Japan’s Warrior: The Samurai

The Job of a Samurai

• The Samurai were specially trained warriors who served to protect their daimyo

• While other people fought, the samurai were the absolute elite of combat

• During the Shogun era, the Samurai would become a ruling elite in Japan

The Life of a Samurai

• Samurai were strictly restricted from doing any business or work

• In return for their services, Samurai did not have to pay any taxes or any rent

• Samurai owed absolute obedience to their daimyo

The Life of a Samurai

• The position of Samurai was passed from father to son

• Samurai were the only people allowed to posses swords and ride horses

• Either than this, Samurai were expected to live a plain and simple life

The Ronin

• Samurai that found themselves without a daimyo were known as a ronin

• These samurai would often turn into outlaws or find another daimyo who they could protect and serve under

Zen Buddhism

• The religion that all samurai followed was known as Zen Buddhism

• The word Zen means meditation and samurai practiced this a lot

• Through deep thought and discipline, Samurai contemplated the meaning of life

Zen Buddhism

• The samurai used this discipline and tranquility in both daily life and in battle

• As Zen Buddhists, samurai were required to attend tea ceremonies guided by a Zen priest

Bushido

• Whereas knights in Europe has the warrior code chivalry, the samurai code was known as bushido

• The samurai were required to live by a set of rules and follow eight virtues

The Eight Virtues of a SamuraiJusticeCourageBenevolence/MercyPolitenessHonesty/SincerityHonorLoyaltySelf Control

Seppuku and Kamikaze

• Seppuku was a form of suicide practiced by samurai when:o Capture by the enemy was

unavoidableo A samurai had broken a serious

offence• Samurai performed suicide by

cutting their abdomen from left to right

• Seppuku was practiced in the form of kamikaze as recently as WW2

Weapons: The Katana

• The main sword of the samurai was known as a katana

• The katana is widely regarded as the best sword ever made

• The sword weighs under five pounds and usually ranges from 3-4 feet

Weapons: The Yumi

• While samurai are most famous for their swordsmanship, they started as powerful bowman

• Bows were traditionally made out of bamboo and were just over two feet long

• The Yumi was comparable to the famous longbow of Britain

Armor

• A samurai’s armor weighed 50 pounds, as opposed to a knight’s 100 pounds

• Armor was built to move with the samurai

• Armour, specifically the helmet, would be used to identify the samurai wearing it