The Samurai Philosophy & Beliefs The role that samurai philosophy & culture has had in laying the foundation for what is popularly associated with a Japanese style of thinking is undeniable. Despite the disappearance of the samurai as a social class, their heritage permeates all strata of Japanese society. Their legacy influences every house, […]
Samurai Death Poems In this post, we’ll take a look at the fascinating art of Samurai death poems. In ancient Japan, the arts were highly valued. Writing, poetry, music, and theater were the ideal way for Japanese people to marvel at their surroundings. To look for meaning in things, and find their own place […]
The Golden Era Samurai has gone a long way in Japanese history. Meanwhile, their existence had a golden era. What was this period called? What events took place? Why was this even special? Samurai were members of Japan’s warrior class. They emerged in the 8th and 9th centuries. During this time, the imperial family and […]
Onna-bugeisha The depiction of Samurai warriors is usually male-oriented but female warriors also existed. Known as Onna-bugeisha, these women fought and perform the same duties as their male counterparts. They are as powerful, deadly, capable, courageous, just, and fearsome too. These female warriors trained the same way men did. They trained to use weapons and […]
Ishiyama Hongan-Ji One of the famous and deadliest Japanese wars of history is the Ishiyama Hongan-Ji War. Known also as the Ishiyama Kassen, the battle took place from the years 1570 to 1580 in the Sengoku Era. It was an 11-year war led by Oda Nobunaga against the Ikko Ikki. The Ikko Ikki was a […]
The Taira clan The Taira clan, who were also called the Heike, was a warrior family of influence and power during the 12th century. Their family history goes all the way back to 825 when they acquired the name Taira from Prince Takamune. He was the grandson of the 50th emperor of Japan, Kanmu. In […]
Seppuku and Harakiri Undoubtedly, the term Harakiri is very familiar to us. We encounter it in our history classes. We even witness it in some Japanese movies that feature Samurai and their history. We also sometimes hear it from our playmates, friends, and other people. Still, we may have once seen it on the internet. […]
The Length of a Sword Blade Sword blades come in different lengths which we call Hawatari. But aside from Hawatari, there are several things to consider when choosing a sword. More so in training and actual fight, the weapon has a lot to say. First in the list is the material composition. A swordsman examines […]
Samurai Armor Here we are going to talk about the Samurai battle suit or armor. What was it like? Is it heavy? Why do some helmets have horns? Or did it mean something else? When we think about Samurai history, the Katana sword always comes to mind. Before you’ve seen a movie or two, could […]
Samurai of Ancient Japan During the warring period of Japan, the Samurai was one of the most prominent class. Samurai was the cream of the crop, the military men and the ideal warrior that a master could wish for. Samurai was popular for their way of living which adheres honor and loyalty. Who were the […]
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