...l The History of the Japanese Samurai and Sword Brandon Stepka SOCI306 The history of the Japanese samurai and sword has always been an interesting topic to me. I will not only be discussing the correlations between the two, but also the evolution of each. Along with that, I will be expanding upon how the Japanese sword was created, how it became popular, and lastly, how it is link to Japanese culture. I would now like to start by giving you a background of the Japanese samurai. The Japanese warrior, also known as the samurai, appeared during the Heian Period (794-1185). They initially started out as warriors and protectors for wealthy landowners. This is partially where the name ‘samurai’ came about, meaning “those who serve”. The samurai truly began to grow during the Kamakura period, where the “establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, a hereditary military dictatorship, shifted all real political power in Japan to the samurai.” This power was forged by leader Minamoto Yoritomo, who pushed vigorously to establish a high social status for the samurai. Without the acknowledgement of Yoritomo, you would not be considered a samurai; he had the final say. Now that I have given you some basic history of the samurai, I would like to give you some interesting facts that I found to be very cool. First, the Japanese samurai’s would burn incense into their helmets before battle, because of the possibility their heads would be cut off it would not smell. This...
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...between the Americans and the Japanese, but instead of killing the American, the Samurai leader Katsumoto (Ken Wantanobe) wanted him alive so that he could learn from his enemy's ways. The Captain was staying in Katsumoto's ex brother-in-law's house with the now widowed young lady and her children. The lady was very un-accepting of the war hero at first, because he was the man who killed her husband, but as the story grew, she, along with the rest of her Buddhist tribe grew to like the American. As the American got stronger and was given more rights by their tribe, he started to learn the art of Japanese language and symbolism. While he was learning the semantics of another culture, I noticed that he had completely forgotten his ways as an American soldier and instead, took on the way of the Samurai. As the ways of the Samurai embodied him, he grew emotionally and spiritually enough to the point of complete change of being. He was now willing to fight for the Samurais, and although they did not have all the weapons that the Americans possessed, they did have much more structure of discipline and self control. The clip ends with the American apologizing to the young lady for the slaying of her husband. She accepts, and then tells him in Japanese that they ware each doing their duty, and that it was only karma that took her husband. I would have to say that it was the semantics of this Japanese culture that he was learning that intrigued me the most about this film. That is why...
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...The Magnificent Kamkura Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine is located in the eastern coastal city of Kamakura Japan, which is located 50 Kilometers south of Tokyo. To the south is Sagami Bay which is surrounded by Kanagawa to the east, Shizuoka to the west, and the Shonan coastline to the north. The bay has seen many natural disasters throughout history, including the massive tsunami of 1498, generated by the Nankai earthquake which destroyed the temple housing the Daibustu. The area is often struck with powerful Typhoons which cause huge storms surges and severe winds. These events were so unpredictable that they had a profound impact on the early Japanese cultures and the development of the Shinto religion. The city of Kamakura has a very historical value in history as it was once considered the de facto capital of Japan during the Kamakura period. There are many historical sites and shrines in the city that date back to the 11th century, with the most recognizable being the Daibustu, or better know in English as the Great Buddha. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu was first established by Minamoto Yoriyoshi in 1063 as a base for the Minamoto clan, " He returned to Kamakura, and built a small shrine for the Hachiman Kami (the Japanese word for Shinto deities) near the coast to give thanks for success in suppressing the rebellion. The Hachiman Kami was regarded as the protector Kami of the warrior class" (History Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, n.d.). Tsurugaoka Hchimangu...
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...Spring 15 Spring 15 University of North Carolina Wilmington University of North Carolina Wilmington The Legend of the Goruku Chushingura: The Retellings Lorenzell Terry * This research paper will compare and contrast the two films based on the tale of the 47 Ronin. It will examine all aspects of the film based on the Japanese Culture such as everything from clothing to the ceremonies. It will show how foreigners see Japanese culture as being something dramatically else. The Legend of the Goruku Chushingura: The Retellings Lorenzell Terry * This research paper will compare and contrast the two films based on the tale of the 47 Ronin. It will examine all aspects of the film based on the Japanese Culture such as everything from clothing to the ceremonies. It will show how foreigners see Japanese culture as being something dramatically else. 08 Fall 08 Fall Lorenzell Terry William Hedberg JPN 211 17 April 2014 The Legend of the Goruku Chushingura: The Retellings Throughout Japanese history and most of the world, Samurai were seen as being the mightiest and loyalist warriors to have existed. Many years ago, started a story based on true events called the Goruku Chushingura or 47 Ronin. The story takes place in 1701 during the Edo period when most of the power was to the Shogun. Director by Japanese native; Kenji Mizoguchi made the first version of Goruku Chushingura in 1941. He has created credibility for himself by producing an arsenal of films before...
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...How did the Tokugawa Period contribute to the economical and political success of Modern Japan? Introduction: Important aspects of the Tokugawa period led to the development of Early Modern Japan. The Tokugawa Shogunate’s evolving economic and political structure became the foundation for the political economy of the rapid modernisation of Japan, which was to follow after. Tokugawa Leyasu, the great Shogun This period between 1603 (when Tokugawa Leyasu became the great “Shogun” of the Tokugawa Shogunate) and 1867 (when Tokugawa Yoshinobu formally returned political authority to the emperor) is also called the Edo Period. Edo is the former name for what is now Tokyo. This period was named after Edo castle, where the emperor lived, and was also the headquarters of the feudal government at the time. This period in Japan’s history has also been interpreted in contrary ways- once dismissed as the “Feudal dark age” it is now looked upon as the “ Golden Age of Peace and Prosperity”, before the arrival of Western imperialism changed Japan’s place in the world forever. For centuries before and after the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Emperor reigned powerless in Kyoto, while military men really ran the country. Edo Castle today [ 1 ] Edo Castle today [ 1 ] Edo Castle today, Chiyoda, Tokyo , Japan Edo Castle today, Chiyoda, Tokyo , Japan Edo Castle c. 1638 What was the structure of the “Four class system” introduced in the Tokugawa Period? The Tokugawa Shogunate...
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...The Last Samurai – Traditional and Modern Economies A traditional economy is an economic system that relies on a strong social network and is based on primitive methods and tools, whereas a modern economy relies on production, exchange, distribution, and consumption of goods. In the film, The Last Samurai, western Japan fights against the rebelling Samurai who do not wish to modernize and rid of their traditions. The vast differences between a traditional and modern economy are shown throughout the film as both civilizations express different means of production, military capabilities and cultural values. The reign of Emperor Meiji was one of the most revolutionary eras in Japanese history as Japan underwent dramatic changes in its government, economy, and culture. The nation opened its doors to the west and embraced a new world of cultural influences. Japan was transformed into an agrarian society with an industrialized economy and a strict military regime. Revolutionized Japan created modern weaponry such as guns and automatic weapons that were made in industrial factories. Instead of carrying goods using horses, Japan modernized using wagons and trains which made transportation of goods more rapid and efficient. In the film, we can see the paved streets and buildings of western Japan, the use of modern clothing, and advanced military technology. Conversely, the Samurai represent a traditional economy by their use of weapons, transportation, and cultural...
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...Samurai & Knights Where the similarities between samurais and knights are greater than the differences? Yes they had shared more similarities than differences. The Samurais What were the characteristics of the samurai culture?The samurais had many unique cultural characteristics. One of the samurais characteristics or the cultures is that they had a social pyramid.The samurais are the 4th on the social pyramid.The samurais are skilled warriors who owed loyalty and military service daimyos for land or regular payment with families ,made up of 10% of japanese population.The only reason that the samurais had a social pyramid is because to show how Japan was structured. Another cultural thing the samurais had to do was that they had to follow a certain code.The code that they had to follow was “Honor empathized and loyalty and bravery above all else.” The reason they had to follow the code of the conduct is because this is a skilled warrior’s way. The Knights...
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...and living quarters of the Samurai warriors as Source 15 states that during the Edo period, the Samurai were required to reside in large castle-towns that were surrounded by more castles. The Imperial Emperor did insist that the Samurai rid themselves of their swords and armour but had not yet repossessed the homes of the Samurai (Source 17). However, the film depicts the Samurai’s living quarters as temporary and fragile as if the Samurai had been accustomed to a humble way of life (Source 2). This was completely misconstrued on behalf of the director and set designers of the film because in actuality, the Samurai class had been a class of vast wealth and were committed to the Daimyo as secret...
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...April 20, 2010 Professor Ravina Legends of the Samurai The Faces of Bushido Bushido, however it is defined, has had a profound impact on Japanese society. Translated, Bushido means “Way of the Warrior” and so it can be defined as a type of code of conduct for samurai. Besides being simply a code applied to Japanese samurai alone, Bushido has also been said to be an integral element in the fabric of Japanese culture and society. Although there is no formalized official written document specifically stating what Bushido is, it remains an entity that has become the quintessential element of Japanese society. Of all the interpretations on what Bushido is, two of the most popular are the Hagakure by Yamamoto Tsunetomo and Bushido, the Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe. However, both of these writings are influenced by the time period in which they were written, and experiences of their respective authors. By evaluating certain influences on the interpretations of Bushido and the contradictions in them one is able to see how each is using their own version of Bushido to justify the author’s position or achieve a certain end. Bushido as a term itself was not used much later on, but the code itself, although unspoken, can be seen Japanese literature throughout the ages. Starting with the Shoku Nihongi the term “bushi” is used as well as the term “Saburau”, which was applied to those who accompanied nobility. One of the earliest forms of a type of written code of conduct that has Bushido...
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...Between the 12th and 19th centuries, feudal Japan had an elaborate four tier class system. Unlike European feudal society, in which the peasants (or serfs) were at the bottom, the Japanese feudal class structure placed merchants on the lowest rung. Confucian ideals emphasized the importance of productive members of society, so farmers and fishermen had higher status than shop-keepers in Japan. At the top of the heap was the samurai class. The Samurai Class: Feudal Japanese society was dominated by the samurai warrior class. Although they made up only about 10% of the population, samurai and their daimyo lords wielded enormous power. When a samurai passed, members of the lower classes were required to bow and show respect. If a farmer or artisan refused to bow, the samurai was legally entitled to chop off the recalcitrant person's head. Samurai answered only to the daimyo for whom they worked. The daimyo, in turn, answered only to the shogun. There were about 260 daimyo by the end of the feudal era. Each daimyo controlled a broad area of land, and had an army of samurai. The Farmers / Peasants: Just below the samurai on the social ladder were the farmers or peasants. According to Confucian ideals, farmers were superior to artisans and merchants because they produced the food that all the other classes depended upon. Although technically they were considered an honored class, the farmers lived under a crushing tax burden for much of the feudal era. During the reign of...
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...history in Japan and the United States. There are many types of police operations. Policing in general has a wide range of different kinds of strategies and areas. I will discuss the development of both policing styles as well as how implementation can affect both countries. Japan: Japan is known for it low crime rate and its unique policing styles and homogeneous society. Sam Bacca, Chief of Police in Albuquerque New Mexico stated, “This is police paradise”, while he was visiting Japan. (Rebenfien, 1989) “Every law enforcement officer would love to have a community like this”, he continued. (Rebenfien, 1989) Chief Baca and many others offers came to Japan to observe their police system and bring those ideas back to their community. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Statistics Bureau, Director-General for Policy Planning and Statistical Research and Training Institute reports Japan's total population in 2011 was 127.80 million and total density measured 343 persons per square kilometer in 2010. Japan has endured many trial and tribulations has a country, having to rebuild after wars and conflict. During the fourteen century short lived imperial rulers, followed by a new government established by the Ashikaja family, lasting for two centuries. (Sccnet, 1998) This was a time of great prosperity, following the way of the warrior, Bushido, the way of the warrior Japan feudalism hierarch after more than 265 years of consolidation, Japan was cut off...
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...has an extended stay in San Francisco away from his family in which he runs into an old lover. In the story, Mishima symbolically displays the extinction of Imperial Japan through his characters' mannerisms and subtle aspects of it. The symbol of the samurai and geisha within Kawase's relationships with Kimiko and Asaka embody Mishima's concept of artificiality in the Japanese domestic scene. Kawase and Kimiko had a traditional and dominance-based relationship in their marriage. They lived customary lives in which Kimiko was loyal and dependent of her husband. Though in his absence, infidelity caused a rift between the two sides of the family. Kawase disregarded his family's "loneliness" (56) the night in San Francisco where Asaka "stayed the night" (54). Kawase and Kimiko have a relationship in which their roles are similar to those of a samurai and geisha. Although they are married, Kawase only gives so much concern for his wife while staying in San Francisco. Instead of returning home to her, he put it off to spend time with a woman whom he had an affair with. The samurai, similar to Kawase, did not fully commit to a geisha as she was used for pleasure or entertainment. Kimiko likewise respected and highly regarded her husband as would a geisha to a samurai. The two's extramarital affairs exemplify the samurai and geisha's satisfying but disloyal relationship. Though the geisha and samurai's roles and Kimiko and Kawase's roles contrast, aspects of the marriage are what make...
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...the end of the 1960s. It was a period marked by the end of the war that saw the defeat of Japan by America and her allies. The destruction that Japan faced with the twin bombings had left the country shaken to the roots and the young men and women wanted to find something useful to keep them busy. They found the cinema. With the advancement in technology, film directors such as Akira Kurosawa took the center stage with films that tried to teach people about harmony and restoration. Most of the films in the golden age focused on the need to prevent war and bring people together as one unique society through the preaching of peaceful coexistence. This research, therefore, focuses on the Seven Samurai film that was directed by Akira Kurosawa in 1953. Through the film, we hope to understand the concepts of the golden age of Japanese Cinema, as well as its characteristics (Tezuka 47). Seven Samurai is a war film that depicts the struggle that human beings go through in search for freedom and emancipation. It also reveals the post war effects on the society and tries to persuade people to coexist peacefully without causing chaos (Fischer 1-65). The film directed by Akira Kurosawa and produced by Sojiro Motoki, stars Toshiro Mifume, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima and several other individuals who had a vision to produce one of the best action films ever. The story takes place in 1587 when Japan is full of warring communities. A mountain farming village gets attacked by a group of marauding...
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...Samurai Warrior Few countries have a warrior tradition as long and exciting as Japan. It is a tradition found in the Samurai, the loyal and self-sacrificing knight of ancient Japan. The Samurai is a valiant warrior who can both appreciate the beauty of nature in that of a rose blossom but will also kill or die for his master in an instant. This well-rounded warrior was the ruling class of Japan for almost seven hundred years. He fought for control of his country and to keep Japan free from outside influences. (Turnbull 1) This aristocratic warrior class arose during the 12th century wars between the Taira and Minamoto clans and was consolidated in the Tokugawa period. Samurai were privileged to wear two swords, and at one time had the right to cut down any commoner who offended them. They cultivated the martial virtues, indifference to pain or death, and unfailing loyalty to their overlords. Samurai were the dominant group in Japan. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, the samurai were removed from direct control of the villages, moved into the domain castle towns, and given government stipends. They were encouraged to take up bureaucratic posts. The Hagakure, has been dubbed the book of the samurai. It was written after a century of peace around 1716. It came to be the guide of samurai ethics until the end of the feudal period. Its short passages reflect and outline the qualities that make a samurai. Yamamoto Tsunetomo expresses in the hagakure the framework and mindset of being...
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...Okinawa: A Legacy of Resilience and Discipline By Outline Thesis: This paper will examine two distinctive traits; resilience and discipline; and how it forged the culture of the Okinawa people. I. History A. The Ryukyu Kingdom occupied a distinct position to the south of Japan. B. Sho Shoken was indeed an important figure to solidify the culture or Okinawa. II. Battle of Okinawa A. The Battle of Okinawa begins on April of 1945 testing the strength of the Okinawan people B. After the war, Okinawa begins to integrate with the U.S. Military forces. III. Beliefs A. The religion of the Okinawa people consists of early Chinese and Japanese influences. B. In ancestor worship, the core of this religious practice is the ancestral shrine. IV. Culture A. Customs 1. Okinawa’s customs have survived throughout the ages; including distinctive modernization. B. Courtesy is one of the most prominent traits instilled within Okinawan culture. B. Centenarians 1. Okinawa is home to the most documented centenarians in the world. Conclusion: In closing, the Okinawa people have endured many hardships that would have crumbled their society as a whole. From the times of the Ryukyu Kingdom until the present time, Okinawa’s rich history consisted of facing adversity when uncertainty presented itself. Okinawa’s resilience to such adversity is a testament to their beliefs and customs they...
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