Famous Japanese warriors. Great Samurai - club for lovers of Japanese culture "misogi"

Samurai originated in the 7th century and existed until late XIX century, when it was abolished as an institution. For many centuries, samurai were the military-feudal nobility of Japan, from which came a large number of military and officials of the 20th century. Samurai were called brave warriors Imperial Army until its disbandment in 1947.

He was a ronin, that is, he had no owner and was a free warrior. Musashi gained fame as one of the greatest swordsmen, described the tactics, strategy and philosophy of the samurai in battle, and also developed and put into practice the new kind fighting with two swords. Contemporaries called Musashi "Kensai", which translates as "Holy Sword" and emphasizes his supreme skill with weapons.

A talented military leader, he formed the strongest army samurai and rallied around himself greatest number provincial Oda Nobunaga began the campaign to unify Japan by capturing his home province of Owari, after which he began to expand the boundaries of his possessions. In 1582, when Nobunaga reached his maximum power, his enemies from among his own subordinates started coup d'etat. Realizing the inevitability of the end, he committed ritual murder- seppuku.

The Samurai Code praised such girls “who were capable of rising above the imperfections and shortcomings inherent in their sex, and displaying a heroic fortitude that could be worthy of the bravest and noblest men.” Several onna-bugeisha entered the history of the country - including Nakano Takeko (1847−1868). She was born in what is now Tokyo, educated in literature and trained in martial arts. Takeko was directly involved in the defense of Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle during civil war between supporters of the Tokugawa Shogunate and pro-imperial forces. During the battle, she commanded the women's detachment and received bullet wound in the chest, after which she asked her sister to cut off her head and bury it so that it would not fall to the enemy. Every year, a campaign in her memory is held at the site of Takeko’s grave.

He became the first shogun whose dynasty ruled the country until the revival of the Meiji dynasty in 1868. This became possible after his samurai defeated the remnants of the armies of Nobunaga and another commander, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who also claimed to rule all of Japan. Ieyasu’s policy left its mark on the entire further existence of the country, which for a long time lived according to his orders.

Japan is a country of brave samurai and brave shoguns. The whole world knows about the valor and courage of Japanese soldiers. Samurai are an integral part Japanese culture, its distinctive symbol. Any warrior could envy the loyalty and discipline of the samurai.

Who are they, servants of their state, desperate warriors or masters of their land?

Samurai means “warrior” in Japanese. This word also has several other meanings - “serve”, “support”, “servant”, “vassal” and “subordinate”. That is, a samurai is a warrior who serves his state and fiercely defends it.

From ancient Japanese chronicles it is known that the samurai was a nobleman (nothing in common with European nobles). They were engaged not only in military operations. In peacetime, samurai served the highest princes and were their bodyguards.

History of samurai

The first samurai appeared in Japan at the beginning of the 12th century. At that time, the state was ruled by the brave shogun Minamoto. These were fairly peaceful times, so the number of samurai was relatively small. The soldiers took an active part in peaceful life– grew rice, raised children, taught martial arts.

During the reign of the great Japanese Tokugawa shogun clan, the number of samurai almost tripled. They probably served their shogun and owned considerable land plots. Under the Tokugawa, these warriors were considered the most prosperous people.

During the Tokugawa era, a large set of samurai laws was published. The main one was the law of Bushido. It said that a warrior must unconditionally obey his master and boldly look death in the face. In addition, the samurai was given the right to kill with impunity an ordinary peasant who was unacceptably rude to the warriors. In times of peace, samurai faithfully served their shogun, and sometimes took part in suppressing peasant revolts.

There were also samurai who eventually moved into the ronin class. Ronins are former warriors who got rid of vassalage. Such samurai lived like ordinary people: carried out trade, craft and agricultural activities.

Many samurai became shinobi. Shinobi are assassins for hire, a kind of ninja.

In the mid-18th century, the collapse of the samurai class began. During this period, the Japanese bourgeoisie began to actively progress. Trade, craft and manufacturing flourished. Many samurai were forced to borrow from moneylenders. The situation of the samurai was becoming unbearable. Their role for the country became unclear even to them. Some tried to adapt to peaceful life, many turned to religion. Others became traders, artisans and farmers. And the samurai rebels were simply killed, completely undermining their will and spirit.

Education and development of a samurai

Raising a samurai is a complex, multi-level process. The formation of a warrior began with early years. From childhood, the sons of samurai knew that they were the successors of their family and reliable guardians family customs and traditions.

Every evening, before going to bed, the child was told about the history and courage of the samurai, about their exploits. Stories gave examples of how legendary samurai bravely looked death in the face. Thus, courage and valor were instilled in the child from childhood.

An important aspect of samurai education was the Bushido technique. She introduced the concept of seniority, the main thing in the family. Boys were taught from an early age that the man is the head of the family, and only he can determine the direction of his child’s activities. Other Japanese technology Iemoto - taught the boys discipline and behavior. The technique was purely theoretical in nature.

In addition, boys from childhood were taught to severe trials. Taught various martial arts, pain tolerance, mastery own body, the ability to obey. Developed willpower, the ability to overcome even the most severe life situations. There were times when the boys were tested on their endurance. To do this, they were raised at dawn and sent to a cold, unheated room. There they were locked up and not fed for a long time. Some fathers forced their sons to go to the cemetery at night. So they instilled in the boys the courage of a valiant warrior. Others took their sons to executions, forced them to do backbreaking work, walk without shoes in the snow, and spend several nights without sleep.

At the age of 5, the boy was given a bokken. Bokken is a samurai sword. From then on, training in the art of fencing began. In addition, the future warrior had to be able to swim well, hold a great position in the saddle, and be literate in writing, literature and history. The boys were taught self-defense lessons - jiu-jitsu. In addition, they were taught music, philosophy and crafts.

At the age of 15, the boy turned into a valiant samurai.

Japanese samurai warriors (bushi) were skilled warriors of medieval Japan. As a rule, they were secular feudal lords, princes and small-class nobility. The term bushi means "warrior" and has a broader meaning, it should not always be referred to as samurai. The term samurai comes from the verb “saberu,” which meant “to serve.” Japanese warriors were fluent in sword, bow and hand-to-hand combat, and followed the strict code of bushido or “the way of the warrior.”

The occupation of Japanese warriors was not only waging war, they were often the personal bodyguards of their master - the daimyo, which literally translates as “big name”, and in peacetime the samurai were ordinary servants. The samurai have always been considered the elite in Japanese society, and the daimyo has been considered the elite among the samurai.

In this article we have collected for you the most interesting facts about samurai.

10. About samurai women. When we say the word samurai, the image of a male warrior immediately comes to mind, however, in ancient Japanese chronicles there are many references to female samurai, who were called onna-bugeisha. Women and samurai girls took part in bloody battles on an equal basis with male warriors. The naginata (long sword) was the weapon they used most often. An ancient Japanese bladed weapon with a long handle (about 2 meters) had a curved blade with a one-sided sharpening (about 30 centimeters long), almost an analogue of a melee weapon - a glaive.

IN historical chronicles Ah, there are practically no mentions of female samurai, because of this, historians assumed that there were very few of them, but the latest research into historical chronicles has shown that female warriors made their contribution in battles much more often than is commonly believed. In 1580, a battle took place in the town of Senbon Matsubaru. According to the results of excavations, out of 105 bodies discovered at the battle site, according to the results of the DNA analysis, 35 belonged to the female sex. Excavations at other sites of ancient battles have yielded approximately the same results.

9. Samurai armor. Unlike knightly armor medieval Europe Samurai armor was created with mobility in mind; it must be very durable, but at the same time remain flexible enough so as not to restrict the warrior’s movements. Samurai armor was made of metal or durable leather plates coated with varnish. The plates were neatly tied together with leather laces. The hands were protected by shoulder pads - small rectangular shields, as well as armored sleeves.

An interesting detail of a samurai's armor is a bowl-shaped helmet assembled from metal plates fastened together with rivets. The warrior's face was protected by armor attached to the back of the head, under the helmet. An interesting detail of the samurai headdress is the balaclava, very reminiscent of Darth Vader's mask ( interesting fact: movie character helmet shape design " Star Wars"Darth Vader is taken precisely from the shape of the helmet of Japanese warriors). This piece of armor protected the warrior from blows from arrows and swords struck at small angles. Warriors attached masks of combat masks - mengu - to their helmets, protecting the warrior and frightening the enemy.

8. Sex and samurai. Sexual relations between the warriors of Japan can be called free. Approximately the same relationships between soldiers took place in ancient Sparta. Same-sex relationships typically arose between more experienced samurai masters (mentors) and young warriors who were just beginning to train (novices). This practice of same-sex relationships was called wakashudo (the way of youth). Documentary evidence found says that almost the entire samurai class passed through the “path of youth.”

7. European samurai. Ancient Japanese chronicles say that when special conditions a person who was not Japanese could easily fight alongside the samurai, and becoming one of the samurai was considered a special honor. Such a warrior was given weapons and armor, and was also called a new name, Japanese. This honor could only be bestowed by very influential leaders, such as daimyos, or the person who actually ruled Japan. for the most part time - a commander, that is, a shogun.

In history there is a mention of four men who had the honor of receiving the title of samurai:

The English navigator and the first Briton to reach the shores of Japan, William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, played a vital role in the development of trade relations between Japan and Holland and Japan and England.

Dutch navigator and merchant Jan Joosten van Lodestein, known as Yayosu, acted as adviser to the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu on foreign policy and trade issues.

French naval officer Eugene Collache also took the title of samurai. Japanese name unknown. Upon arrival in France, he was dismissed by court martial as a deserter. He wrote the book Adventures in Japan 1868-1869, which was published in 1874.

Dutchman by birth and arms dealer Edward Schnell, Japanese name Hiramatsu Buhei. He was a military instructor and weapons supplier for the Japanese.

6. Number of samurai. There is an opinion that samurai were chosen warriors and there were very few of them. In reality, samurai were armed servants close to the nobility. Subsequently, samurai became associated with the bushi class - middle and upper class warriors. A simple conclusion suggests itself - there were significantly more samurai than is commonly believed; more than 10% of the Japanese population were samurai. And since there were many of them, they had a significant influence on the history of the empire; It is believed that today every Japanese has a piece of the blood of great warriors.

5. Samurai clothes. Samurai were, in a sense, standards, and the warrior's clothing style had a significant influence on the fashion of an entire era. Samurai almost never dressed outrageously. All of their clothing was designed to fit the needs of a warrior. It was intended for freedom of movement and should not restrict movement.

The samurai's clothing consisted of several basic elements: hakama (wide trousers, similar to bloomers), kimono (traditional clothing in Japan, usually silk), and hitatare (a kind of cape, ceremonial clothing, which was dressed under armor). This suit did not restrict movement and left your hands free. For footwear, samurai wore boots made of wood and simple sandals.

Perhaps the most characteristic feature There was a samurai hairstyle - hair collected in a bun. This may be due to the fact that wearing a helmet with this hairstyle is more convenient.

4. Samurai weapons. Being warriors, samurai were fluent in many types of weapons. The oldest sword that was worn Japanese warriors, was Tokuto's sword. That's what all the swords were called ancient type, which appeared among Japanese warriors in the 2nd-4th centuries AD. They were straight and had a one-sided sharpening.

The weapons continued to be improved. Subsequently, the swords became more curved and over time turned into the legendary japanese sword, known to us under the name katana, is a curved Japanese two-handed sword with a single-sided blade and a blade length of more than 60 centimeters. Without a doubt, the Japanese katana sword is a symbol of the samurai, because, as the samurai code says, the soul of a warrior lives in his sword. Along with the katana, the samurai carried a smaller sword - the shoto, 33-66 centimeters long. Only samurai had the right to wear shoto. Together, the large and small swords were called daisho, which literally translates as “big-small.”

The samurai also had a long bow in his arsenal - yumi, more than two meters long. The bow is made from laminated bamboo, wood, and leather is also used in the work - this manufacturing method has not changed for centuries. The samurai practiced archery almost to the point of fanaticism. Also in battle, Japanese warriors used a spear - yari, a Japanese polearm with many modifications. But for the samurai, the spear was, for the most part, a symbol of personal courage.

3. Education of a samurai. The overwhelming majority of samurai, in addition to being skilled warriors, had an excellent education. Bushido, the samurai code, said that a warrior should always improve and improve himself by any means, even if it does not involve war. Japanese warriors wrote poetry, painted pictures, held tea ceremonies, studied calligraphy, many mastered the art of arranging bouquets - ikebana, read literature and had excellent knowledge of mathematics.

2. The image of a samurai. The armor and weapons of the samurai created a rather impressive appearance, and now in many films Japanese warriors are shown exactly like this. In reality, everything was not like that. Their height in medieval Japan was approximately 160-165 centimeters, and their physique was thin. In addition, there are many references that it is likely that samurai descended from ethnic group small people Ainu They were much taller and stronger than the Japanese, their skin was white, and their appearance was largely the same as the Europeans.

1. Ritual suicide by ripping open the belly - seppuku or hara-kiri - is an immediate attribute of a samurai. Seppuku was committed at a time when a warrior was unable to follow the code of Bushido, or when he was captured by an enemy. Ritual suicide was not only done voluntarily, but also used as punishment, but in any case it was an honorable way to die.

The ritual of seppuku is a fairly lengthy ritual. It began with a washing ceremony. After bathing, the warrior was dressed in all white and brought his favorite food. Immediately after eating, a short sword was placed on the already empty dish. Next, the samurai wrote a dying poem - tanka (a five-line Japanese poetic form consisting of 31 syllables). After this, the samurai took a short sword, wrapped the blade in cloth so as not to cut his hand, and committed suicide by cutting his stomach.

The person nearby had to finish off the samurai by cutting off his head. In most cases it was the closest friend who was given the greatest honor and was given an honorable role. With the greatest skill The assistant was to cut off the head so that it hung on a small strip of skin and remained in the arms of the already dead samurai.

Japanese culture appears before Westerner in the form of a collection of ideas and colorful images. And the most striking of them is the image of a samurai warrior. It has a heroic aura and is considered a unique symbol of courage and perseverance in battle. But do we know everything about samurai? How does the truth about these warriors differ from legends and myths?

Samurai: definition of the word

In the understanding of Europeans, any Japanese warrior taking part in a battle is a samurai. In fact, this statement is completely incorrect. A samurai is a special class of feudal lords who have received a special education, undergone an initiation ritual and have a distinctive sign - a Japanese sword. The purpose of such a warrior’s life was to serve his master. He must be devoted to him with all his being and unquestioningly carry out any orders.

This goal can be seen in the very definition of “samurai”. The meaning of the word translated from Japanese language sounds like the verb "to serve". Therefore, it is not surprising that the life of a samurai is closely connected with the life of his master - the daimyo. Many Europeans believe that a samurai is a service man who can be called Japanese word"busi". But this is also a mistaken opinion; these two words should not be confused.

Samurai has a broader and more comprehensive meaning; it war time represented better protection for the master, and in times of peace he was an ordinary servant. Bushi, on the other hand, belong to the class of simple warriors who could be hired for a period of time. Payment for services was made in money, but most often feudal lords paid for the services of warriors in rice.

History of samurai: a brief historical background

The samurai as a class originated in the seventh century. During this period, Japan was experiencing feudal fragmentation, and every major feudal lord needed well-trained professional warriors. They became samurai.

Young warriors were often starved and forced to stay awake for several nights in a row. They did all the hard work around the house, walked barefoot at any time of the year and woke up with the first rays of the sun. To prevent death from frightening future samurai, they were often taken to watch executions, and at night they themselves had to come to the bodies of those executed and leave their mark on them. Often they were sent to places where, according to legend, ghosts live, and were left there without drink or food for several nights. As a result, the young men developed fearlessness and amazing composure; they could think soberly in any situation.

In addition to martial arts, samurai were taught writing and history, but these disciplines were not what a samurai should actually do. It was just an addition that could help in battle in one way or another.

By the age of sixteen, the young man was considered fully trained and could begin the rite of initiation and initiation into the samurai.

Rite of initiation into warriors

The samurai's teacher and his future daimyo, with whom vassal relations were established, had to be present at the initiation ceremony. The ritual was accompanied by receiving one's own set of swords - daisho, shaving one's head and receiving new clothes as an adult samurai. At the same time, the young man underwent several tests that were supposed to show his strength and skills. At the end of the ceremony, he was given a new name, replacing the one given at birth. It was believed that this day was the samurai’s birthday, and under his new name he would be known throughout his independent life.

Could a commoner become a samurai?

The legend of the samurai, who belongs to the upper class of Japanese society and has the totality of all positive qualities and crystal clear in thoughts. In fact, this is the most common myth about feudal warriors. Indeed, in reality, a samurai is not necessarily a person from high society; absolutely any peasant could become a warrior. There was no difference between the origins of the samurai; they were trained in the same way and subsequently received absolutely equal salaries from the master.

Therefore, samurai changed their masters quite often, feeling that they were losing the battle. It was quite normal for them to bring the head of the old one to the new master, thus deciding the outcome of the battle in their favor.

Women samurai: myth or reality?

IN historical sources And Japanese literature In the Middle Ages, almost nothing is mentioned about female warriors, but they quite often became samurai. There were absolutely no restrictions on this in the code of honor.

Girls were also adopted from their families at age eight and initiated at sixteen. As a weapon, a samurai woman received from her teacher a short dagger or a long and sharp spear. In battle, it was capable of cutting through enemy armor with ease. Studies by Japanese scientists indicate the popularity of military affairs among women. They did a DNA test on the remains of samurai who died in battles found at excavations; to their surprise, 30% of the warriors turned out to be women.

Bushido Code: Brief Provisions

The samurai code of conduct was formed from numerous laws and regulations that were compiled into a single source around the thirteenth century. During this period, samurai were just beginning to emerge as a separate class of Japanese society. By the sixteenth century, Bushido had finally taken shape and began to represent the true philosophy of the samurai.

The warrior's code covered almost all areas of life, each with its own special rule of behavior. For example, according to this philosophy, a samurai is one who knows exactly how to live and die. He is ready to boldly go alone against a hundred enemies, knowing that death awaits him ahead. Legends were made about such brave men; their relatives were proud of them and placed portraits of samurai who died in battle in their houses.

The samurai's code of honor ordered him to constantly improve and train not only his body and mind, but also his spirit. Only strong-willed could be a warrior worthy of battle. If ordered by the master, the samurai had to commit hara-kiri and die with a smile and gratitude on his lips.

In Japan, the story of the samurai is still successfully used; it brings fabulous money to the country's tourism industry. After all, Europeans romanticized everything connected with this period in the country’s history. Nowadays it’s difficult to find grains of truth among the numerous legends, but it’s quite difficult to argue with one thing: the samurai is just as bright a symbol modern Japan like kimono or sushi. It is through this prism that Europeans perceive the history of the Land of the Rising Sun.