The Japanese samurai had an almost mythical reputation. The idea of warriors wielding a katana and adhering to a noble code is incredibly romantic. In addition, it was backed up by legends and films. But in fact, many real facts the samurai are kept silent, as this would destroy the romantic flair created by cinema and literature.
1. Capes "horo"
Samurai wore massive 2-meter "horo" capes that were stuffed lightweight materials and soared around the body of the samurai at the slightest wind. The horo were supposed to protect the samurai from arrows. And the horos were the main symbol of the status of the war. An enemy killed in battle, who was wearing a horo, was buried with honors.
2. Samurai swords
In the XIII century, when the Mongols attacked Japan, the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun first encountered an army equipped with heavy armor. Their swords at that moment did not withstand any criticism. Thin Japanese weapons got stuck in Mongolian leather armor, and often simply broke in half. These slender samurai swords broke so often that they had to be abandoned and made into larger, heavier swords to counter the Mongols.
3. Samurai-"sissies"
In feudal Japan, it was believed that a man who spends the night with a woman is a sissy. Samurai believed that sex with women had a "feminizing" effect on a man's mind and body. The samurai married if it was necessary for him to procreate, but he never allowed himself to be carried away by his wife. If a samurai was seen kissing his wife in in public places his masculinity was called into question. At the same time, homosexual relationships were perceived as something ordinary.
4. Surety-lover
When the boy studied the art of the samurai, he often lived in a pair with a mature man. The elder taught the boy martial arts, etiquette, the code of honor, and in return used him to satisfy lust. It was called "sudo", which means "the path from a boy to a teenager." When the boy turned 13, he usually swore allegiance to the teacher and lived with him for the next six years. This was considered completely normal. One Japanese poet wrote: "A young man without a senior lover-guarantor is likened to a young girl without a groom." It really was treated like a marriage.
5. Immediately and with a witness
If a samurai was treated disrespectfully by someone from the lower class, then he could kill this person on the spot. There were a few rules though. The samurai had to do it immediately and in front of witnesses. Moreover, it was considered shameful not to do so.
6. Right leg only
The samurai became paranoid about their bathroom after the case of the daimyo Uesugi Kenshin, who was killed in the toilet in the 16th century. The assassin sneaked into the bathroom and hit Uesugi Kenshin with a spear, taking him by surprise with his pants down. After that, his rival Takeda Shingen became worried that someone might do something similar to him and took action. Since then, all martial artists began to teach adepts to go to the toilet with the right leg completely down in order to give themselves freedom of action. Samurai bathrooms were designed to be assassin-proof.
7. Posthumous smell
A legendary samurai named Shigenari Kimura fought his last fight in 1615 defending Osaka Castle. He boldly led his troops onto the battlefield, 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 assassin by leaving him a fragrant corpse. He knew that his head would become someone's trophy and wanted it to smell good.
8. Dog in armor
At least one set of custom-made samurai armor for a dog survives today. Details are no longer known as to how the dog armor was used, but scientists believe that the armor was probably not intended for combat, but rather it was used during parades or was simply ordered by one of the collectors. However, at one point in history, a samurai walked the streets of a Japanese city with a dog dressed in full combat 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 komusos began to walk 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. The spies of the samurai, who were sent to suppress the 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 really exist until the 1600s, and before that, samurai constantly betrayed their masters. Even after that, the loyalty of the samurai existed only on paper, not in any way. real life. If the owner did not take care of the samurai and did not adequately reward the warrior who protected him, then the samurai, as a rule, used every chance to slaughter him and go to serve the one who pays more. When Western missionaries first came to Japan, they were shocked by the amount of betrayal and killing they saw behind the scenes.
And in continuation of the Japanese theme, we publish.
Samurai embodied the image of an ideal warrior who respected culture and laws, who was serious about his chosen life path. When a samurai failed his master or himself, according to local customs, he had to be subjected to the “seppuku” ritual - ritual suicide, i.e. hara-kiri.
1. Hojo Ujitsuna (1487 - 1541)
Ujitsuna rekindled a long-standing feud with the Uesugi clan, the owner of Edo Castle, which has now grown into the gigantic metropolis of Tokyo but was then an ordinary castle covering a fishing village. By taking Edo Castle for himself, Ujitsuna managed to spread his family's influence over the entire Kanto region (the most populous island of Japan, the capital of the state is 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's work, since it was on the basis of the real biography of Hattori Hanzo that Quentin created the image of a swordsman for the film "Kill Bill". From the age of 16, he fought for survival, participating in many battles. Hanzo was devoted to Tokugawa Ieyasu, more than once saving the life of this man, who later founded the shogunate, which led 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 part-time leader of the Nagao clan. He was noted for his outstanding ability as a commander, resulting in many victories for his troops on the battlefield. His rivalry with Takeda Shingen, another warlord, was one of the most famous in history during the Sengoku period. They feuded for 14 years, during which time they participated in several one-on-one fights. Kenshin died in 1578, the circumstances of his death remain unclear. Modern historians believe that 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 of the Kyushu region. Yoshihisa was the first to unite the entire Kyushu region, later he was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (military and political leader, unifier of Japan) and his 200,000th army.
5. Mori Motonari (1497 - 1571)
Mori Motonari grew up in relative obscurity, but that didn't stop him from taking control of some 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, just as unexpected was the series of victories that he won over strong and respected rivals. Ultimately, he captured 10 of the 11 provinces of the Chugoku region. Many of his victories were won against much more numerous and more experienced opponents, which made his exploits even more impressive.
6. Miyamoto Musashi (1584 - 1645)
Miyamoto Musashi was a samurai whose words and opinions still bear an imprint on modern Japan. Today he is known as the author of The Book of Five Rings, which describes the strategy and philosophy of the samurai in battle. He was the first to apply a new fighting style in the technique of wielding a kenjutsu sword, calling it niten ichi, when the battle is fought with two swords. According to legend, he traveled through ancient Japan, and during the journey he managed to win in 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 era of Sengoku. Hideyoshi changed his former master Oda Nobunaga, and began to carry out social and cultural reforms that determined the further direction of Japan's development for a period of 250 years. He banned the possession of a sword by non-samurai, and also began a nationwide search for all swords and other weapons that should henceforth belong only to samurai. Despite the fact that this concentrated all military power in the hands of the samurai, such a move was a huge breakthrough on the way to common peace since the reign of the Sengoku era.
8. Takeda Shingen (1521 - 1573)
Takeda Shingen was arguably the most dangerous commander of all time in the 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 prompted him to go beyond his native province of Kai. Shingen became one of the few who was able to defeat the army of Oda Nabunaga, who at that time successfully captured other territories of Japan. He died in 1573 suffering from an illness, but by this point he was well on his way to consolidating power over all of Japan.
Japanese culture appears to Westerners as a set of ideas and colorful images. And the most striking of them is the image of a samurai warrior. It has a heroic halo and is considered a kind of symbol of courage and stamina in battle. But do we know everything about the samurai? How different is the truth about these warriors from legends and myths?
Samurai: definition of the word
In the understanding of Europeans, any Japanese warrior who takes part in the battle is a samurai. In fact, this statement is fundamentally wrong. A samurai is a special class of feudal lords who received a special education, underwent an initiation ritual and had a distinctive sign - a Japanese sword. The purpose of the life of such a warrior was to serve his master. He must be devoted to him with all his being and unquestioningly carry out any orders.
This goal can be traced in the very definition of "samurai". The meaning of the word translated from Japanese language sounds like the verb "serve". Therefore, it is not surprising that the life of a samurai is closely connected with the life of his master - daimyō. Many Europeans believe that a samurai is a service person who can be called the Japanese word "bushi". But this is also an erroneous opinion, do not confuse these two words.
The samurai has a broader and more comprehensive meaning; in wartime it was better protection for the master, and in peacetime was an ordinary servant. Bushi, on the other hand, belong to the class of simple warriors who could be hired for a while. Payment for services was made in money, but most often the feudal lords paid for the services of warriors with rice.
The history of the samurai: a brief historical background
Samurai as a class originated in the seventh century. During this period, Japan experienced feudal fragmentation, and every major feudal lord needed well-trained professional warriors. They were samurai.
Young warriors were often starved and forced to stay awake for several nights in a row. They did all the hard work around the house, went barefoot at any time of the year and woke up with the first rays of the sun. So that death would not frighten future samurai, they were often taken to watch the executions, and at night they themselves had to come to the bodies of the executed and leave their mark on them. Often they were sent to places where, according to legend, ghosts live, and left there without food or drink for several nights. As a result, the young men developed fearlessness and amazing composure, they could think soberly in any situation.
In addition to martial arts, samurai were taught writing and history, but these disciplines were not what a samurai should actually do. It was just an addition that could help in combat in one way or another.
By the age of sixteen, the young man was considered fully trained and could begin the rite of initiation and initiation into the samurai.
Rite of passage into warriors
The samurai teacher and his future daimyo, with whom vassal relations were fixed, must have been present at the initiation ceremony. The rite was accompanied by receiving one's own set of swords - daise, shaving the head and receiving new clothes adult samurai. In parallel, the young man passed several tests that were supposed to show his strength and skills. At the end of the ceremony, he was given a new name, replacing the one given at birth. It was believed that this day is the birthday of the samurai, and under his new name he will be known for his entire independent life.
Could a commoner become a samurai?
In the European view, the legend of the samurai, which belongs to the upper class of Japanese society, is firmly entrenched, has a combination of all positive qualities and crystal clear thoughts. In fact, this is the most common myth about feudal warriors. Indeed, in reality, a samurai is not necessarily a person from high society; absolutely any peasant could become a warrior. There was no difference between the origin of the samurai, they were trained in the same way and later received absolutely equal salaries from the master.
Therefore, the samurai changed their masters quite often, feeling that they were losing the battle. It was quite normal for them to bring the head of the old one to the new master, thus deciding the outcome of the battle in their favor.
Samurai women: myth or reality?
In historical sources and Japanese literature of the Middle Ages, almost nothing is mentioned about female warriors, but they quite often became samurai. There were absolutely no restrictions on this in the code of honor.
Girls were also adopted from the family at the age of eight and had an initiation ceremony at sixteen. As a weapon, a samurai woman received a short dagger or a long and sharp spear from her teacher. In combat, it was able to cut through enemy armor with ease. The popularity of military affairs among women is evidenced by studies by Japanese scientists. They did a DNA test on the excavated remains of the bodies of samurai who died in battle, to their surprise, 30% of the warriors were women.
Bushido Code: Brief Provisions
The samurai code of conduct was formed from numerous laws and regulations that were collected into a single source around the thirteenth century. During this period, the samurai only began to form as a separate class of Japanese society. By the sixteenth century, bushido had finally taken shape and began to represent the real philosophy of the samurai.
The warrior code covered almost all spheres of life, each had its own special rule of conduct. For example, according to this philosophy, a samurai is someone who knows exactly how to live and die. He is ready to boldly go alone against a hundred enemies, knowing that death awaits him ahead. Legends were made about such brave men, their relatives were proud of them and put portraits of samurai who died in battle in the house.
The code of honor of the samurai ordered him to constantly improve and train not only the body and mind, but also the spirit. Only strong-willed could be a warrior worthy of a fight. In the case of the order of the master, the samurai had to commit hara-kiri and die with a smile and gratitude on his lips.
In Japan, the story of the samurai is still successfully used; it brings fabulous money to the country's tourism industry. After all, everything connected with this period in the history of the country was romanticized by the Europeans. Now it is already difficult to find grains of truth among numerous legends, but it is rather difficult to argue with one: the samurai is the same bright symbol of modern Japan as kimono or sushi. It is through this prism that Europeans perceive the history of the Land of the Rising Sun.
In modern popular culture, Japanese samurai are portrayed as medieval warriors, similar to Western knights. This is not quite the correct interpretation of the concept. In fact, the samurai were primarily feudal lords who owned their own land and were the backbone of power. This estate was one of the key in the Japanese civilization of that time.
The birth of the estate
Around the 18th century, those same warriors appeared, whose successor is any samurai. Japanese feudalism emerged from the Taika reforms. The emperors resorted to the help of the samurai in their struggle against the Ainu - the indigenous inhabitants of the archipelago. With each new generation, these people, who regularly served the state, acquired new lands and money. Clans and influential dynasties that owned significant resources were formed.
Approximately in the X-XII centuries. in Japan, a process similar to the European one took place - the country was shaken by the feudal lords fought against each other for land and wealth. At the same time, imperial power was preserved, 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 ruled simultaneously - figuratively speaking, the chief samurai. Japanese feudalism relied 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 bearer of this title the monopoly right to raise an army in the country. That is, any other pretender or peasant uprising could not arrange a coup d'état due to the inequality of forces. 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 this ladder 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 just from among the daimyo.
At the middle level were the feudal lords, who had small estates. Their approximate number fluctuated around several thousand people. Next came the vassals of vassals and ordinary soldiers without property.
During its heyday, the samurai class made up about 10% of the total population of Japan. Members of their families can be attributed to the same layer. In fact, the power of the feudal lord depended on the size of his estate and the income from it. Often it was measured in rice - the main food of the entire Japanese civilization. With the soldiers, including paid off with a literal ration. For such "trade" even had its own system of measures and weights. Koku equaled 160 kilograms of rice. Approximately this amount of food was enough to satisfy the needs of one person.
To understand the value of rice in it is enough to give an example of a samurai salary. So, those close to the shogun received from 500 to several thousand koku of rice a year, depending on the size of their estate and the number of their own vassals, who also had to be fed and maintained.
Relationship between shogun and daimyō
The hierarchical system of the samurai class allowed the feudal lords who served regularly to climb very high on the social ladder. From time to time they rebelled against supreme power. 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 once a year to their master for a reception. Such events were accompanied by long journeys across the country and at great expense. If the daimyo was suspected of treason, the shogun could actually take hostage a family member of his objectionable vassal during such a visit.
Bushido Code
Along with the development of the shogunate, the best Japanese samurai appeared as the authors. 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, more specifically from China. These ideas were popular with samurai - representatives of the main aristocratic families of the country.
Unlike Buddhism or the doctrine of Confucius, Shinto was ancient pagan. It was based on such norms as the worship of nature, ancestors, the country and the emperor. Shintoism allowed the existence of magic and otherworldly spirits. In bushido, the cult of patriotism and faithful service to the state first of all passed from this religion.
Thanks to Buddhism, the code of the Japanese samurai included such ideas as a special attitude towards death and an indifferent view of life's problems. Aristocrats often practiced Zen, believing in the rebirth of souls after death.
Samurai philosophy
A Japanese samurai warrior was trained in bushido. He had to strictly follow all the prescribed rules. These rules applied to public service as well as personal life.
The popular comparison of knights and samurai is wrong just from the point of view of comparison European Code honor and 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 a well-established custom to give your word of honor when agreeing on some agreements between feudal lords. For a samurai, that would be an insult. At the same time, from the point of view of the Japanese warrior, a sudden attack on the enemy was not a violation of the rules. For a French knight, this would mean the perfidy of the enemy.
military honor
In the Middle Ages, every inhabitant of the country knew the names of Japanese samurai, since they were the state and military elite. Few who wished to join this estate could do it (either because of their ingenuity or because of inappropriate behavior). The closeness of the samurai class consisted precisely in the fact that strangers were rarely allowed into it.
Clanism and exclusivity strongly influenced the norms of warriors' behavior. For them, self-esteem was at the forefront. If a samurai brought shame on himself by an unworthy act, he had to commit suicide. This practice is called hara-kiri.
Every samurai had to answer for his words. Japanese code honor ordered to think several times before making any statement. Warriors were required to be moderate in food and avoid licentiousness. A real samurai always remembered death and reminded himself every day that sooner or later his earthly path would end, so the only important thing is whether he was able to maintain his own honor.
Attitude towards family
Family worship 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. The parents were the trunk, and the children were just the 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 towards the state
Samurai were taught that their attitude to the state and legitimate authority should have been as humble as to their own family. For a warrior, there were no interests higher than his master. Japanese samurai weapons served the rulers to the very end, even when the number of their supporters became critically small.
Loyal attitude towards the overlord often took the form of unusual traditions and habits. So, the samurai did not have the right to go to bed with their feet towards the residence of their master. Also, the warrior was careful not to aim the weapon in the direction of his master.
Characteristic of the behavior of the samurai was a contemptuous attitude towards death on the battlefield. It is interesting that obligatory ceremonies have developed here. So, if a warrior realized that his battle was lost, and he was hopelessly surrounded, he should have called given name and die quietly at the hands of the enemy. The mortally wounded samurai, before dying, 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 a must for their position. All warriors studied the humanities. At first glance, they could not be useful on the battlefield. But in reality it was exactly the opposite. The Japanese could not protect their owner where literature saved him.
For these warriors, it was the norm to be fond of poetry. The great fighter Minamoto, who lived in the 11th century, could spare the defeated enemy if he read to him good poem. One samurai wisdom said that weapons are right hand warrior, while literature is leftist.
The tea ceremony was an important part of everyday life. The custom of drinking a hot drink wore spiritual character. 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 ceremony. From the feudal lords, the habit of drinking tea passed into the peasant class.
Samurai training
Samurai have been trained in their craft since childhood. It was vital for a warrior to master the technique of wielding several types of weapons. The skill of fisticuffs was also highly valued. Japanese samurai and ninja had to be not only strong, but also extremely hardy. Each student had to swim in a turbulent river in full dress.
A real warrior could defeat the enemy not only with weapons. He knew how to suppress the opponent morally. This was done with a special battle cry, from which it became uncomfortable for unprepared enemies.
Everyday wardrobe
In the life of a samurai, almost everything was regulated - from relationships with others to clothing. She was also a social marker by which aristocrats distinguished themselves from peasants and ordinary townspeople. Only samurai could wear silk. In addition, their things had a special cut. Kimono and hakama were obligatory. Weapons were also considered part of the wardrobe. The samurai carried two swords with him at all times. They were tucked into a wide belt.
Only aristocrats could wear such clothes. Such a wardrobe was forbidden to peasants. This is also explained by the fact that on each of his things the warrior had stripes showing his clan affiliation. Every samurai had such coats of arms. A translation from Japanese of the motto could explain where it comes from and who it serves.
Samurai could use any item at hand as a weapon. Therefore, the wardrobe was 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 sudden 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. The typical armor of 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 the battle or solemn event. The rest of the time they were kept in a specially designated place in the samurai's house. If the soldiers went on a long campaign, then their vestments were carried in a wagon train. As a rule, servants watched over the armor.
AT medieval Europe The main distinguishing element of the equipment was the shield. With the help of it, the knights showed their belonging to one or another feudal lord. Samurai didn't have shields. For identification purposes, they used colored cords, banners, and helmets with engraved designs of coats of arms.
Samurai originated in the 7th century and existed until late XIX century, when it was abolished as an institution. For many centuries, the samurai were the military-feudal nobility of Japan, from which came a large number of military and officials of the XX century. The brave warriors of the Imperial Army were called samurai until it was disbanded in 1947.
He was a ronin, that is, he did not have a master and was a free warrior. Musashi gained fame as one of the greatest swordsmen, described the tactics, strategy and philosophy of the samurai in battle, and also developed and put into practice the new kind fighting with two swords. Contemporaries called Musashi "Kensai", which translates as "Holy Sword" and emphasizes his supreme mastery of weapons.
A talented military leader, he formed the strongest samurai army and rallied around him the largest number provinces. Oda Nobunaga began his campaign to unify Japan by seizing his native province of Owari, after which he began to expand the boundaries of his possessions. In 1582, when Nobunaga reached maximum power, his enemies from among his own subordinates started a coup d'état. Realizing the inevitability of the end, he committed a ritual murder - seppuku.
The samurai code praised such girls "who were able to rise above the imperfections and shortcomings inherent in their sex, and show heroic fortitude that could be worthy of the most brave and noble men" The history of the country included several onna-bugeisha - including Nakano Takeko (1847−1868). Born in present-day Tokyo, she was educated in literature and trained in martial arts. Takeko was directly involved in the defense of Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle during civil war between supporters of the Tokugawa Shogunate and pro-imperial forces. During the battle, she commanded a women's detachment and received a bullet wound in the chest, after which she asked her sister to cut off her head and bury her so that the enemy would not get her. Every year, an action in memory of Takeko takes place at the site of Takeko's grave.
He became the first shogun whose dynasty ruled the country until the resurgence of the Meiji dynasty in 1868. This became possible after the samurai defeated the remnants of the armies of Nobunaga and another commander - Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who also claimed to rule all of Japan. Ieyasu's policy left an imprint on the entire existence of the country, which for a long time lived according to his decrees.
