The Samurai: Warriors Of Pre-Modern Japan

The Samurai were warriors of pre modern Japan but later they made up majority of the military class for Japan. The samurai became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo period (1603-1867). The Samurai fought with an array of weapons such as spears, bows and arrows a few different sword type weapons but the weapon they were most known for is the Japanese Katana which was a slightly curved thin bladed sword which was incredibly sharp. The Samurai lived there lives according to the Bushido code which is also known as “the way of the warrior”. The code of Bushido which all of the samurai lived by said that all warriors had to have some of the following traits, loyalty, courage, compassion, honour and one of the most highly regarded traits

At this point warriors were being hired by wealthy land owners that had become independent from the main government and they had built up armies for their own protection. The most powerful of these lone landlords were the Minamoto and the Taira clans, they eventually battled each other to take control of the central government and The Minamoto clan emerged victorious. They set up a military government in 1192 which would be led by Shogun (supreme military commander). The samurai would stay in power and rule Japan for the next 700 years or so. During the Era of the warring states (1333-1573) in the 165th and 16th centuries Japan split into dozens of other little independent states that were constantly at war with one another. Due to this any sorts of warriors were in high demand. During this era ninja warriors were used for unconventional warfare such as assassinating high value targets or any sort of raid type things during the night. The country finally reunited in the 1500s and a caste system was put in place. Being a samurai had a fair few privileges. The samurai were accorded the special status at around 1600, this meant that they alone had the privilege to carry swords and only they were able to do this. They also married only among their own class and they also passed all there privileges onto the next generation meaning that their

The nobles had always worn ceremonial clothes and lived a very formal lifestyle within large castles. The rulers knew that the Samurai were strong and wise and that they were capable of raising their own armies and that that could seize the country. To prevent this and to keep the power of them in check the rulers encouraged the samurai to live by an elaborate rule about dress and behaviour and this was The Bushido Code. The Samurai wore clothing that allowed them to move freely as possible, they dressed for speed and travel. Their basic uniforms included wide hakama trousers which were open halfway down and stopped above the ankle. They also had an under-kamino which could be taken off during a battle while remaining safe and secure because of the hakama’s hard waistband and ties. On the upper body they were an over vest that had impressive winged shoulders and it was sleeveless. This was so that they still looked fierce and it allowed them to move their arms freely with their weapons. The samurai’s were one of the most important influences to Japanese fashion and