Who is a samurai? Japanese samurai: code, weapons, customs

In modern popular culture Japanese samurai are represented in the image 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 origin of the estate

Approximately in the XVIII century there were those same soldiers, the successor of which is any samurai. Japanese feudalism arose as a result of Tyke's 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, regularly serving the state, acquired new lands and money. Formed clans and influential dynasties that owned significant resources.

Approximately in the X-XII centuries. In Japan there was a process similar to the European one - the country was shaken by internecine wars. The feudal lords fought against each other for land and wealth. At the same time, the imperial power was preserved, but it was extremely weakened and could not prevent the civil confrontation. It was then that the Japanese samurai received their code of rules - bushido.

Shogunate

In 1192, a political system emerged, which was later called a shogunate. It was a complex and two-sided system of government throughout the country, when both the emperor and the shogun ruled - figuratively speaking, the main samurai. Japanese feudalism relied on the traditions and power of influential families. If Europe overcame its own civil strife in the Renaissance, the remote and isolated island civilization lived for a long time according to medieval rules.

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 collect an army in the country. That is, any other applicant or peasant uprising could not arrange a coup d'état because of the inequality of forces. The shogunate existed from 1192 to 1867.

The feudal hierarchy

The samurai estate always had a strict hierarchy. At the very top of this staircase was a 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 elected from among the daimyo.

At the middle level there were feudal lords with small estates. Their approximate number fluctuated around a few thousand people. Next came the vassals of vassals and ordinary soldiers without property.

During its heyday the samurai class constituted about 10% of the total population of Japan. To the same stratum can be attributed to members of their families. In fact, the 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 whole Japanese civilization. With the soldiers, including paid with a literal ration. For such a "trade" even existed its own system of measures and weights. Koku was equal to 160 kilograms of rice. Approximately this amount of food was enough to meet the needs of one person.

To understand the value of rice in medieval Japan, it is enough to give an example of a samurai salary. Thus, those close to shogun received from 500 to several thousand coca-rice a year, depending on the size of their estate and the number of their own vassals, which also needed to be fed and maintained.

Relations between Shogun and Daimyo

The hierarchical system of the samurai class allowed regularly served feudal lords to rise very high on the social ladder. Periodically, they rebelled against the supreme power. The Shoguns tried to keep the daimyo and their vassals in check. 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 the daimyo should go to their master once a year for a reception. Such events were accompanied by long trips across the country and high costs. If the daimyo was suspected of treason, the shogun could actually take a member of the family of his disloyal vassal hostage during such a visit.

The Bushido Code

Along with the development of the shogunate, a bushido code appeared , sponsored by the best Japanese samurai. This set of rules was formed under the influence of the ideas of Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism. Most of these exercises came to Japan from the mainland, or rather, 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. Shinto allowed the existence of magic and otherworldly spirits. In the bushido of this religion, first of all, the cult of patriotism and faithful service to the state passed.

Thanks to Buddhism, the code of Japanese samurai 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

By Bushido, a Japanese samurai warrior was brought up. He had to strictly follow all the prescribed rules. These norms dealt with both public service and personal life.

A popular comparison of knights and samurai is wrong from the point of view of comparing the European code of honor and the rules of bushido. This is due to the fact that the behavioral foundations of the two civilizations were very different from each other because of their isolation and development in completely different conditions and societies.

For example, in Europe there was a well-established custom of giving its word of honor when agreeing some agreements between feudal lords. For a samurai, this would be an 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 the 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 samurais, since they were the state and military elite. Few people who wished to join this estate could do this (either because of their ignorance, or because of inadequate behavior). The closeness of the samurai class consisted precisely in the fact that outsiders were rarely allowed into it.

Clannishness and exclusiveness greatly influenced the norms of behavior of soldiers. For them the main place was their own dignity. If a samurai had brought shame on himself by an unworthy act, he had to commit suicide. This practice was called hara-kiri.

Each samurai had to answer for his words. The Japanese code of honor ordered several times to think before making any statement. Warriors were required to be moderate in food and to avoid debauchery. A real samurai always remembered death and every day reminded himself that sooner or later his earthly way would end, so it is important only if he could keep his own honor.

Family Attitudes

Worship of the family in Japan also took place to be. So, for example, a samurai had to remember the rule of "branches and trunk". According to the customs, the family was compared to a tree. Parents were trunk, and children only branches.

If the warrior contemptuously or disrespectfully treated the elders, he automatically became an outcast in society. This rule was followed by all generations of aristocrats, including the most recent samurai. Japanese traditionalism existed in the country for many centuries, and it could not be broken neither by modernization, nor out of isolation.

Attitudes towards the state

The Samurai were taught that their attitude towards the state and legal power should be as humble as it was for their own family. For the warrior, there was no interest beyond his master. Japanese samurai weapons served the rulers to the very end, even when the number of their supporters became critically small.

A faithful attitude to the suzerain often took the form of unusual traditions and habits. So, the samurai had no right to go to bed with their feet in the direction of his master's residence. Also, the warrior was careful not to aim his weapon at his master's side.

Characteristic for the behavior of the samurai was a contemptuous attitude toward death on the battlefield. It is interesting that there are compulsory rituals. So, if the warrior realized that his battle was lost, and he was hopelessly surrounded, he had to give his own name and calmly die from the enemy's weapons. A mortally wounded samurai, before emitting a spirit, pronounced the names of Japanese samurai senior ranks.

Education and customs

The class of feudal warriors was not only a militaristic layer of society. Samurais were well educated, which was mandatory for their position. All the warriors studied the humanities. At first glance, they could not come in handy on the battlefield. But in reality everything was exactly the opposite. Japanese samurai armor could not protect its owner where it was saved by literature.

For these warriors, poetry was the norm. The great fighter Minamoto, who lived in the XI century, could spare the defeated enemy if he would read a good poem to him. One samurai wisdom said that weapons are the right hand of a warrior, while literature is left.

An important component 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 thus meditated collectively. Samurais even held tournaments on drinking tea among themselves. Each aristocrat had to build a separate pavilion in his house for this important rite. From the feudal lords the habit of drinking tea passed into the peasant class.

Teaching the Samurai

Samurais trained their craft from childhood. For the warrior it was vital to master the technique of owning several types of weapons. Also, the skill of pugilism was highly valued. Japanese samurai and ninja should have been not only strong, but also extremely hardy. Each student had to swim in a stormy river in full vestment.

A real warrior could defeat an enemy not only with weapons. He knew how to suppress an opponent morally. This was done with the help of a special battle cry, which made the uncomfortable enemies uncomfortable.

Casual wardrobe

In the life of a samurai, almost everything was regulated - from relationships with others to clothes. It was also a social marker, according to which aristocrats distinguished themselves from peasants and ordinary citizens. Only samurai could wear silk clothes. In addition, their things had a special cut. Kimonos and hakama were mandatory. The weapon was also considered part of the wardrobe. The samurai always carried two swords with him. They were plugged into a wide belt.

Only aristocrats could wear such clothes. Peasants like this wardrobe was banned. This is also due to the fact that on each of his things the warrior had strips showing his clan belonging. Each emblem had each emblem. Translation from the Japanese language of the motto could explain where he comes from and who he serves.

Samurais could use any improvised item as a weapon. Therefore, the wardrobe was selected for possible self-defense. The samurai fan became a perfect weapon. From the usual, he was distinguished by the fact that the basis of his design was iron. In the event of a sudden attack of enemies, even such an innocent thing could cost lives of attacking enemies.

Armor

If the usual silk clothing was intended for everyday wearing, then for battle every samurai had a special wardrobe. Typical armor of medieval Japan included metal helmets and bibs. The technology of their production was born in the heyday of the shogunate and since then has not changed.

Armor was worn in two cases - before a battle or solemn event. All the rest of the time they were stored in a specially designated place for this purpose in the house of the samurai. If the soldiers went on a long campaign, then their vestments were carried in a train. As a rule, the servants followed the armor.

In medieval Europe, the main distinguishing element of the equipment was a shield. With the help of it, the knights showed their belonging to one or another feudal lord. The samurai had no shields. For identification purposes, they used colored cords, banners, as well as helmets engraved with patterns of coats of arms.