The culture of the way of the warrior and its influences

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Ever since humans have inhabited this Earth, human blood has been spilt and battles have been waged throughout history. Mankind has warred with itself, developing and honing lethal and efficient tactics, strategies and martial skills of and within war, all across the globe. But, yet few cultural societies have been so influenced by the practice of a martial arts system that said system lays foundation to cultural reformation. An evident example of a martial arts based cultural reformation can be seen in the rise and establishment of the militant class within feudal Japan. Bujutsu and Budo, feudal Japanese martial arts, provided an efficient and lethal martial arts system. These two martial arts, coupled with various religious influences, established intrinsic values that engendered a new way of life for feudal Japanese warriors.
The foundations of the martial arts systems of Bujutsu and Budo can be traced back into the Classical era of Japan, developing and adapting the most within and after the Heian period. During the time of Classical Japan, there was evident cultural borrowing from stronger and more established nations within Asia, predominantly China. It was during the Heian period that the influence of not only China, but also the influences of various other nations were at its height within Japan. Amidst the influx of various cultural influences that began assimilating within the Heian Period, there were two main areas of classic Japanese society that helped establish the arts of Bujutsu and Budo. Some of the heaviest outside cultural influences in the Heian period were seen within religion; the others were seen in the rise of the militant class.
It was at that time, Japan was being flooded with various esoteric disciplin...

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...and applying many esoteric ideologies and teachings within the 'schools of the sword'. At that time, Japan's education system was primarily based on secular teachings within a (Buddhist) monastery. Many monasteries of that time had schools that taught reading and writing and schools that were dedicated to training warriors, known as 'schools of the sword'. The 'schools of the sword' were often associated with various esoteric philosophies that were adopted from outside cultural influences, mainly Zen Buddhism and Taoist philosophies regarding martial arts.

Works Cited

The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan: Volume 1, Classical Bujutsu by Donn F. Daeger
The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan: Volume 2, Classical Budo by Donn F. Daeger
Soul of a Samurai by Thomas Cleary
Secrets of the Samurai: A survey of the Martial Arts of Feudal Japan by Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook

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