The Notable Existence of Samurai and their Legacy

Existence of Samurai 

Human lives have their own ending, and that is exactly the case with the Samurai. But though the existence of Samurai is already gone, they inevitably left a very notable impact in Japan – to the whole world even!

Samurai culture is really influential that after how many years, it still does resonate within the Japanese culture today.

Around 3000 years ago, Japan gradually became famous throughout the entire world. It showed various unique and fascinating cultures which became a trend that foreign lands have loved and accepted.

Unfortunately, some of these well-known cultures began to wither. Such is the Samurai culture that was once the famous era of Japan.

A Quick Review about the Notable Samurai

The Samurai or also known as Bushi or Buke in Japan are the famous – or rather the most famous class of people in ancient times. They are the noble warriors who fought for their master.

Samurai warriors always had a powerful, distinct weapon and had their scary-looking armor that can make anyone’s knees tremble with fear.

They lived a life following a stringent and precise code of conduct, called Bushido or the “Way of the Warrior”. These are loyalty, courage, compassion, integrity, and honor.

The idea of being a true warrior or a true Samurai must apply the values of Bushido in their daily lives. But these should be with appreciation and respect to the life that balances their character as a Samurai.

Suicidal Ritual

“Seppuku” or “Hara-Kiri” is the most horrifying suicide act that a Samurai must do. They need to do it if they fail to follow even one code of conduct, or if their enemy takes hold of them. It is sometimes a voluntary act of the Samurai out of conscience. It can even be implicated as their punishment if they violate the code.

Education

Becoming a Samurai doesn’t only mean facing battles and making bodies physically strong for war. They are also well-educated, for the Bushido wants all Samurai to be the best that they can be.

Thus, they thrive better in many ways they could imagine. Based on further research, they study poetry, rock gardens, monochrome ink painting, and tea ceremony. They also study calligraphy, literature and flower arranging.

Their skills and intelligence indeed prove to everyone in their time that they are far more than just mere warriors.

Weapons

As warriors, they need a number of different and specific weapons for a lot of distinct combats. They first carry “Chokuto”, which is a sword that is smaller than the swords that the knights use. Samurai also use the Katana, which became their most famous powerful weapon.

Fashion

The Samurai are the fashion icons of ancient Japan. Their style of clothing is undeniably a massive influence in their era. However, they don’t dress to impress others, but they dress to kill (cool!).

Armor

“First impression lasts.” Maybe the inventor of the Samurai’s armor ensured that the warrior should look very intimidating too. The armor of a Samurai is one of their strongest assets as warriors.

It is the one that they wear during battles, and it’ll surely bring the enemy a feeling of cold feet. But what other people didn’t know is that every single part of their armor has its specific functions that are always useful in their bloody battles.

Female Samurai

The Japanese Bushi class did feature a female Samurai that actually received almost the same training in martial arts. Although the term “Samurai” is masculine and it doesn’t fit a female that well. It was for them to be able to protect their family, household, and honor in times of war. “Onna-Bugeisha” is the term they use to acknowledge a female Samurai.

Reason Behind the Samurai Abolishment

Warriors are high in demand and are very much needed by every country. With the Samurai’s existence, Japan surely had one of the greatest warriors of all time.

Their epitome was during the havoc era of warring states in the 15th to the 16th century, when dozens of independent states in Japan started a civil war.

But the states of Japan eventually reunite in the year 1500. Then a social gentry system started during the Edo Period that put the Samurai into the highest spot.

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Because of the success of the Samurai, they are required to live in Japan’s most prestigious castle towns. They are also the only ones who have the privilege to own and carry swords in the entire country.

They are being paid with rice by their feudal lords or “Daimyo”.

Eventually, the government was able to take power over the Daimyo. So they use their power to take a clutch on their land.

As no one can pay the Samurai the way the Daimyo did, the government then decided to pay them with bonds. Their salary is based on their ranks.

Yet, regardless of their ranks – may it be low or high ranking Samurai, it still affected them in the same way. They used the bonds to buy land or start a business but always ended up realizing that it is not enough to ensure wealth.

Some Samurai became farmers, and others became city workers.

In 1876, Emperor Meiji prohibited them from carrying and owning their armors and swords. That’s the beginning of the Samurai not having the most important role in Japan any longer.

They eventually started to adopt new roles in Japan’s society as it moves into the Industrial Age.

How Japanese Appreciate and Pay Tribute to their great Warriors, the Samurai!

Japan is proud and will always be proud of their warriors from the past. They are proud of the way they fought without fear, for their country’s safety.

Although Samurai no longer exist today, the golden legacy they left still transcends throughout Japanese culture.

Japanese people really preserve that culture until now, and it can be vividly seen all over Japan. They celebrate festivals that pay tribute about the origins of the Samurai.

Japanese also make dramas and plays regarding how fearless they were during their era. They even use the word Samurai for calling the Japanese athletes in sports competitions.

Moreover, they beautifully maintained a lot of the great castles, Samurai mansions, and Samurai residences; places that witnessed thousands of chaotic and bloody wars in the past.

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Here are some places in Japan where you can visit some of the Samurai’s Castles, Mansions, and Residences if you would want to!

  1. Chiran Samurai District at Satsuma Peninsula
  2. Bitchu-Takahashi Old Town at the base of Matsuyama Castle in Bitchu-Takahashi
  3. Matsue Samurai District at Matsue
  4. Former Hosokawa Residence at Kumamoto
  5. Seisonkaku Villa at Kanazawa
  6. Aizu Bukeyashiki at Aizu-Wakamatsu
  7. Kita Residence at Noto Peninsula
  8. Nikko Edomura at Nikko
  9. Samurai Kingdom Ninja Ise at Shima Peninsula
  10. Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura at Noboribetsu
  11. Toei Uzumasa Eigamura at Kyoto
  12. Iga Uena Ninja Museum at Iga Uena

Legacy and Existence of Samurai: Final Thoughts 

There’s no doubt that the influence of the Samurai will always stay in Japan. People would always look up to them as their role models.

The value of their code of conduct will also remain present and will be passed down from generation to generation, even though the physical existence of Samurai is already gone. They gave up one’s life and embraced death for their country, so they deserve all the love and respect from everyone.

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