The legendary armored warrior of Japan, the Samurai, has played an important part of military history of Japan in the pre-industrial era. The Samurai warrior code and honor system known as Bushidō continued beyond the time when the samurai social class was abolished in 1876.
The word samurai means to serve and feudal war lords circa 7th century used conscription to develop a warrior class from the farming peasant class. Eventually it was organized to begin training from childhood and becoming a warrior class for life. The Samurai rose from peasant conscript warriors to an honorable and formidable professional warrior and became the upper class of society. Even after the Samurai were abolished in the 19th century, the weaponry and code of honor and character were continued in the training of martial arts.
The Bushidō ideology originated with Kojiki written in 712 when Emperor Keiki reigned. The concept of use and admiration of well-made swords is found in the Shoku Nihongi, an early history of Japan written in 797. The ideals of Bushidō in literature becomes abundant from the 13th to 16th centuries when the samurai had become part of the educated upper class established and made famous in the conflict between the Minamoto and Taira clans known as the Gempei War.
The Code of the Samurai was originally passed down verbally, but as time passed it became written with seven main codes of virtue:
Education and Training of a Samurai
As mentioned the samurai warrior began their career as children, attending a samurai school of discipline combining physical training, Chinese studies, poetry, and spiritual discipline. Young warriors studied several types of weaponry, the sword focused upon as the main weapon called Kendo, meaning the Way of the Sword; as well as the moral code of the samurai and Zen Buddhism. The strict code of ethics derived from Confucianism stressing loyalty to one’s master, respect for one’s superior and self-discipline. Both boys and girls were trained as samurai, although women usually did not fight directly on the battlefield, but instead defended homes and villagers against invaders.
The manner in which a samurai died was important, suicide being preferred rather than humiliation at the hands of the enemy, if they could not fall in battle or there was a danger of being captured, the samurai warrior chose ritual suicide called seppuku.
After the unification of Japan under one emperor over the feudal warlord system, the samurai was required less frequently; but they continued to train daily. As townspeople gained wealth, the samurai was barred from commerce activities and so without being paid for services in war, peace became despairing. Some samurai became rogues, called Ronan, which meant they served no master and were for hire.
Samurai distinguished themselves in society by their hair styling with long hair pulled back and tied in a knot called a chomage. Often samurai would shave the top of their heads, which reduced the heat from their heavy helmets with their hair hanging straight on the sides. When not wearing helmets, their hair was tied into the chomage.
Samaria’s clothing was important and indicated their status in society. Colorful patterns or outlandish styling was considered immodest and a sign of conceit. Daily clothing consisted of the kimono, usually of an inner and outer layer normally made of silk and heavier material in winter weather. Beneath the kimono, the samurai wore a loincloth called a fundoshi. Sandals (waraji) or wooden clogs (geta) were the preferred footwear. Samurai sometimes wore socks, especially in the cold season.
Samurai swords were kept in a belt wrapped around the waist and always worn on the left side. Samurai always had two swords, a long sword called katana and a short sword (wakizashi) that were made by legendary Japanese sword smiths who developed sword making into an art. They wanted sharp edges but unbreakable, steel being the metallurgical element, it was difficult to achieve. The sword smith had to solve the problem of hard steel that has a sharp edge is brittle