In modern popular culture, Japanese samurai are presented in the form of a medieval warrior, by analogy with Western knights. This is not quite the correct interpretation of the concept. In fact, the samurai were primarily feudal lords who owned their own land and were the backbone of power. This estate was one of the key in the Japanese civilization of that time.
The birth of a class
Approximately in the 18th century, those same warriors appeared, whose successor is any samurai. Japanese feudalism emerged from the Taika reforms. The emperors resorted to the help of the samurai in their struggle against the Ainu, the indigenous inhabitants of the archipelago. With each new generation, these people, who regularly served the state, acquired new lands and money. Clans and influential dynasties were formed that owned significant resources.
Approximately in the X-XII centuries. in Japan, a process similar to the European one took place - the country was shaken by internecine wars. The feudal lords fought against each other for land and we alth. At the same time, imperial power was preserved, but it was extremely weakened and could not prevent civil confrontation. It was then that the Japanese samurai received their code of rules - Bushido.
Shogunate
In 1192, a political system arose, which was later called the shogunate. It was a complex and dual system of governing the whole country, when the emperor and the shogun ruled simultaneously - figuratively speaking, the main samurai. Japanese feudalism relied on the traditions and power of influential families. If Europe overcame its own civil strife during the Renaissance, then the distant and isolated island civilization lived by medieval rules for a long time.
This was the period when the samurai was considered the most prestigious member of society. The Japanese shogun was omnipotent due to the fact that at the end of the 12th century the emperor granted the bearer of this title the monopoly right to raise an army in the country. That is, any other pretender or peasant uprising could not arrange a coup d'état due to the inequality of forces. The Shogunate lasted from 1192 to 1867
Feudal hierarchy
The samurai class has always been distinguished by a strict hierarchy. At the very top of this ladder was the shogun. Next came the daimyo. These were the heads of the most important and powerful families in Japan. If the shogun died without leaving an heir, then his successor was chosen just from among the daimyo.
At the middle level were the feudal lords who had small estates. Their approximate number fluctuated around several thousand people. Next came the vassals of vassals and ordinary soldiers without property.
During its heyday, the samurai class accounted for about 10% of the total population of Japan. Members of their families can be attributed to the same layer. Actuallythe power of the feudal lord depended on the size of his estate and the income from it. Often it was measured in rice - the main food of the entire Japanese civilization. With the soldiers, including paid off with a literal ration. For such "trade" even had its own system of measures and weights. Koku equaled 160 kilograms of rice. Approximately this amount of food was enough to satisfy the needs of one person.
To understand the value of rice in medieval Japan, it is enough to give the example of a samurai salary. So, those close to the shogun received from 500 to several thousand koku rice a year, depending on the size of their estate and the number of their own vassals, who also had to be fed and maintained.
The relationship between the shogun and the daimyō
The hierarchical system of the samurai class allowed the feudal lords who served regularly to climb very high on the social ladder. Periodically, they rebelled against the supreme power. The shoguns tried to keep the daimyo and their vassals in line. To do this, they resorted to the most original methods.
For example, in Japan for a long time there was a tradition according to which daimyo had to go once a year to their master for a solemn reception. Such events were accompanied by long journeys across the country and high costs. If the daimyo was suspected of treason, the shogun could actually take hostage a family member of his objectionable vassal during such a visit.
Code of Bushido
Together with the development of the shogunate, the bushido code appeared, the authors of which were the best Japanesesamurai. This set of rules was formed under the influence of the ideas of Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism. Most of these teachings came to Japan from the mainland, more specifically from China. These ideas were popular with samurai - representatives of the main aristocratic families of the country.
Unlike Buddhism or the doctrine of Confucius, Shinto was an ancient pagan religion of the Japanese. It was based on such norms as the worship of nature, ancestors, the country and the emperor. Shintoism allowed the existence of magic and otherworldly spirits. In bushido, the cult of patriotism and faithful service to the state first of all passed from this religion.
Thanks to Buddhism, the Japanese samurai code included such ideas as a special attitude towards death and an indifferent view of life's problems. Aristocrats often practiced Zen, believing in the rebirth of souls after death.
Samurai philosophy
A Japanese samurai warrior was brought up in bushido. He had to strictly follow all the prescribed rules. These norms applied to both public service and personal life.
The popular comparison of knights and samurai is wrong just from the point of view of comparing the European code of honor and bushido rules. This is due to the fact that the behavioral foundations of the two civilizations were extremely different from each other due to isolation and development in completely different conditions and societies.
For example, in Europe there was a well-established custom to give your word of honor when agreeing on some agreements between the feudal lords. For a samurai it would bean insult. At the same time, from the point of view of the Japanese warrior, a sudden attack on the enemy was not a violation of the rules. For a French knight, this would mean the treachery of the enemy.
Military Honor
In the Middle Ages, every inhabitant of the country knew the names of Japanese samurai, since they were the state and military elite. Few who wished to join this estate could do it (either because of their ingenuity or because of inappropriate behavior). The closeness of the samurai class consisted precisely in the fact that strangers were rarely allowed into it.
Clanism and exclusivity have strongly influenced the norms of warriors' behavior. For them, self-esteem was at the forefront. If a samurai brought shame on himself by an unworthy act, he had to commit suicide. This practice is called hara-kiri.
Every samurai had to answer for his words. The Japanese code of honor prescribed several times to think before making any statement. Warriors were required to be moderate in food and avoid licentiousness. A real samurai always remembered death and reminded himself every day that sooner or later his earthly path would end, so the only important thing is whether he was able to maintain his own honor.
Attitude towards family
Family worship also took place in Japan. So, for example, a samurai had to remember the rule of "branches and trunk." According to customs, the family was compared to a tree. The parents were the trunk, the children were just the branches.
If a warriortreated his elders contemptuously or disrespectfully, he automatically became an outcast in society. This rule was followed by all generations of aristocrats, including the very last samurai. Japanese traditionalism has existed in the country for many centuries, and neither modernization nor a way out of isolation could break it.
Attitude towards the state
Samurai were taught that their attitude to the state and legitimate authority should have been as humble as to their own family. For a warrior, there were no interests higher than his master. Japanese samurai weapons served the rulers to the very end, even when the number of their supporters became critically small.
Loyal attitude towards the overlord often took the form of unusual traditions and habits. So, the samurai did not have the right to go to bed with their feet towards the residence of their master. Also, the warrior was careful not to aim his weapon in the direction of his master.
Characteristic of the behavior of the samurai was a contemptuous attitude towards death on the battlefield. It is interesting that obligatory ceremonies have developed here. So, if a warrior realized that his battle was lost, and he was hopelessly surrounded, he had to give his own name and die calmly from the weapons of the enemy. The mortally wounded samurai would recite the names of senior Japanese samurai before dying.
Education and customs
The estate of feudal warriors was not only a militaristic stratum of society. Samurai were well educated, which was a must for their position. All warriors studied the humanities. At first glance, they could not be useful on the battlefield. But in reality it was exactly the opposite. Japanese samurai armor might not have protected its owner where literature did.
It was normal for these warriors to be fond of poetry. The great fighter Minamoto, who lived in the 11th century, could spare a defeated enemy if he read him a good poem. One samurai wisdom said that weapons are the right hand of a warrior, while literature is the left.
An important part of everyday life was the tea ceremony. The custom of drinking a hot drink was of a spiritual nature. This ritual was adopted from Buddhist monks, who meditated collectively in this way. Samurai even held tea drinking tournaments among themselves. Each aristocrat was obliged to build a separate pavilion in his house for this important ceremony. From the feudal lords, the habit of drinking tea passed into the peasant class.
Samurai training
Samurai have been trained in their craft since childhood. It was vital for a warrior to master the technique of wielding several types of weapons. The skill of fisticuffs was also highly valued. Japanese samurai and ninja had to be not only strong, but also extremely hardy. Each student had to swim in the turbulent river in full dress.
A real warrior could defeat the enemy not only with weapons. He knew how to suppress the opponent morally. This was done with the help of a special battle cry, which made unprepared enemies uncomfortable.
Casual wardrobe
In the life of a samuraialmost everything was regulated - from relations with others to clothing. She was also a social marker by which aristocrats distinguished themselves from peasants and ordinary townspeople. Only samurai could wear silk. In addition, their things had a special cut. Kimono and hakama were obligatory. Weapons were also considered part of the wardrobe. The samurai carried two swords with him at all times. They were tucked into a wide belt.
Only aristocrats could wear such clothes. Such a wardrobe was forbidden to peasants. This is also explained by the fact that on each of his things the warrior had stripes showing his clan affiliation. Every samurai had such coats of arms. A Japanese translation of the motto could explain where it comes from and who it serves.
Samurai could use any object at hand as a weapon. Therefore, the wardrobe was selected for possible self-defense. The samurai fan became an excellent weapon. It differed from ordinary ones in that the basis of its design was iron. In the event of a sudden attack by enemies, even such an innocent thing could cost the lives of the attacking enemies.
Armor
If ordinary silk clothing was intended for everyday wear, then for the battle every samurai had a special wardrobe. The typical armor of medieval Japan included metal helmets and breastplates. The technology for their production originated during the heyday of the shogunate and has remained virtually unchanged since then.
Armor was worn on two occasions - before a battle or a solemn event. All the restfor a while they were kept in a specially designated place in the samurai's house. If the soldiers went on a long campaign, then their vestments were carried in a wagon train. As a rule, servants looked after the armor.
In medieval Europe, the main distinctive element of equipment was a shield. With the help of it, the knights showed their belonging to one or another feudal lord. Samurai didn't have shields. For identification purposes, they used colored cords, banners, and helmets with engraved designs of coats of arms.
