Samurai warriors will forever remain in a special place in the Japanese consciousness. Known as the “
The origin of the samurai begins in 710 AD. After the Battle of Baekgang when the Japanese were driving from the Korean peninsula by the Chinese and the Koreans, the Emperor of Japan,
He ordered that one in every three or four males be conscripted into the military. These conscriptions would lead to clans, which would eventually form the samurai class in ancient Japan.
The samurai, as we would come to know them, first appeared in Japan in 1185. After the battle of Dan-no-
Because of this elevated status, the samurai
The decline of the samurai started in
These images would be used in Japan to stress the importance of samurai teaching and their importance on the national character of Japan. In 1905, after being defeated in
While all of the images are interesting, one is especially fascinating. It seems to capture a samurai warrior committing seppuku. This process was done by plunging a sharp object into one’s stomach, then pulling it across the body. A crowd would often be present to watch. It was considered an honorable form of death for someone who had suffered dishonor.
The idea of honor and loyalty was central to the life of the samurai. Their devotion to their country and
Today, most of us get our knowledge of the samurai from movies and TV shows. It’s important to remember that behind these fictitious representations were real men who lived a life based on a code of honor. It’s an important lesson for us all to learn.