SAMURAI - Japanese Warriors

1. SAMURAI - Japanese Warriors Connections to…The Samurai’s Tale

2. Japanese History (1185-1868) • Japan was ruled almost continuously by military warlords called SHOGUNS. • Japanese emperors lived in Kyoto, the capital, and were religious and cultural leaders. • Japanese believed that their emperors were directly descended from the Sun Goddess. • Therefore, shoguns always treated the emperors with respect. • Emperors carried out religious ceremonies and safeguarded Japanese tradition. • However, it was the shogun who ruled the Japanese people.

3. Shogunate History • First shogun was Minamoto Yoritomo. • Military governments of the shoguns called SHOGUNATES. • First = Kamakura Shogunate (1192-1333). • Second = Muromachi Shogunate (1333-1573). • Third = Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1867). • Samurai’s Tale takes place towards the end of Muromachi blending into Tokugawa. • Shogunate finally came to an end in 1868 and the emperor gained full power again.

4. Feudal Society in Japan • Emperor (little power) • Shogun (all the power) • Daimyo (large land owner) • Samurai (warriors loyal to Daimyo) • Zen Monks • Peasants (mostly farmers) • Artisans/Craftspeople • Merchants

5. Samurai Training • Samurai means “those who serve.” • Samurai must be born to samurai parents or be adopted by them. • Most importantly, samurai boys were taught two basic skills-how to survive and how to kill. • This included being taught sword fighting, wrestling, ju-jitsu, and archery. • However, they also learned reading, writing, the proper way to walk, bow, and hold chopsticks. • During peaceful times, samurai wrote poetry and practiced flower arranging and calligraphy.

6. Samurai Code-Bushido • Bushido is the samurai code. • Samurai’s honor or code is more important than their religion. • A samurai who lost his honor was expected to kill himself in the ritual of seppuku or hara-kiri. • LOYALTY: be loyal to master at all costs. • COURAGE: be brave even against impossible odds; don’t retreat. • HONESTY: never lie. • JUSTICE: always act in a just and fair way toward others. • BENEVOLENCE: show love, affection, and sympathy toward others, but no weakness. • POLITENESS: always treat people in a proper manner with politeness.

7. Samurai Arms • Samurai fought with swords, lances, bows plus arrows, and later guns. • Long sword = katana. • Short sword = wakizashi. • A good sword took a long time to create and would be decorated. • Some swords were thought to have super-human powers. • A few swords were given names. • A sword could cut off an opponent’s head with one stroke. • Young samurai received first sword at 5. • Sword training focused on speed and accuracy. Began at 13 until age 22. • Lances = about 8 feet long. Bows = about 7 feet long.

8. Samurai Armor • Much of samurai combat was hand-to-hand. • Helmets were made of iron and were elaborate. • Attached to brow were crests in the shape of horns, dragons, and fantastic creatures. • Emblems identified warrior; symbolized bravery and were meant to scare enemies. • Arm guards were made of small iron plates. • Neck guard made of iron plates coated with lacquer and laced together with silk. Lacquer helped to stop rusting. • Metal plates protected the knees and lower legs.

9. Samurai Armor Continued • Body armor made of iron plates and tied together with silk or leather chords. • Body armor weighed about 25 pounds. • When it rained the chords became soaked making the armor weigh even more. • Dressing in battle gear was hard. • After putting on a kimono, loose pants, and an outer jacket and pants, they had to strap on armor. • Some hung their armor from the ceiling and had it lowered onto their shoulders.

10. Japanese Castle Town • Rich, powerful daimyos built large, beautiful castles. • Castles were surrounded by high walls and moats. • Builders designed castle towns for protection. • Castle towns also showed off the daimyo’s wealth and importance. • Castles towns were big because they housed the daimyo, his family, his servants, and much of his army. • The castle itself also served as the political and economic center of all the lands the daimyos owned.

11. Japanese Castle Town Security • Mostly built on high hills • Moats were first line of defense. • Outer and inner stone walls help to stop intruders. • Inner stone walls had hidden holes or trap doors used for dropping heavy rocks or boiling liquids. • All windows were barred. Samurai shot arrows and guns through slits in walls. • Samurai stood watch at the gatehouse and watchtower. • The keep was the highest part of the castle. That is where the daimyo and his family lived. • Only a few castles survive today.