SAMURAI
The samurai were an incredibly powerful group of elite warriors originating in Kyoto, the heart of japan in the 10th (901-1000 AD) century. The samurai warriors were given their name after serving for the daimio or samurai leader at the capitol. Samurais became the greatest in the 12th century (1100-1200 AD) when their power ruled japan.
The samurais were originally referred to in Japan as Bushi where they learned a set of noble rules called bushido literally meaning “Way of the warrior”. You could request a samurai to protect you for any means but if that samurai were to do something dishonorable such as failing to serve he would have to commit seppuku by impaling himself in the stomach with his own sword. It is commonly thought that samurais learn the fighting style of jujitsu however; they truly learn the art of aiki jujustu a fighting style based on killing the enemy using simple techniques. Jujitsu was non-existent in the 10th-12th century and was not founded until 1532 (15th century). The entire Military of samurais were officially abolished in 1868 when the last samurai died of natural causes.
As I mentioned in the introduction samurais originated in the heart of japan, Kyoto in the 10th century. Samurais became strong all over the cities in Kyoto so an exact city cannot be specified. (Photo of the capital Kyoto included) Kyoto became a military dictatorship during the spawn of samurais. Kyoto became a very powerful military class of feudal japan. The samurais of their choosing protected areas of feudal farm owned by the daimyo. The simple goal for samurais is to own as much land in japan as possible.
Many battles lead to the strength of the powerful samurais usually lead buy the great and powerful clan general “The shogun”. The shogun would lead battles between other countries and clans, the Samurai rose out of the continuing battles for land among three main clans: the Minamoto, the Fujiwara and the Taira. The Samurai eventually became a class unto themselves between the 11th and 12th centuries. At this point there were 2 basic classes for the samurai = samurai (knights-retainers) and bushi (warriors). A samurai typically carried 2 different sword types with them at all times. The katana (long sword and the wakizashi (Short sword) it is believed that samurais see their souls in their sword meaning great importance to them.
The main purpose in a true samurais life was to control as much feudal land as their shoguns commanded them to. During the late 13th (1201-3000 AD) century the samurais had a great battle with the Mongol clan after being invaded by them lead by Kublai Khan (The fifth great khan) in an attempt to take over the Japanese islands. Hundreds of large ships, and an even larger number of small boats set out into the Sea of Japan but the Mongols who made it to shore were defeated by the Japanese allowing them to keep the land.
Samurais were the most powerful military in japan, leading victories of many great battles throughout china. Although the samurais are officially gone many Japanese men still follow the rules of bushido (Way of the warrior). Samurais were significant because they lead japan to a great amount of power that would last for thousands of years.
Sources:
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/japan/a/Mongolinvasion.htm
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~malokofs/SCA/Persona/History/samurai.html
http://www.history.com/topics/samurai-and-bushido (Great video)
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/japan/a/Mongolinvasion.htm
Discovering our past: A History of the world. (Chapter 12 lesson 3)
The samurai were an incredibly powerful group of elite warriors originating in Kyoto, the heart of japan in the 10th (901-1000 AD) century. The samurai warriors were given their name after serving for the daimio or samurai leader at the capitol. Samurais became the greatest in the 12th century (1100-1200 AD) when their power ruled japan.
The samurais were originally referred to in Japan as Bushi where they learned a set of noble rules called bushido literally meaning “Way of the warrior”. You could request a samurai to protect you for any means but if that samurai were to do something dishonorable such as failing to serve he would have to commit seppuku by impaling himself in the stomach with his own sword. It is commonly thought that samurais learn the fighting style of jujitsu however; they truly learn the art of aiki jujustu a fighting style based on killing the enemy using simple techniques. Jujitsu was non-existent in the 10th-12th century and was not founded until 1532 (15th century). The entire Military of samurais were officially abolished in 1868 when the last samurai died of natural causes.
As I mentioned in the introduction samurais originated in the heart of japan, Kyoto in the 10th century. Samurais became strong all over the cities in Kyoto so an exact city cannot be specified. (Photo of the capital Kyoto included) Kyoto became a military dictatorship during the spawn of samurais. Kyoto became a very powerful military class of feudal japan. The samurais of their choosing protected areas of feudal farm owned by the daimyo. The simple goal for samurais is to own as much land in japan as possible.
Many battles lead to the strength of the powerful samurais usually lead buy the great and powerful clan general “The shogun”. The shogun would lead battles between other countries and clans, the Samurai rose out of the continuing battles for land among three main clans: the Minamoto, the Fujiwara and the Taira. The Samurai eventually became a class unto themselves between the 11th and 12th centuries. At this point there were 2 basic classes for the samurai = samurai (knights-retainers) and bushi (warriors). A samurai typically carried 2 different sword types with them at all times. The katana (long sword and the wakizashi (Short sword) it is believed that samurais see their souls in their sword meaning great importance to them.
The main purpose in a true samurais life was to control as much feudal land as their shoguns commanded them to. During the late 13th (1201-3000 AD) century the samurais had a great battle with the Mongol clan after being invaded by them lead by Kublai Khan (The fifth great khan) in an attempt to take over the Japanese islands. Hundreds of large ships, and an even larger number of small boats set out into the Sea of Japan but the Mongols who made it to shore were defeated by the Japanese allowing them to keep the land.
Samurais were the most powerful military in japan, leading victories of many great battles throughout china. Although the samurais are officially gone many Japanese men still follow the rules of bushido (Way of the warrior). Samurais were significant because they lead japan to a great amount of power that would last for thousands of years.
Sources:
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/japan/a/Mongolinvasion.htm
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~malokofs/SCA/Persona/History/samurai.html
http://www.history.com/topics/samurai-and-bushido (Great video)
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/japan/a/Mongolinvasion.htm
Discovering our past: A History of the world. (Chapter 12 lesson 3)
This image represents the areas of holding for samurais in japan. you can visually see where the samurai groups live and how the mongols attacked them in specific areas.
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