Despite been abolished, the history and philosophy of the Samurai lives on in the form of the Samurai sword. Today, Samurai sword is of great popularity all over the world. But for collecting valuable Samurai sword, you must have some knowledge of its master ---Samurai to feel the spirit within the sword.
Below follows a concrete history of the Japanese warrior (Samurai):
By 200AD, the growth of farming drew people away from hunting and from hunting skills. Some were naturally better suited to fighting than others. Gradually, those who fought became warriors. Warriors of this era fought on foot with bows, stabbing swords, and spears. Armor was worn, but most warriors probably had only shields.
The samurai's importance and influence grew during the Heian Period(794-1185), when powerful landowners hired private warriors for the protection of their properties. Towards the end of the Heian Period, two military clans, the Minamoto and Taira, had grown so powerful that they seized control over the country and fought wars for supremacy against each other. The government had come to depend on the men of the Kanto, courtiers no longer personally took up arms. The term "samurai", meaning "those who serve" came into use. Warriors continued to fight on horseback, with bow and arrows as their primary weapons, but also with a newly designed sword. The Emishi had been found to be fighting with curved swords, which seemed much better suited to slicing cuts inflicted from horseback, and thus the Japanese tachi, which had previously been modeled on the continental sword, was revised for the same effect.
Though originated from regional groups of ancient warriors, Samurai quickly lost their provincial ways. They developed a unique, sophisticated culture that was renowned for stoicism, honor and military expertise during the Kamakura period (1192-1333).
During the Muromachi period (1338-1573), Samurai culture created the idea of artist-warrior. Samurai training began to include the ritualized tea ceremony and flower arranging to add refinement and balance to the warrior persona. The code of Bushido became formalized. Bushido is the way of Samurai. Bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self- discipline, respectful, and ethical behavior. The samurai's loyalty to the emperor and his overlord, or daimyo, was unsurpassed.
The peak of the Samurai era was in 12th century Japan when they enjoyed the benefits of belonging to a unique, privileged class.
The downfall of the Samurai began during the Edo period (1603-1867). According to the Edo Period's official hierarchy of social classes, the samurai stood at the top, followed by the farmers, artisans and merchants. Furthermore, there were hierarchies within each class. All samurai were forced to live in castle towns and received income from their lords in form of rice. Masterless samurai were called ronin and caused minor troubles during the early Edo Period. The gradual decline of the Samurai continued until the last Shogun resigned during the Meiji Restoration in 1868. In 1871,the new government abolished feudalism and betrayed the Samurai by stripping them of all their privileges. Thus ended the era of the Samurai.
Below follows a concrete history of the Japanese warrior (Samurai):
By 200AD, the growth of farming drew people away from hunting and from hunting skills. Some were naturally better suited to fighting than others. Gradually, those who fought became warriors. Warriors of this era fought on foot with bows, stabbing swords, and spears. Armor was worn, but most warriors probably had only shields.
The samurai's importance and influence grew during the Heian Period(794-1185), when powerful landowners hired private warriors for the protection of their properties. Towards the end of the Heian Period, two military clans, the Minamoto and Taira, had grown so powerful that they seized control over the country and fought wars for supremacy against each other. The government had come to depend on the men of the Kanto, courtiers no longer personally took up arms. The term "samurai", meaning "those who serve" came into use. Warriors continued to fight on horseback, with bow and arrows as their primary weapons, but also with a newly designed sword. The Emishi had been found to be fighting with curved swords, which seemed much better suited to slicing cuts inflicted from horseback, and thus the Japanese tachi, which had previously been modeled on the continental sword, was revised for the same effect.
Though originated from regional groups of ancient warriors, Samurai quickly lost their provincial ways. They developed a unique, sophisticated culture that was renowned for stoicism, honor and military expertise during the Kamakura period (1192-1333).
During the Muromachi period (1338-1573), Samurai culture created the idea of artist-warrior. Samurai training began to include the ritualized tea ceremony and flower arranging to add refinement and balance to the warrior persona. The code of Bushido became formalized. Bushido is the way of Samurai. Bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self- discipline, respectful, and ethical behavior. The samurai's loyalty to the emperor and his overlord, or daimyo, was unsurpassed.
The peak of the Samurai era was in 12th century Japan when they enjoyed the benefits of belonging to a unique, privileged class.
The downfall of the Samurai began during the Edo period (1603-1867). According to the Edo Period's official hierarchy of social classes, the samurai stood at the top, followed by the farmers, artisans and merchants. Furthermore, there were hierarchies within each class. All samurai were forced to live in castle towns and received income from their lords in form of rice. Masterless samurai were called ronin and caused minor troubles during the early Edo Period. The gradual decline of the Samurai continued until the last Shogun resigned during the Meiji Restoration in 1868. In 1871,the new government abolished feudalism and betrayed the Samurai by stripping them of all their privileges. Thus ended the era of the Samurai.
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