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Warrior Culture in Medieval Japan: Transformations and Traditions

From aristocrats to warriors between 1200-1400, learn about the rise of warrior clans, Gempei War, role of Zen Buddhism, Noh theatre, honor, women warriors, and the mysterious Ninja fighters. The evolution of Japanese warrior culture, its ties to tradition, and its influence on society are explored, shedding light on the complexities of this historical period.

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Warrior Culture in Medieval Japan: Transformations and Traditions

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  1. From Aristocrat to Warrior: 1200-1400 • Where did the warriors come from? • Drawn from lower-ranking families • Initially served the Heian government as: • Tax collectors (film point) • Constables/police • Militia • Built up power in the provinces • The control of land

  2. Gradual shift in power • End of 1100s: aristocratic factions struggle for power • Powerful warrior clans compete, too • The warrior clans have military power • Leads to the Gempei war 1180-1185 • A struggle between the Genji (Minamoto) and Heike (Taira) • Recounted in the Tale of the Heike

  3. Warrior culture • A focus on military arts (bu 武) • Swordsmanship • Swordmaking (film point) • Horsemanship • There were footsoldiers as well • But also the fine arts (bun文) (film point) • Flower arranging • Calligraphy and writing: Heike, “The Petition”

  4. Warrior culture and Buddhism • Warrior fine arts (bun文) from Zen Buddhism • The above, plus gardening • Mental and physical discipline

  5. Warriors and Zen Buddhism • Zen imported from China in the 1200s • For the warriors, a counterbalance to aristocratic Buddhism • However: (film point) • Though most Zen Buddhists were warriors • Most warriors were not Zen Buddhists • Many maintained older family traditions • For example, the Pure Land (Dan-no-ura) • The Takiguchi nyūdō (acolyte), “Yokobue”

  6. Warriors and Noh theatre • Develops 1300-1400s • Slow moving • Typically a Buddhist theme • Another cultural counterbalance to aristocratic culture

  7. Warriors and honor (film point) • The death of Atsumori: classic example • To kill a youth is not honorable • To free an enemy is not honorable • Do you find examples of warriors fleeing? • What happens when they do? • Honor was mostly for the leadership • The cement in the lord-vassal relationship • Low-ranking samurai fought to survive

  8. Women Warriors (film point) • Women warriors were rare • Tomoe is the exception that proves the rule • See “The Death of Kiso” • Tomoe may be a fictional trope • In fact, women lost ground during the warrior age • Literacy: no great works by women • Inheritance: no longer partible

  9. Ninja? • We know little about ninja忍者 • They may have been samurai spies • They may have been warrior monks • Monks would fight battles to protect holdings • Killing was clearly not a big issue (film point)

  10. Conclusions • The Tale of the Heike served warrior interests • It should be viewed with caution • High-ranking warriors valued honor • New recruits tried to survive • Warriors were only one power group • Aristocrats still had authority • Buddhist institutions had great resources

  11. More Conclusions • The image of the Japanese warrior is mostly a myth, but an important one • As the film showed, it served, and serves a particular function • WWII • Japan’s image in the West

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