaporozhye Cossacks, they spent their lives in incessant campaigns and skirmishes with warlike aborigines, protecting state borders.

The beginning of the separation of samurai as a special class usually dates from the period of rule in Japan by the feudal house of Minamoto (-). The protracted and bloody civil war that preceded this (the so-called "Trouble Gempei") between the feudal houses of Taira and Minamoto created the prerequisites for the establishment of the shogunate - the rule of the samurai class with the supreme commander ("shogun") at the head.

Golden age

The era of internecine wars

Over time, the military governors became increasingly independent of the shogunate. They turned into large feudal lords, concentrating rich land plots in their hands. The houses of the southwestern provinces of Japan were especially strengthened, which significantly increased their armed forces.

In addition, thanks to the lively trade with China and Korea, the feudal lords of the western and southwestern provinces, from where it was mainly conducted, were significantly enriched. The Kamakura shogunate, not wanting to put up with the strengthening of individual samurai houses, interfered with the trading activities of the feudal lords, which was one of the reasons for the emergence of opposition sentiments towards the Kamakura shogunate among the samurai houses.

As a result, the Kamakura shogunate was deposed, and the title of shogun passed to the representatives of the Ashikaga house. The first shogun of the new dynasty was Ashikaga Takauji. The head of the new shogunate left the former headquarters of the bakufu - Kamakura - destroyed during the civil strife, and, together with the entire government, moved to the imperial capital of Kyoto. Once in Kyoto, the shogun and influential samurai, in order to catch up with the arrogant court nobility, began to build magnificent palaces for themselves and gradually mired in luxury, idleness, intrigues of the imperial court and began to neglect state affairs.

The military governors of the provinces immediately took advantage of the weakening of centralized power. They formed their own detachments of samurai, with whom they attacked their neighbors, seeing each as an enemy, until, finally, a full-scale outbreak broke out in the country. Civil War.

The last phase of this war is referred to in medieval chronicles as the "era of the fighting provinces" (Sengoku Jidai). It lasted from to

Sunset

The samurai estate received a clear design during the reign of the shoguns from the Tokugawa feudal house (-) in Japan. The most privileged layer of the samurai were the so-called hatamoto (literally - "under the banner"), who were the direct vassals of the shogun. Hatamoto for the most part occupied the position of a service layer in the personal possessions of the shogun. The bulk of the samurai were vassals of princes (daimyo); most often they did not have land, but received a salary from the prince in rice.

Bushido

Code of Ethics for the Samurai in Medieval Japan. The code appeared in the period of the XI-XIV centuries and was formalized in the early years of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Samurai women

Samurai in modern culture

Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (film)

Death Trance (film)

see also

• Onna-bugeisha - female warrior
• Onna buke - a woman of the samurai class (not necessarily able to fight, just social status)
• Hitokiri - a samurai with a dubious reputation, "famous" for the number of commoners hacked to death for disrespect

• Shikken (regent under a minor or puppet Shogun)

Famous Samurai

Literature

Links

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See what "Samurai" is in other dictionaries:

- (Japanese) in Japan, in a broad sense, a secular, in a narrow and most commonly used sense, the military estate of petty nobles. The term samurai is also used to refer to the Japanese military ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Samurai is a military class of feudal Japan. They were feared and respected for their nobility in life and cruelty during the war. They were bound by a strict code of honor called Bushido. The samurai fought for the feudal lords, or daimyo, the most powerful rulers and rulers of the country, subordinate only to the shogun. Daimyos, or generals, hired samurai to defend their land, paying them land or food.

The daimyō era lasted from the 10th century until the mid-19th century, when Japan adopted the prefectural system in 1868. Many of these warlords and samurai became feared and respected throughout the country, and some even outside of Japan.

In the years following the end of feudal Japan, the legendary daimyo and samurai became the objects of admiration for a romanticized culture that praised their cruelty, reputation as invisible killers, and the prestige of their place in society. The truth, of course, is often much darker - some of these people were little more than just murderers. However, many famous daimyo and samurai became very popular in contemporary literature and culture. Here are twelve of the most famous Japanese generals and samurai who are remembered as real legends.

12. Taira no Kiyomori (1118 - 1181)

Taira no Kiyomori was a general and warrior who created the first samurai administrative system in Japanese history. Before Kiyomori, samurai were mostly seen as hired warriors for aristocrats. Kiyomori took the Taira clan under his protection after his father's death in 1153, and quickly succeeded in politics in which he had previously held only a minor post.

In 1156, Kiyomori and Minamoto no Yoshimoto (the head of the Minamoto clan) crushed the rebellion and took control of the two highest warrior clans in Kyoto. Their alliance turned them into bitter rivals, and in 1159 Kiyomori defeated Yoshimoto. Thus, Kiyomori became the head of the most powerful warrior clan in Kyoto.

He advanced on public service, and in 1171 gave his daughter to Emperor Takakura. They, in 1178, had a child, the son of Tokihito. Kiyomori later used this leverage to force Emperor Takakura to give his throne to Prince Tokihito as well as his allies and relatives. But in 1181 he died of a fever in 1181.

11. Ii Naomasa (1561 - 1602)

Ii Naomasa was a famous general and daimyō during the Sengoku period, when the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu ruled. He was considered one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Tokugawa, or Ieyasu's most devoted and respected generals. Naomasa's father was killed after being wrongly convicted of treason when Naomasa was a young child.

Ii Naomasa moved up in the Tokugawa clan, and gained great recognition after he led 3,000 soldiers to victory at the Battle of Nagakute (1584). He fought so well that he even received praise from the opposing general, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After he helped win the Tokugawa victory during the siege of Odawara (1590), he received the Minowa castle and 120,000 koku (an ancient Japanese unit of area), the most large plot land owned by one of the Tokugawa vassals.

Naomasa's finest hour came during the Battle of Sekigahara, where he was wounded by a stray bullet. After this injury, he could not fully recover, but continued to fight for his life. His unit became known as the "Red Devils", for their blood red armor they wore in battle to psychological impact.

10. Date Masamune (1567 - 1636)

Date Masamune was a ruthless and cruel daimyō in the early Edo period. He was an outstanding tactician and legendary warrior, and his figure was made even more iconic due to his lost eye, for which he was often referred to as "The One-Eyed Dragon".

As the eldest son of the Date clan, he was to take his father's place. But due to the loss of his eye after smallpox, Masamune's mother considered him an unsuitable candidate for rule, and the second son in the family took control, as a result of which a split arose in the Date family.

After several early victories as a general, Masamune won the position, becoming recognized leader and started a campaign to defeat all of his clan's neighbors. When a neighboring clan asked Terumune, his father, to rein in his son, Terumune said he would not do so. Subsequently, Terumune was kidnapped, but before that he instructed his son to kill all members of the enemy clan if something like this happened, even if his father was killed during the battle. Masamune obeyed, killing everyone.

Masamune served Toyotomi Hideyoshi for some time and then defected to Tokugawa Ieyasu's allies after Hideyoshi's death. He was faithful to both. Although it is surprising, Masamune was the patron of culture and religion, and even maintained friendly relations with the Pope.

9. Honda Tadakatsu (1548 - 1610)

Honda Tadakatsu was a general and later a daimyō during the late Sengoku period to the early Edo period. He served Tokugawa Ieyasu, and was one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Ieyasu along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa, and Sakai Tadatsugu. Of the four, Honda Tadakatsu had the reputation of being the most dangerous.

Tadakatsu was a true warrior at heart, and as the Tokugawa shogunate evolved from a military to a civil-political institution, he became increasingly distant from Ieyasu. The reputation of Honda Todakatsu attracted the attention of some of the most powerful figures in Japan at the time.

Oda Nobunaga, who was not known to praise his followers, called Tadakatsu "a samurai among samurai." Toyotomi Hideyoshi called him "the best samurai in the east." He was often referred to as a "warrior who surpassed death itself" as he never sustained serious wounds despite going through over 100 battles towards the end of his life.

He is often characterized as complete opposite to another great general, Ieyasu, Ii Naomasa. Both were ferocious warriors, and Tadakatsu's ability to evade injury was often countered by the popular notion that Naomasa survived many battle wounds but always fought them off.

8. Hattori Hanzo (1542 - 1596)

Hattori Hanzo was a famous samurai and ninja of the Sengoku era, and one of the most frequently depicted figures of that era. He is credited with saving the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and also with helping him become the ruler of a unified Japan. He earned the nickname Oni no Hanzo (Devil Hanzo) for his fearless military tactics he displayed.

Hattori won his first battle at the age of 16 (in a night attack on Udo Castle), and successfully freed the Tokugawa daughters from hostages at Kaminogo Castle in 1562. In 1579, he led a detachment of ninja from the province of Iga to protect against the son of Oda Nobunaga. Iga Province was ultimately destroyed by Nobunaga himself in 1581.

In 1582, he made his most valuable contribution when he helped the future shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu escape his pursuers to Mikawa Province, with the help of local ninja clans.

He was an excellent swordsman, and historical sources indicated that last years his life, he hid from everyone under the guise of a monk named "Sainen." Legends often attribute supernatural powers to him, such as disappearing and appearing elsewhere, precognition, and psychokinesis.

7. Benkei (1155 - 1189)

Musashibo Benkei, popularly known simply as Benkei, was a warrior monk who served the Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He is a popular hero of Japanese folklore. The stories of his birth vary greatly - some say he was the son of a raped mother, others call him the offspring of a god, and many attribute to him the attributes of a demon's child.

Benkei is said to have killed at least 200 men in every battle he fought. At the age of 17, he was over two meters tall and was called a giant. He was trained in the use of a naginata (a long weapon that looked like a hybrid of an ax and a spear) and left a Buddhist monastery to join a secret sect of ascetic mountain monks.

According to legend, Benkei went to the Gojo Bridge in Kyoto, where he disarmed every passing swordsman and thereby collected 999 swords. During his 1000th fight, he was defeated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and became his retainer, fighting him against the Taira clan.

While under siege a few years later, Yoshitsune committed ritual suicide (hara-kiri) while Benkei fought on the bridge in front of the castle's main entrance to protect his master. It is said that the soldiers who organized the ambush were afraid to enter the bridge to engage in battle with a lone, giant. Benkei killed over 300 soldiers, and long after the battle was over, the soldiers saw Benkei still standing, covered with wounds and pierced by an arrow. The giant fell to the ground, dying standing, which eventually became known as the "Standing Death of Benkei."

6. Uesugi Kenshin (1530 - 1578)

Uesugi Kenshin was a daimyō during the Sengoku period in Japan. He was one of the most powerful generals of the era, mostly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield. He is renowned for his noble demeanor, martial prowess, and longtime rivalry with the Takeda Shingen.

Kenshin believed in buddhist god war - Bishamonten - and therefore his followers considered him the incarnation of Bishamonten or the God of War. He is sometimes referred to as the "Dragon Echigo", for his formidable martial arts technique that he displayed on the battlefield.

Kenshin became the young 14-year-old ruler of Echigo Province after wresting power from the hands of his older brother. He agreed to enter the battlefield against the powerful Takeda commander Shingen because Takeda's campaigns of conquest were approaching close to Echigo's borders.

In 1561, Kenshin and Shingen fought their biggest battle, the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima. According to legend, during this battle, Kenshin attacked Takeda Shingen with his sword. Shingen brushed away the blows with his iron battle fan, and Kenshin had to retreat. The results of the battle are not unequivocal, as both commanders lost more than 3,000 people.

Although they have been rivals for over 14 years, Uesagi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen have exchanged gifts several times. When Shingen died in 1573, Kenshin was said to have wept aloud at the loss of such a worthy opponent.

It should also be noted that Uesagi Kenshin famously defeated the most powerful warlord of that era, Oda Nobunaga, as many as twice. It is said that if he had not died suddenly after heavy drinking (or stomach cancer or murder, depending on who you ask), he might have usurped Nobunaga's throne.

5. Takeda Shingen (1521 - 1573)

Takeda Shingen, from Kai Province, was a prominent daimyō in late period Sengoku. He is known for his exceptional military authority. He is often referred to as the "Kai Tiger" for his martial prowess on the battlefield, and as a arch-rival, Uesugi Kenshin, or "Dragon Echigo".

Shingen took the Takeda clan under his protection at the age of 21. He teamed up with the Imagawa clan to help in a bloodless coup against his father. The young warlord made rapid progress and gained control of the entire surrounding area. He fought in five legendary battles against Uesagi Kenshin, and then the Takeda clan was destroyed by internal problems.

Shingen was the only daimyo with the necessary strength and tactical skill to stop Oda Nobunaga, who wanted to rule Japan. He defeated Nobunaga's ally, Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1572, and captured Futamata Castle. Then he defeated the small combined army of Nobunaga and Ieyasu. While preparing for a new battle, Singen suddenly died in his camp. Some say he was wounded by an enemy gunner, while others say he died of pneumonia or an old battle wound.

4. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543 - 1616)

Tokugawa Ieyasu is the first shogun and founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. His family practically ruled Japan from 1600 until the beginning of the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, became shogun in 1603, abdicated in 1605, but remained in power until his death in 1616. He is one of the most famous generals and shoguns in Japanese history.

Ieyasu came to power fighting under the Imagawa clan against the brilliant leader Oda Nobunaga. When the leader of the Imagawa, Yoshimoto, was killed during a surprise attack by Nobunaga, Ieyasu formed a secret alliance with the Oda clan. Together with Nobunaga's army, they captured Kyoto in 1568. At the same time, Ieyasu formed an alliance with Takeda Shingen and expanded his territory.

Eventually, after covering for a former enemy, the Ieyasu-Shingen alliance collapsed. Takeda Shingen defeated Ieyasu in a series of battles, but Ieyasu turned to Oda Nobunaga for help. Nobunaga brought his large army, and the Oda-Tokugawa force of 38,000 men won great victory in the Battle of Nagashino in 1575 against the son of Takeda Shingen, Takeda Katsuyori.

Tokugawa Ieyasu eventually outlived many of the great men of the era: Oda Nobunaga sowed the ground for the shogunate, Toyotomi Hideyoshi gained power, Shingen and Kenshin, two of the strongest rivals, were dead. The Tokugawa Shogunate, thanks to the cunning mind of Ieyasu, will rule Japan for another 250 years.

3. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 - 1598)

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a great daimyō, general, samurai, and politician of the Sengoku period. He is considered the second "great unifier" of Japan, succeeding his former master, Oda Nobunaga. He ended the Warring States period. After his death, his young son was forced out by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Hideyoshi created a number of cultural legacies, such as the restriction that only members of the samurai class could carry weapons. He financed the construction and restoration of many temples that still stand in Kyoto. He played an important role in the history of Christianity in Japan when he ordered 26 Christians to be executed on the cross.

He joined the Oda clan around 1557 as a lowly servant. He was promoted to become Nobunaga's vassal, and participated in the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, where Nobunaga defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto and became the most powerful general of the Sengoku period. Hideyoshi spent numerous repair work in the castle and in the construction of fortresses.

Hideyoshi, despite his peasant background, became one of Nobunaga's top generals. After the assassination of Nobunaga in 1582 at the hands of his general Akechi Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi sought revenge and, allying with a neighboring clan, defeated the Akechi.

Hideyoshi, like Nobunaga, never received the title of shogun. He made himself regent and built himself a luxurious palace. He expelled the Christian missionaries in 1587, and began a sword hunt to confiscate all weapons, stopping peasant uprisings and bringing more stability.

When his health began to fail, he decided to make Oda Nobunaga's dream of Japan conquering China come true and began the conquest of the Ming Dynasty with the help of Korea. The Korean invasion ended in failure and Hideyoshi died on September 18, 1598. Hideyoshi's class reforms changed the social class system in Japan for the next 300 years.

2. Oda Nobunaga (1534 - 1582)

Oda Nobunaga was a powerful samurai daimyo warlord who initiated the unification of Japan at the end of the Warring States period. He lived his entire life in continuous military conquest, and took over a third of Japan until his death in the coup of 1582. He is remembered as one of the most brutal and defiant figures of the Warring States period. He is also recognized as one of the greatest rulers of Japan.

His loyal supporter Toyotomi Hideyoshi succeeded him and he became the first to unite all of Japan. Tokugawa Ieyasu later consolidated his power with the shogunate, which ruled Japan until 1868, when the Meiji Restoration began. It was said that "Nobunaga starts making the national rice cake, Hideyoshi kneads it, and finally Ieyasu sits down and eats it."

Nobunaga changed the technique of warfare in Japan. He introduced the use of long lances, promoted the construction of castle fortifications, and especially the use firearms(including the arquebus, a powerful firearm), which led to numerous victories of the commander. After he captured two important musket factories in Sakai City and Omi Province, Nobunaga gained superior weapons power over his enemies.

He also instituted a specialized military class system based on ability rather than name, rank, or family. The vassals also received land based on how much rice was produced there, not on the size of the land. This organizational system was later used and extensively developed by Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was an excellent businessman who modernized the economy from agricultural cities to the formation of fortress cities with active production.

Nobunaga was an admirer of art. He built a large garden and castles, popularized the Japanese tea ceremony so that one could talk about politics and business, and helped start the formation of modern kabuki theater. He became the patron of Jesuit missionaries in Japan, supported the creation of the first Christian temple in Kyoto in 1576, although he remained a staunch atheist.

1. Miyamoto Musashi (1584 - 1685)

Although he was not a prominent politician, or a famous general or military commander like so many others on this list, perhaps there was no greater swordsman in Japanese history than the legendary Miyamoto Musashi (at least to Westerners). Although he was in fact a wandering ronin (masterless samurai), Musashi became famous due to tales of his swordsmanship in numerous duels.

Musashi is the founder of the Niten-ryu fencing technique, the art of fighting with two swords - katana and wakizashi are used simultaneously. He was also the author of The Book of Five Rings, a book on strategy, tactics, and philosophy that has been studied to this day.

According to his own accounts, Musashi fought his first duel at the age of 13, where he defeated a man named Arika Kihei, killing him with a stick. He fought with adherents of famous fencing schools, but he never lost.

In one duel against the Yoshioka family, famous school swordsmen, Musashi reportedly changed his habit of showing up late, arrived hours early, killed a 12-year-old opponent, then fled when he was attacked by dozens of his victim's supporters. To fight back, he drew his second sword, and this dual sword technique was the beginning of his Niten-ki ("two heavens as one") technique.

According to stories, Musashi wandered the earth and fought in more than 60 duels, and was never defeated. This is a conservative estimate and most likely does not take into account deaths at his hands in major battles in which he participated. In the later years of his life, he fought much less and wrote more, retiring to a cave to write The Book of Five Rings. He died in a cave in 1645, foreseeing his own death, so he died in a sitting posture with one knee upright and holding his wakizashi in his left hand and his stick in his right.

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Japan is a country of brave samurai and brave shoguns. The whole world knows about the valor and courage of Japanese warriors. Samurai is an integral part of Japanese culture, its distinctive symbol. The loyalty and discipline of the samurai could be the envy of any warrior.

Who are they, servants of their state, desperate warriors or masters of their land?

Samurai means "warrior" in Japanese. This word also has several other meanings - “serve”, “support”, “servant”, “vassal” and “subordinate”. That is, a samurai is a warrior who serves his state and fiercely defends it.

From ancient Japanese chronicles it is known that the samurai was a nobleman (nothing to do with European nobles). They were not only engaged in military operations. In peacetime, samurai served the highest princes and were their bodyguards.

History of the Samurai

The first samurai appeared in Japan at the beginning of the 12th century. At that time, the state was ruled by the brave shogun Minamoto. These were quite peaceful times, so the number of samurai was relatively small. Warriors took an active part in peaceful life - they grew rice, raised children, and taught martial arts.

During the reign of the great Japanese clan of Tokugawa shoguns, the number of samurai almost tripled. They probably served their shogun, owned considerable land plots. Under Tokugawa, these warriors were considered the most prosperous people.

During the time of the Tokugawa, a large set of samurai laws was issued. The main one was considered the law "Bushido". It said that a warrior must unconditionally obey his master and boldly look death in the face. In addition, the samurai was endowed with the right to kill with impunity an ordinary peasant who was unacceptably rude to the soldiers. In times of peace, the samurai, it is true, served their shogun, and sometimes took part in the suppression of peasant revolts.

There were also such samurai who eventually moved into the class of ronin. Ronin are former warriors who got rid of vassalage. Such samurai lived like ordinary people: conducted trade, handicraft and agricultural activities.

Many samurai became shinobi. Shinobi are assassins for hire, a kind of ninja.

In the middle of the 18th century, the disintegration of the samurai class began. During this period, the Japanese bourgeoisie began to actively progress. Trade, craft and manufactory flourished. Many samurai were forced to borrow money from moneylenders. The situation of the samurai became unbearable. Their role for the country has become incomprehensible even to themselves. Some tried to adapt to peaceful life, many hit the religion. Others became traders, artisans and farmers. And the samurai - the rebels - were simply killed, finally undermining their will and spirit.

The upbringing and development of the samurai

The upbringing of a samurai is a complex, multi-level process. The formation of a warrior began with early years. From childhood, the sons of the samurai knew that they were the successors of their kind and reliable keepers of family customs and traditions.

Every evening, before going to bed, the child was told about the history and courage of the samurai, about their exploits. The stories gave examples when the legendary samurai boldly looked death in the face. Thus, courage and valor were instilled in the child from childhood.

An important aspect of samurai education was the Bushido technique. She introduced the concept of seniority, the main thing in the family. From an early age, boys were taught that a man is the head of the family, and only he can determine the direction of his child's activities. Another Japanese technique, Iemoto, taught boys discipline and behavior. The technique was purely theoretical.

In addition, boys from childhood were accustomed to severe trials. They taught various martial arts, tolerance for pain, control of one's own body, the ability to obey. Developed willpower, the ability to overcome even the most severe life situations. There were times when boys were given endurance tests. To do this, they were raised at dawn and sent to a cold, unheated room. There they were closed and not fed for a long time. Some fathers forced their sons to go to the cemetery at night. So they instilled in the boys the courage of a valiant warrior. Others took their sons to executions, forced them to do backbreaking work, to walk without shoes in the snow, to spend several nights without sleep.

At the age of 5, the boy was given a bokken. Bokken is a samurai sword. Since then, began learning the art of fencing. In addition, the future warrior had to be able to swim perfectly, stay in the saddle perfectly, be literate in writing, literature and history. The boys were taught self-defense lessons - jiu-jitsu. In addition, they were taught music, philosophy and crafts.

At the age of 15, the boy turned into a valiant samurai.

Who are the samurai? They represent the feudal class of Japan, which enjoyed great respect and reverence among all other estates. Samurai were feared and respected for their cruelty in battle and nobility in civilian life. The great names of the samurai of Japan are written in a story that will forever remember these legendary figures.

This is a kind of analogue of European knights, who swore to serve faithfully to their master and played one of the most important roles in the Japanese community. Their activities and way of life were rigidly bound by a code of honor, which was called "Bushido". The great samurai of Japan fought for the feudal lords or daimyo - the most powerful rulers of the country, who obeyed the powerful shogun.

The era of daimyo lasted from the 10th to the middle of the 19th century. During this time, the samurai managed to surround themselves with a kind of halo of nobility, they were feared and respected even outside the country of the Rising Sun. Mere mortals admired them, bowing before their cruelty, courage, cunning and resourcefulness. Many feats were attributed to samurai, but the truth was actually much more prosaic - the famous samurai of Japan were ordinary killers, but what was the nature of their crimes!

Top most famous samurai in Japan

One can talk endlessly about the great samurai. Their stories are shrouded in a halo of mystery and nobility, very often they were credited with undeserved feats, but these personalities still remained the subject of worship and disinterested respect.

• Taira no Kiyomori (1118 - 1181)

He was a commander and warrior, thanks to whom the first samurai administrative system of government in the history of the Japanese state was created. Prior to the start of his activities, all samurai were simply hired warriors for aristocrats. After that, he took the Taira clan under his protection and quickly achieved success in political activity. In 1156, Kiyomori, along with Minamoto no Yoshimoto (the head of the Minamoto clan), managed to crush the rebellion and began to rule the two highest warrior clans in Kyoto. As a result, their union turned into bitter rivals, and in 1159 Kiyomori defeated Yoshimoto. Thus, Kiyomori became the head of the most powerful warrior clan in Kyoto.

Kiyomori was able to seriously advance in career ladder. In 1171, he gave his daughter in marriage to Emperor Takakura. A little later, their first child was born, which was often used as a lever of pressure on the emperor. However, the plans of the samurai failed to materialize, he died of a fever in 1181.

• Ii Naomasa (1561 - 1602)

He was a famous general or daimyo during the period when the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu was in power. It was one of the most devoted samurai known to the history of Japan. He advanced significantly through the ranks and received great recognition after 3,000 soldiers under his leadership won the Battle of Nagakute (1584). He fought with such vigor that even opponents admired his behavior on the battlefield. The greatest popularity brought him the battle of Sekigahara. During the battle, he was hit by a stray bullet, after which he could not fully recover. His detachment was called the "Red Devils" for the corresponding color of the armor that warriors wore during the battle to intimidate opponents.

• Date Masamune (1567 - 1636)

List of "Most famous samurai» continues this legendary person. The daimyo was ruthless and merciless, almost everyone said so about him. He was an outstanding warrior and an excellent strategist, and his personality became even more memorable due to the loss of one eye, for which Masamune received the nickname "One-Eyed Dragon". He was supposed to take the leading place in the clan after his father, but the loss of an eye caused a split in the family and the younger brother Date came to power. Already being a general, the samurai was able to gain a good reputation and was rightfully considered a leader. It was after this that he unleashed a campaign in order to defeat the neighboring clans. This created considerable excitement. As a result, the neighboring clan turned to the father with a request to curb his eldest son. Terumune was abducted, but he managed to warn his son about a similar outcome of events and asked him to kill all members of neighboring clans. Date Masamune followed his father's instructions.

Although this contradicts some ideas about samurai, but Date Masamune was a supporter of religion and culture. He even personally knew the Pope.

• Honda Tadakatsu (1548 - 1610)

He was a general and one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Ieyasu along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa, and Sakai Tadatsugu. Of the four, Honda Tadakatsu had a reputation for being the most dangerous and merciless. He was a true warrior, even in the depths of his soul. So, for example, Oda Nobunaga, who, by the way, was not very happy with his followers, considered Tadakatsu a real samurai among all other samurai. It was often said of him that Honda bypassed death itself, as he never received a serious injury, despite the fact that the number of his battles exceeded 100.

• Hattori Hanzo (1542 - 1596)

He was the most famous samurai and ninja of the Sengoku era. Thanks to him, Emperor Tokugawa Ieyasu survived, and a little later became the ruler of a united Japan. Hattori Hanzo showed brilliant military tactics, earning him the nickname Devil Hanzo. He won his first battle at a very young age - Hanzo was only 16 years old then. After that, he was able to free the Tokugawa daughters from the hostages at Kaminogo Castle in 1562. 1582 was a decisive year for him in his career and in winning a leading position - he helped the future Shogun to escape from his pursuers to the province of Mikawa. In this operation, he was helped by local ninjas.

Hattori Hanzo was an excellent swordsman and in his last years, according to historical sources, he was hiding under the guise of a monk. Many often attributed supernatural abilities to this samurai. It was said that he could instantly hide and appear in the most unexpected places.

• Benkei (1155 - 1189)

He was a warrior monk who was in the service of the Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Benkei is perhaps the most popular character in Japanese folklore. The stories about his origins are many-sided: some claim that he was born to a raped woman, while others are inclined to believe that Benkei was a descendant of a god. Rumor has it that this samurai killed at least 200 people in each of his battles. Interesting fact At the age of 17 he was over 2 meters tall. He learned the art of naginata (a long weapon that is a mixture of a spear and an ax) and left a Buddhist monastery to join a sect of mountain monks.

According to legend, he went to the Gojo Bridge in Kyoto, and was able to disarm every passing swordsman. Thus, he was able to collect 999 swords. During the 1000th battle with Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Benkei was defeated and forced to become his vassal. A few years later, while under siege, Yoshitsune committed ritual suicide while Benkei fought for his master. Rumor has it that the rest of the soldiers were afraid to oppose this giant. In that battle, the samurai laid down about 300 soldiers, who saw with their own eyes how the giant pierced by arrows was still standing. So everyone was able to learn about the "standing death of Benkei."

• Uesugi Kenshin (1530 - 1578)

He was one of the most powerful commanders of the Sengoku era in Japan. He believed in the Buddhist god of war, and his followers were convinced that Uesugi Kenshin was the incarnation of Bishamonten. He was the youngest ruler of Echigo Province - at the age of 14, he took the place of his older brother.

He agreed to go against the greatest commander Takeda Shingen. In 1561, the largest battle between Shingen and Kenshin took place. The results of the battle were mixed, as both sides lost about 3,000 men in this battle. They were rivals for more than 14 years, but even this fact did not prevent them from exchanging gifts. And when Shingen died in 1573, Kenshin could not accept the loss of such a worthy opponent.

Data on the death of Uesugi Kenshin is ambiguous. Someone says that he died from the consequences of heavy drinking, someone is inclined to the version that he was seriously ill.

• Takeda Shingen (1521 - 1573)

This is perhaps the most famous samurai in the history of Japan. He is known, by and large, for his unique military tactics. Often referred to as "the tiger from Kai" for its distinctive characteristics on the battlefield. At the age of 20, he took the Takeda clan under his tutelage, then united with the Imagawa clan - as a result, the young commander received power over all nearby territories.

This was the only samurai who possessed sufficient strength and skill to defeat the powerful Oda Nobunaga, who aspired to power over all of Japan. Singen died while preparing for the next battle. Some say that a soldier wounded him, while others are inclined to believe that the samurai died of a serious illness.

• Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543 - 1616)

He is the first shogun and founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. His family practically ruled the Land of the Rising Sun from 1600 until the beginning of the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu received power in 1600, became shogun three years later, and two years later he abdicated, but remained in power the rest of the time until his death. It was one of the most famous generals in the history of Japan.

This samurai outlived many famous rulers in his lifetime: Oda Nobunaga laid the foundation for the shogunate, Toyotomi Hideyoshi seized power, Shingen and Kenshin, two of the strongest rivals, were dead. The Tokugawa Shogunate, thanks to the cunning mind and tactical thinking of Ieyasu, will rule Japan for another 250 years.

• Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 - 1598)

It is also the most famous samurai of its kind. He was a general and great politician of the Sengoku era, as well as the second unifier of Japan and the man who ended the Warring States period. Hideyoshi has made efforts to create some cultural legacies. So, for example, he introduced a restriction from which it followed that only members of the samurai class could carry weapons. In addition, he financed the construction and restoration of many temples, and also played a significant role in the history of Christianity in Japan.

Hideyoshi, despite his peasant background, was able to become the great general of Nobunaga. He failed to obtain the title of shogun, but made himself regent and built a palace. As his health began to fail, Hideyoshi began to conquer the Ming Dynasty with the help of Korea. The class reforms that the samurai carried out significantly changed the Japanese social system.

Taira no Kiyomori was a general and warrior who created the first samurai administrative system in Japanese history. Before Kiyomori, samurai were mostly seen as hired warriors for aristocrats. Kiyomori took the Taira clan under his protection after his father's death in 1153, and quickly succeeded in politics in which he had previously held only a minor post.

In 1156, Kiyomori and Minamoto no Yoshimoto (the head of the Minamoto clan) crushed the rebellion and took control of the two highest warrior clans in Kyoto. Their alliance turned them into bitter rivals, and in 1159 Kiyomori defeated Yoshimoto. Thus, Kiyomori became the head of the most powerful warrior clan in Kyoto.

He advanced in the civil service, and in 1171 married his daughter to Emperor Takakura. They, in 1178, had a child, the son of Tokihito. Kiyomori later used this leverage to force Emperor Takakura to give his throne to Prince Tokihito as well as his allies and relatives. But in 1181 he died of a fever in 1181.

11. Ii Naomasa (1561 - 1602)

Ii Naomasa was a famous general and daimyō during the Sengoku period, when the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu ruled. He was considered one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Tokugawa, or Ieyasu's most devoted and respected generals. Naomasa's father was killed after being wrongly convicted of treason when Naomasa was a young child.

Ii Naomasa moved up in the Tokugawa clan, and gained great recognition after he led 3,000 soldiers to victory at the Battle of Nagakute (1584). He fought so well that he even received praise from the opposing general, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After he helped win the Tokugawa victory during the Siege of Odawara (1590), he received Minowa Castle and 120,000 koku (an ancient Japanese unit of area), the largest piece of land owned by any Tokugawa vassal.

Naomasa's finest hour came during the Battle of Sekigahara, where he was wounded by a stray bullet. After this injury, he could not fully recover, but continued to fight for his life. His unit became known as the "Red Devils", for their blood-red armor they wore in battle for psychological impact.

10. Date Masamune (1567 - 1636)

Date Masamune was a ruthless and cruel daimyō in the early Edo period. He was an outstanding tactician and legendary warrior, and his figure was made even more iconic due to his lost eye, for which he was often referred to as "The One-Eyed Dragon".

As the eldest son of the Date clan, he was to take his father's place. But due to the loss of his eye after smallpox, Masamune's mother considered him an unsuitable candidate for rule, and the second son in the family took control, as a result of which a split arose in the Date family.

After several early victories as a general, Masamune rose to prominence, becoming the recognized leader and starting a campaign to defeat all of his clan's neighbors. When a neighboring clan asked Terumune, his father, to rein in his son, Terumune said he would not do so. Subsequently, Terumune was kidnapped, but before that he instructed his son to kill all members of the enemy clan if something like this happened, even if his father was killed during the battle. Masamune obeyed, killing everyone.

Masamune served Toyotomi Hideyoshi for some time and then defected to Tokugawa Ieyasu's allies after Hideyoshi's death. He was faithful to both. Although it is surprising, Masamune was the patron of culture and religion, and even maintained friendly relations with the Pope.

9. Hattori Hanzo (1542 - 1596)

2. Honda Tadakatsu (1548 - 1610)