Samurai and Bushido - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com Samurai and Bushido A+E Networks Introduction The samurai, members of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan, began as provincial warriors before rising to power in the 12th century with the beginning of the country’s first military dictatorship, known as the shogunate. As servants of the daimyos, or great lords, the samurai backed up the authority of the shogun and gave him power over the mikado (emperor). The samurai would dominate Japanese government and society until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to the abolition of the feudal system. Despite being deprived of their traditional privileges, many of the samurai would enter the elite ranks of politics and industry in modern Japan. More importantly, the traditional samurai code of honor, discipline and morality known as bushido–or “the way of the warrior”–was revived and made the basic code of conduct for much of Japanese society.

Google Early Samurai During the Heian Period (794-1185), the samurai were the armed supporters of wealthy landowners–many of whom left the imperial court to seek their own fortunes after being shut out of power by the powerful Fujiwara clan. The word “samurai” roughly translates to “those who serve.” (Another, more general word for a warrior is “bushi,” from which bushido is derived; this word lacks the connotations of service to a master.) Did You Know? The wealth of a samurai in feudal Japan was measured in terms of koku; one koku, supposed to be the amount of rice it took to feed one man for a year, was equivalent to around 180 liters. Beginning in the mid-12th century, real political power in Japan shifted gradually away from the emperor and his nobles in Kyoto to the heads of the clans on their large estates in the country. The Gempei War (1180-1185) pitted two of these great clans–the dominant Taira and the Minamoto–against each other in a struggle for control of the Japanese state.

The war ended when one of the most famous samurai heroes in Japanese history, Minamoto Yoshitsune, led his clan to victory against the Taira near the village of Dan-no-ura. Rise of the Samurai & Kamakura Period The triumphant leader Minamoto Yoritomo–half-brother of Yoshitsune, whom he drove into exile–established the center of government at Kamakura. The establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, a hereditary military dictatorship, shifted all real political power in Japan to the samurai. As Yoritomo’s authority depended on their strength, he went to great lengths to establish and define the samurai’s privileged status; no one could call himself a samurai without Yoritomo’s permission. Zen Buddhism, introduced into Japan from China around this time, held a great appeal for many samurai. Its austere and simple rituals, as well as the belief that salvation would come from within, provided an ideal philosophical background for the samurai’s own code of behavior. Also during the Kamakura period, the sword came to have a great significance in samurai culture.

A man’s honor was said to reside in his sword, and the craftsmanship of swords–including carefully hammered blades, gold and silver inlay and sharkskin handgrips–became an art in itself. Japan in Chaos: the Ashikaga Shogunate The strain of defeating two Mongol invasions at the end of the 13th century weakened the Kamakura Shogunate, which fell to a rebellion led by Ashikaga Takauji. The Ashikaga Shogunate, centered in Kyoto, began around 1336. For the next two centuries, Japan was in a near-constant state of conflict between its feuding territorial clans. After the particularly divisive Onin War of 1467-77, the Ashikaga shoguns ceased to be effective, and feudal Japan lacked a strong central authority; local lords and their samurai stepped in to a greater extent to maintain law and order. Despite the political unrest, this period–known as the Muromachi after the district of that name in Kyoto–saw considerable economic expansion in Japan. It was also a golden age for Japanese art, as the samurai culture came under the growing influence of Zen Buddhism.

In addition to such now-famous Japanese art forms as the tea ceremony, rock gardens and flower arranging, theater and painting also flourished during the Muromachi period. Samurai under the Tokugawa Shogunate The Sengoku-Jidai, or Period of the Country at War finally ended in 1615 with the unification of Japan under Tokugawa Ieyasu . This period ushered in a 250-year-long stretch of peace and prosperity in Japan, and for the first time the samurai took on the responsibility of governing through civil means rather than through military force. Ieyasu issued the “ordinances for the Military Houses,” by which samurai were told to train equally in arms and “polite” learning according to the principles of Confucianism. This relatively conservative faith, with its emphasis on loyalty and duty, eclipsed Buddhism during the Tokugawa period as the dominant religion of the samurai. It was during this period that the principles of bushido emerged as a general code of conduct for Japanese people in general. Though bushido varied under the influences of Buddhist and Confucian thought, its warrior spirit remained constant, including an emphasis on military skills and fearlessness in the face of an enemy.

Bushido also emphasized frugality, kindness, honesty and care for one’s family members, particularly one’s elders. In a peaceful Japan, many samurai were forced to become bureaucrats or take up some type of trade, even as they preserved their conception of themselves as fighting men. In 1588, the right to carry swords was restricted only to samurai, which created an even greater separation between them and the farmer-peasant class. The samurai during this period became the “two-sword man,” wearing both a short and a long sword as a mark of his privilege. The material well-being of many samurai actually declined during the Tokugawa Shogunate, however. Samurai had traditionally made their living on a fixed stipend from landowners; as these stipends declined, many lower-level samurai were frustrated by their inability to improve their situation. Meiji Restoration & the End of Feudalism In the mid-19th century, the stability of the Tokugawa regime was undermined by a combination of factors, including peasant unrest due to famine and poverty. The incursion of Western powers into Japan–and especially the arrival in 1853 of Commodore Matthew C. Perry of the U.S.

Navy, on a mission to get Japan to open its doors to international trade–proved to be the final straw. In 1858, Japan signed a commercial treaty with the United States, followed by similar ones with Russia, Britain, France and Holland. The controversial decision to open the country to Western commerce and investment helped encourage resistance to the shogunate among conservative forces in Japan, including many samurai, who began calling for a restoration of the power of the emperor. The powerful clans of Choshu and Satsuma combined efforts to topple the Tokugawa Shogunate and announce an “imperial restoration” named for Emperor Meiji in early 1868. Feudalism was officially abolished in 1871; five years later, the wearing of swords was forbidden to anyone except members of the national armed forces, and all samurai stipends were converted into government bonds, often at significant financial loss.

The new Japanese national army quashed several samurai rebellions during the 1870s, while some disgruntled samurai joined secret, ultra-nationalist societies, among them the notorious Black Dragon Society, whose object was to incite trouble in China so that the Japanese army would have an excuse to invade and preserve order. Ironically–given the loss of their privileged status–the Meiji Restoration was actually engineered by members of the samurai class itself. Three of the most influential leaders of the new Japan–Inoue Kaoru, Ito Hirobumi and Yamagata Aritomo–had studied with the famous samurai Yoshida Shouin, who was executed after a failed attempt to kill a Tokugawa official in 1859. It was former samurai who put Japan on the road to what it would become, and many would become leaders in all areas of modern Japanese society. Bushido in Modern Japan In the wake of the Meiji Restoration, Shinto was made the state religion of Japan (unlike Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity, it was wholly Japanese) and bushido was adopted as its ruling moral code.

By 1912, Japan had succeeded in building up its military strength–it signed an alliance with Britain in 1902 and defeated the Russians in Manchuria two years later–as well as its economy. By the end of World War I , the country was recognized as one of the “Big Five” powers alongside Britain, the U.S., France and Italy at the Versailles peace conference. The liberal, cosmopolitan 1920s gave way to a revival of Japan’s military traditions in the 1930s, leading directly to imperial aggression and Japan’s entrance into World War II . During that conflict, Japanese soldiers brought antique samurai swords into battle and made suicidal “banzai” attacks according to the bushido principle of death before dishonor or defeat. At war’s end, Japan again drew on its strong sense of honor, discipline and devotion to a common cause–not the daimyos or shoguns of the past, but the emperor and the country–in order to rebuild itself and reemerge as one of the world’s greatest economic and industrial powers in the latter 20th century.

Tags The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai | The Art of Manliness The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Tim Clark . “So, boy. You wish to serve me?” Silhouetted against the blue-black sky, the horse-mounted samurai with the horned helmet towered over me like a demon as I knelt in the dirt before him. I could not see his face but there was no mistaking the authority in his growling tone, nor the hint of mockery in his question. I tried to speak and managed only a faint croak. My mouth had gone dry, as parched as a man dying of thirst. But I had to respond. My fate-and though I didn’t know it then, the fate of all of Japan-rested on my answer. Raising my head just enough to brave a glance at the demonic figure, I saw him staring at me, like a hawk poised to seize a mouse in its talons. When I managed to speak, my voice was clear and steady, and I drew courage with each syllable. “That’s correct, Lord Nobunaga,” I said.

“I do.” It was a time of carnage and darkness: the Age of Wars, when the land was torn by bloodshed and the only law was the law of the sword. A peasant wandered the countryside alone, seeking his fortune, without a coin in his pocket. He longed to become the epitome of refined manhood — a samurai — but nothing in the demeanor of this five-foot-tall, one-hundred-ten-pound boy could possibly have foretold the astounding destiny awaiting him. His name was Hideyoshi, and on that fateful spring evening in the year 1553, the brash young warlord Nobunaga hired him as a sandal-bearer. Driven by a relentless desire to transcend his peasant roots, Hideyoshi went on to become Nobunaga’s loyal protégé and right-hand man. Ultimately he became the supreme ruler of all Japan — the first peasant ever to rise to the absolute height of power — and unified a nation torn apart by more than a hundred years of civil strife. Hideyoshi’s true story has inspired countless novels, plays, movies — even video games — for more than four centuries.

Born the weakling son of a poor farmer at a time when martial prowess or entry to the priesthood were the only ways for an ambitious commoner to escape a life of backbreaking farm toil, he rose from poverty to rule a mighty nation and command hundreds of thousands of samurai warriors. For generations of men, Hideyoshi became the ultimate underdog hero: a symbol of the possibility of reinventing oneself as a man and rising, Horatio Alger fashion, from rags to riches. Hideyoshi was driven by a burning desire to succeed as a samurai. But he differed from his contemporaries in seeking to overcome his adversaries peaceably, through negotiation and alliance building rather than through brute force. Lacking physical strength and fighting skills, he naturally chose to rely on wits rather than weapons, on strategy over swords. An unlikely samurai, indeed. Or was he? A Brief History of the Samurai The word samurai originally meant “one who serves,” and referred to men of noble birth assigned to guard members of the Imperial Court. This service ethic spawned the roots of samurai nobility, both social and spiritual.

Over time, the nobility had trouble maintaining centralized control of the nation, and began “outsourcing” military, administrative, and tax collecting duties to former rivals who acted like regional governors. As the Imperial Court grew weaker, local governors grew more powerful. Eventually some evolved into daimyo, or feudal lords who ruled specific territories independently of the central government. In 1185 Minamoto no Yoritomo, a warlord of the eastern provinces who traced his lineage back to the imperial family, established the nation’s first military government and Japan entered its feudal period (1185-1867). The country was essentially under military rule for nearly 700 years. But the initial stability Minamoto achieved failed to bring lasting peace. Other regimes came and went, and in 1467 the national military government collapsed, plunging Japan into turmoil. Thus began the infamous Age of Wars, a bloody century of strife when local warlords fought to protect their domains and schemed to conquer rivals.

By the time Japan plunged into the turbulent Age of Wars, the term samurai had come to signify armed government officials, peacekeeping officers, and professional soldiers: in short, almost anyone who carried a sword and was ready and able to exercise deadly force. The worst of these medieval Japanese warriors were little better than street thugs; the best were fiercely loyal to their masters and true to the unwritten code of chivalrous behavior known today as Bushido (usually translated as “Precepts of Knighthood” or “Way of the Warrior”). Virtuous or villainous, the samurai emerged as the colorful central figures of Japanese history: a romantic archetype akin to Europe’s medieval knights or the American cowboy of the Wild West. But the samurai changed dramatically after Hideyoshi pacified Japan. With civil society at peace, their role as professional fighters disappeared, and they became less preoccupied with martial training and more concerned with spiritual development, teaching, and the arts. By 1867, when the public wearing of swords was outlawed and the warrior class was abolished, they had evolved into what Hideyoshi had envisioned nearly three centuries earlier: swordless samurai.

The Bushido Code Just a few decades after Japan’s warrior class was abolished, U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt raved about a newly released book entitled Bushido : The Soul of Japan . He bought five dozen copies for family and friends. In the slim volume, which went on to become an international bestseller, author Nitobe Inazo interprets the samurai code of behavior: how chivalrous men should act in their personal and professional lives. Nitobe Inazo Though some scholars have criticized Nitobe’s work as romanticized yearning for a non-existent age of chivalry, there’s no question that his work builds on extraordinary thousand-year-old precepts of manhood that originated in chivalrous behavior on the part of some, though certainly not all, samurai. What today’s readers may find most enlightening about Bushido is the emphasis on compassion, benevolence, and the other non-martial qualities of true manliness. Here are Bushido’s Eight Virtues as explicated by Nitobe: I. Rectitude or Justice Bushido refers not only to martial rectitude, but to personal rectitude: Rectitude or Justice, is the strongest virtue of Bushido.

A well-known samurai defines it this way: ‘Rectitude is one’s power to decide upon a course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering; to die when to die is right, to strike when to strike is right.’ Another speaks of it in the following terms: ‘Rectitude is the bone that gives firmness and stature. Without bones the head cannot rest on top of the spine, nor hands move nor feet stand. So without Rectitude neither talent nor learning can make the human frame into a samurai.’ II. Courage Bushido distinguishes between bravery and courage: Courage is worthy of being counted among virtues only if it’s exercised in the cause of Righteousness and Rectitude. In his Analects, Confucius says: ‘Perceiving what is right and doing it not reveals a lack of Courage.’ In short, ‘Courage is doing what is right.’ III. Benevolence or Mercy A man invested with the power to command and the power to kill was expected to demonstrate equally extraordinary powers of benevolence and mercy: Love, magnanimity, affection for others, sympathy and pity, are traits of Benevolence, the highest attribute of the human soul.

Both Confucius and Mencius often said the highest requirement of a ruler of men is Benevolence. IV. Politeness Discerning the difference between obsequiousness and politeness can be difficult for casual visitors to Japan, but for a true man, courtesy is rooted in benevolence: Courtesy and good manners have been noticed by every foreign tourist as distinctive Japanese traits. But Politeness should be the expression of a benevolent regard for the feelings of others; it’s a poor virtue if it’s motivated only by a fear of offending good taste. In its highest form Politeness approaches love. V. Honesty and Sincerity True samurai, according to author Nitobe, disdained money, believing that “men must grudge money, for riches hinder wisdom.” Thus children of high-ranking samurai were raised to believe that talking about money showed poor taste, and that ignorance of the value of different coins showed good breeding: Bushido encouraged thrift, not for economical reasons so much as for the exercise of abstinence. Luxury was thought the greatest menace to manhood, and severe simplicity was required of the warrior class … the counting machine and abacus were abhorred. VI.

Honor Though Bushido deals with the profession of soldiering, it is equally concerned with non-martial behavior: The sense of Honor, a vivid consciousness of personal dignity and worth, characterized the samurai. He was born and bred to value the duties and privileges of his profession. Fear of disgrace hung like a sword over the head of every samurai … To take offense at slight provocation was ridiculed as ‘short-tempered.’ As the popular adage put it: ‘True patience means bearing the unbearable.’ VII. Loyalty Economic reality has dealt a blow to organizational loyalty around the world. Nonetheless, true men remain loyal to those to whom they are indebted: Loyalty to a superior was the most distinctive virtue of the feudal era. Personal fidelity exists among all sorts of men: a gang of pickpockets swears allegiance to its leader. But only in the code of chivalrous Honor does Loyalty assume paramount importance. VIII. Character and Self-Control Bushido teaches that men should behave according to an absolute moral standard, one that transcends logic. What’s right is right, and what’s wrong is wrong.

The difference between good and bad and between right and wrong are givens, not arguments subject to discussion or justification, and a man should know the difference. Finally, it is a man’s obligation to teach his children moral standards through the model of his own behavior: The first objective of samurai education was to build up Character. The subtler faculties of prudence, intelligence, and dialectics were less important. Intellectual superiority was esteemed, but a samurai was essentially a man of action. No historian would argue that Hideyoshi personified the Eight Virtues of Bushido throughout his life. Like many great men, deep faults paralleled his towering gifts. Yet by choosing compassion over confrontation, and benevolence over belligerence, he demonstrated ageless qualities of manliness. Today his lessons could not be more timely. ________________________________ Tim Clark blogs at Soul Shelter with novelist Mark Cunningham and is the author of The Swordless Samurai . Last updated: September 22, 2015 web page template Abstract Out of feudal Japan arose an unwritten code of Samurai warriors. The Bushido code guided the samurai in life and death, and stressed loyalty to the leader and honor in every aspect of life.

The Bushido code arose from Zen-Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism, and taught the importance of service to master and country. After the fall of the Samurai, the bushido code remained an integral part of Japanese tradition, and spurred the growth of the large Japanese companies that became a dominating power in the world economy for years. Historical Background In 8th century Japan, Chinese influence from the Tang dynasty ushered in a period of Buddhist infused Japanese nationalism. The Sun Line Emperor was powerless, controlled by the powerful Soga family regency. The hallmark of this Nara period was the jori system, the collection and distribution of all lands-taxable to the government. The jori system was expensive to administer, but attempted to take control from the powerful landowners and return it to the Emperor. Buddhism was the central unifying bond, however it became out of control and threatened to destroy the reformed government. In the late 8th century, the Japanese capital was moved to Kyoto in hopes to rid Buddhist control. The Heian period begins, and once again, Japanï¿½s Emperor becomes weak to the control of the Fujiwara families, one of the most powerful Regencies in Japanese history.

All wealthy landowners moved to Kyoto, completely isolated from the agricultural life force of Japan. The landownerï¿½s estates, called shoen, were established and the Uji were appointed to run day-to-day activities. Percentages, or shikis, were paid to all that worked, and the Uji raised armies for protection. By the end of the Heian period, almost half of all the land were shoen estates. Money was not getting to the government, rather making the Uji increasingly powerful. Samurai, Japanese warriors, became the protectors of the shoen, and power began to grow for some families. In the late 12th century, fights between powerful shoen estates end the Heian period, and the power of the Emperor diminishes. By 1156, a new system was established, the shogun system. The Shogun system was a feudal system in which the shogun, or powerful military dictators, controlled the peasants with the use of force. Japan becomes a military country, run by powerful Shogunate. This military system was brought in under the Kamakura period, and was also known as the bakufu.

Powerful families and the new warrior class under the Shogunate control this military government. This military system lasted until 1868, when the Meiji reforms brought back the power of the Emperor and abolished all the Shogun leaders and samurai warriors. The samurai developed a code of principles that would live on past the Shogunate system. ï¿½Japanese history until the 16th century was marked by the gradual expansion of the samuraiï¿½s power and the corresponding decline of the aristocracyï¿½s,ï¿½ (Ikegami 48). Bushido in Japan was important for many reasons. In a time of civil wars and regional battles, the Bushido principle of nationalism led to the unification of Japan. The powerful shugo, or provincial governor, Oda Nobunaga gained control of Kyoto in the 16th century and eventually gained control of one third of Japan. Toyotomi Hideyoshi comes to power as Oda Nobunaga's general, and continues to unify Japan. Finally, in 1600, Tokagawa Ieyusa wins a great battle, and Japan becomes entirely unified.

Japan enters into a period of isolation from the outside world, and the samurai class of the Tokagawa period reach their high point of culture. The samurai train less in the arts of military, but more in education and in service. This leads to great tension between samurai; those who accept the change from military to service, and those who cannot. In 1702, the 47 Ronin make one last display of their resentment of the new class of samurai. Until the return of the Emperor during the Meiji restoration, the samurai had become not more warlike but the cultural elite. Research Report The Samurai code, Bushido, guided the Japanese warriors in life, battle, and death. It was the unwritten code of principles and morals, and taught obligation and honor. Although the samurai were all but gone at the turn of the 20th century, Bushido remains as a system of pride and valor in Japanese society. The samurai were fighting men skilled in the martial arts, especially in sword fighting. Their loyalty to their Daimyo was above all else.

ï¿½The samuraiï¿½s loyalty to the emperor and his overlord, or daimyo, was unsurpassed,ï¿½ ( Samurai began as mercenaries hired by local landowners to defend land and conquer new land. They lived meager lives with no interest in riches and material possessions, but rather honor and pride. Honor in battle was a top priority, not only for the samurai but also their family and lord. Samurai had no fear of death; in fact death in battle was glorious. The feudal system of the Kamakura period was one of man-to-man fighting. Samurai would announce their name and rank to their opponent, who was honored and respected as an equal. ( Samurai bore two symbols to represent their role in life. The cherry blossom is no less a symbol of Japan than it is of the samurai. It represented chivalry, a code of honor sacred to the samurai. The cherry blossom also represented the course of their life. Cherry blossoms bloom to a beautiful flower, however they quickly wilt and die. This temporary beauty symbolized the life and death of the samurai, quick but full of principle.

(Nitobe 1) The other symbol is the sword, the soul of the samurai. ï¿½Bushido made the sword its emblem of power and prowess,ï¿½ (Nitobe 131). A samurai was trained with the sword as early as boyhood, and at age five was given the sword to have always at his side. At 15, the Samurai was at the age of independence, and was able to seek out of a life of his own. The sword was in his mind and heart, a symbol of loyalty and honor. Swordsmiths were not mere blacksmiths, rather artists who committed their soul and spirit into forging the blade. As deadly and beautiful as the weapon were, bushido taught the samurai self-control and the proper use of their sword. Shame was giving to those who drew their blade on undeserved occasions. The Samurai were bound to their feudal obligation to their Daimyo, the regional military lords. The unwritten code of the Samurai is called the Bushido code, translated as the ï¿½Way of the Warrior.ï¿½ Bushido is a system of standards that became the life force of the samurai during the feudal periods in Japan.

Bushido was not written on paper, but in the heart and soul of the samurai. Honor and integrity was so important to the samurai, that if any action could bring shame upon them and their family, they would perform a ritual suicide, known as seppuku, to ï¿½cleanseï¿½ their shame away. Death was honorably, many times more honorable than life. ï¿½Whenever a cause presented itself which was considered dearer than life, with utmost serenity and celerity was life laid down,ï¿½ (Nitobe 81). The code of the Bushido had five main requirements. First, fidelity towards their master and fatherland, respect towards parents and siblings, and steadiness in all aspects of life. Second, samurai were always polite and respected all in the form of etiquette. Third, samurai were to always show valor, courage, and bravery while maintaining self-control. The forth requirement is the pursuit of truth, sincerity, and justice. Fifth, simplicity of life and purity were to keep the samurai dedicated to their obligation, while ignoring material ideas. ( Bushido developed over the centuries through the influences of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism.

Buddhism taught stoicism, a genuine respect for life and death. The samurai did not fear death because it completed the cycle of life, and did not let emotion complicate its understanding. ï¿½Zen Buddhism lent to the samurai a very Stoic disposition. This Stoicism was realized out of a genuine respect for life and also for death,ï¿½ ( Zen meditation also taught samurai to focus and to reach a higher level of thought. Zen also taught the love and respect of nature, and the order of all things. Confucianism bonded community and family relationships. These relationships had different levels of obligation, but to all the samurai were faithful. The most important relationship was one of servant to master, as samurai were most loyal to their Daimyo. Shintoism stresses the purification of one's soul and the removal of everything that plagues the psyche. Nationalism and patriotism are important parts of Shintoism in they represent loyalty to family and homeland. These different influences shaped the warrior code of Bushido. ( ( ï¿½The training of the samurai class was considered one of the most important tasks of the culture,ï¿½ (Cleary 21).

Warriors were trained in the martial arts, but also in cultural arts. The samurai in time became the cultural and military elite. In times of peace, samurai were educated in different philosophies. Times of war fueled the demand for weapons and armor, called keiko. This demand created a profitable industry for merchants. Samurai were influenced by the refined culture in Kyoto. The Zen-influenced culture centered on order and nature. The principles of the Bushido code could still be seen in the 20th century. Japanese suicide pilots in World War II shocked and demoralized westerners with their blatant disregard for their own life. The term for these pilots was ï¿½kamikaze,ï¿½ a Japanese term meaning ï¿½the divine winds.ï¿½ These winds prevented Mongolian invasion in the 11th century, and led the Japanese to believe that the Gods protected them. Just as in the past, ï¿½The Japanese believed these pilots were sent to save Japan.ï¿½ Without a fear of death, these pilots believed in something greater than their life. Their loyalty to Japan gave them a far greater victory just as the samurai who believed in honor through death.

( The onset of war created a large demand for war goods and technology. Many families, some direct descendants of the samurai, began to organize into business units that supplied Japan with the goods they needed. These companies, called zaibatsu, were run in the same fashion as Japanï¿½s feudal estates. Bushido ideals were directly applied to the industrialization of Japan, especially in the creation of the zaibatsu. Zaibatsu were a large collection of diversified companies, owned by a single family and governed by a council of family members. The executives in these corporations applied Japanese traditions to business life. The aftermath of World War II led to the disbanding of the Japanese Imperial military and the rise of a new era of Bushido influence. Japan used modernization and industry to become a world power in commerce and industry. The zaibatsu had directly profited from the war, and their assets were frozen by the Allied Powers and forbidden to resume their business functions. After the termination of the Zaibatsu, U.S. looked to Japan to become an economic ally and to provide an industrial base to onset the hostilities created with China and Soviet Russia.

The keiretsu emerged as the new zaibatsu, and shared many of the same principles. However, the keiretsu were publicly and privately owned corporations, rather than the family owned zaibatsu. They dominated Japanï¿½s recovery influenced South Korea to form similar organizations, called chaebols. The keiretsu had strong ties with politics and government that exist to this day. ( Historical Significance The understanding of the Bushido code is an important asset when studying Japanese history. Bushido shaped the lives of the samurai, who in turn shaped the rest of society. Culture and the bushido code met on many levels, and often fused to make a powerful cultural statement. The most important aspect of the Bushido code is the Confucian relationship of the peasant to the master. This devout loyalty maintained the Shogun system for years, and after it was finally disbanded bushido still continued. Throughout the imperialization of Asia, Japan maintained an ideal of being the powerful master obligated to care for the weak peasants. Soldiers in the war mimicked many Samurai traditions. During and after the war, Japan made the move towardsindustrialization, the large companies that became world conglomerates practiced many bushido principles.

Although the Bushido code was the standard of the Japanese Samurai, its influence will remain. ï¿½It is still a living object of power and beauty among us; and if it assumes no tangible shape or form, it not the less scents the moral atmosphere, and makes us ware that we are still under its potent spell, ï¿½ (Nitobe 1). References Bushido Code of the Samurai Warrior self sacrifice honor to the death Under this code, if a samurai warrior failed to uphold his honor he could regain it by performing seppuku (ritual suicide). The samurai warrior code is an internally-consistent ethical code, grounded in the spiritual approach of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. In its purest form, it demands of its practitioners that they look effectively backward at the present from the moment of their own death, as if they were already, in effect, dead. The Samurai warrior training consisted mostly of these martial arts weapons: The Katana - A curved single edged sword The Yumi - A long bow and bamboo arrows The Yari - A long thin spear The Bushido of the Samurai was also a spiritual basis for those who committed kamikaze attacks during World War II.

For this reason many of the martial arts that are rooted in Japanese Bushido were banned by the occupying Americans during the post-war occupation. Bushido is still practiced today (in modified forms) and in many of today's modern martial arts. The most common forms of bushido martial arts, still practiced in Japan today, are: Judo Samurai History in Japan By Kallie Szczepanski Origins of the Samurai: The samurai, a class of highly skilled warriors, gradually developed in Japan after the Taika reforms of 646 CE. The reforms included land redistribution and heavy new taxes, meant to support an elaborate Chinese-style empire. As a result, many small farmers had to sell their land and work as tenant farmers. Meanwhile, a few large landholders amassed power and wealth, creating a feudal system similar to medieval Europe's . As in Europe, the new feudal lords needed warriors to defend their riches. Thus, the samurai warrior (or "bushi") was born. Early Feudal Era Samurai: Some samurai were relatives of the landowners, while others were simply hired swords. The samurai code emphasized loyalty to one's master, even over family loyalty.

History shows that the most loyal samurai were usually family members or financial dependents of their lords. In the 900s, the weak emperors of the Heian Era (794-1185) lost control of rural Japan. continue reading below our video 10 Facts About the Titanic That You Don't Know The country was riven by revolt; the emperor soon wielded power only within the capital. Across the country, the warrior class moved in to fill the power vacuum. By 1100, the samurai effectively held both military and political power over much of Japan. Rise of Samurai Rule: The weak imperial line received a fatal blow to its power in 1156, when Emperor Toba died without a clear successor. His sons, Sutoku and Go-Shirakawa, fought for control in a civil war called the Hogen Rebellion (1156). In the end, both would-be emperors lost; the imperial office lost all its remaining power. During this civil war, the Minamoto and Taira samurai clans rose to prominence. They fought one another in the Heiji Rebellion (1160).

After their victory, the Taira established the first samurai-led government. The defeated Minamoto were banished from the capital at Kyoto. Kamakura Period: The two clans fought once more in the Genpei War (1180-1185), which ended in victory for the Minamoto. Minamoto no Yoritomo established the Kamakura Shogunate , with the emperor as a mere figurehead. The Minamoto clan ruled much of Japan until 1333. While the Kamakura were powerful, they never conquered the far northern and western areas of the country. The shoguns also faced periodic resistance from other samurai clans. In 1268, an external threat appeared. Kublai Khan , the Mongol ruler of Yuan China , demanded tribute from Japan. Kyoto refused. The Mongols invaded in 1274 with 600 ships, but a typhoon destroyed their armada. A second invasion fleet in 1281 met the same fate. Early Muromachi (Ashikaga) Period: Despite such incredible help from nature, the Mongol attacks cost the Kamakura dearly.

Unable to offer land or riches to the samurai leaders who rallied to Japan's defense, the weakened shogun faced a challenge from Emperor Go-Daigo in 1318. The emperor was exiled in 1331, but returned and overthrew the Shogunate in 1333. This Kemmu Restoration of imperial power lasted only three years. In 1336, the Ashikaga Shogunate under Ashikaga Takauji reasserted samurai rule, but it was weaker than the Kamakura had been. Regional constables called " daimyo " developed considerable power, meddling in the shogunate's succession. Later Muromachi Period: By 1460, the daimyo were ignoring orders from the shogun, and backing different successors to the imperial throne. When the shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, resigned in 1464, a dispute between backers of his younger brother and his son ignited even more intense bickering among the daimyo. In 1467, this squabbling erupted into the decade-long Onin War. Thousands died, and Kyoto was burned to the ground.

The Onin War led directly to Japan's "Warring States Period," or Sengoku . Between 1467 and 1573, various daimyo led their clans in a fight for national dominance. Nearly all of the provinces were engulfed in the fighting. Restoration of Order: The Warring States Period began to draw to a close in 1568, when the warlord Oda Nobunaga defeated three other powerful daimyo, marched into Kyoto, and had his favorite, Yoshiaki, installed as shogun. Nobunaga spent the next 14 years subduing other rival daimyo, and quelling rebellions by fractious Buddhist monks. His grand Azuchi Castle, constructed between 1576 and 1579, became of symbol of Japanese reunification. In 1582, Nobunaga was assassinated by one of his generals, Akechi Mitsuhide. Hideyoshi , another general, finished the unification and ruled as kampaku (regent). Hideyoshi invaded Korea in 1592 and 1597.

Tokugawa Shogunate (Edo Period): Hideyoshi had exiled the large Tokugawa clan from the area around Kyoto to the Kanto region in eastern Japan. The Taiko died in 1598, and by 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu had conquered the neighboring daimyo from his castle stronghold at Edo (the future Tokyo). Ieyasu's son, Hidetada, became shogun of the unified country in 1605, ushering in about 250 years of relative peace and stability for Japan. The strong Tokugawa shoguns domesticated the samurai, forcing them to either serve their lords in the cities, or give up their swords and farm. This transformed the warriors into a hereditary class of cultured bureaucrats. Meiji Restoration and the End of the Samurai: In 1868, the Meiji Restoration signaled the beginning of the end for the samurai. The Meiji system of constitutional monarchy included such democratic reforms as term limits for public office and popular balloting.

With public support, the Meiji Emperor did away with the samurai, reduced the power of the daimyo, and changed the capital's name from Edo to Tokyo. The new government created a conscripted army in 1873; some of the officers were drawn from the ranks of former samurai, but more of them found work as police officers. In 1877, angry ex-samurai revolted against the Meiji in the Satsuma Rebellion ; they lost the Battle of Shiroyama, and the era of the samurai was over. The Culture and Myth of the Samurai: Samurai Culture: The culture of the samurai was grounded in the concept of bushido - "the way of the warrior." The central tenets of bushido are honor and freedom from the fear of death. A samurai was legally entitled to cut down any commoner who failed to honor him (or her) properly. A warrior imbued with bushido spirit would fight fearlessly for his master, and die honorably rather than surrender in defeat.

Out of this disregard for death, the Japanese tradition of seppuku evolved: defeated warriors (and disgraced government officials) would commit suicide with honor by ritually disemboweling themselves with a short sword. Samurai Weapons: Early samurai were archers, fighting on foot or horseback with extremely long bows (yumi). They used swords mainly for finishing off wounded enemies. After the Mongol invasions of 1272 and 1281, the samurai began to make more use of swords, as well as poles topped by curved blades called naginata, and spears. Samurai warriors wore two swords, together called daisho - "long and short." The katana, a curved blade over 24 inches long, was suitable for slashing, while the wakizashi, at 12-24 inches, was used for stabbing. In the late 16th century, non-samurai were forbidden to wear the daisho. Samurai wore full body-armor in battle, often including a horned helmet. The Samurai Myth: Modern Japanese honor the memory of the samurai, and bushido still infuses the culture.

Today, however, the samurai code is invoked in corporate boardrooms rather than on the battlefield. Even now, everyone knows the story of the 47 Ronin , Japan's "national legend." In 1701, the daimyo Asano Naganori drew a dagger in the shogun's palace and tried to kill Kira, a government official. Asano was arrested, and forced to commit seppuku. Two years later, forty-seven of his samurai hunted down Kira and killed him, without knowing Asano's reasons for attacking the official. It was enough that he wanted Kira dead. Since the ronin had followed bushido, the shogun allowed them to commit seppuku instead of being executed. People still offer incense at the graves of the ronin, and the story has been made into a number of plays and films. Sources: Ansart, Olivier (2007) "Loyalty in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Samurai Discourse," Japanese Studies, 27:2, 139-154.

Collcutt, Martin (1996) "The 'Emergence of the Samurai' and The Military History of Early Japan," Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 56:1, 151-164. Hooker, Richard (1996), ~dee/TOKJAPAN/WARRING.HTM Seven Virtues of Bushido - The Code of the Samurai Seven Virtues of Bushido We'll build you a quality custom Bushido wall scroll for you at a discount price! Start your special Bushido project by clicking on the buttons next to your favorite Bushido-related titles below... Don't want to wait? Check: In-Stock Ready-to-Ship Bushido Artwork . Quick links to words on this page...

Bushido / The Way of the Samurai wǔ shì dào 武士道 is the title for, "The Code of the Samurai." Sometimes called "The Seven Virtues of the Samurai," "The Bushido Code," or "The Samurai Code of Chivalry." This would be read in Chinese characters, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja as "The Way of the Warrior," "The Warrior's Way," or "The Warrior's Code." It's a set of virtues that the Samurai of Japan and ancient warriors of China and Korea had to live and die by. However, while known throughout Asia, this title is mostly used in Japan, and thought of as being of Japanese origin. The seven commonly-accepted tenets or virtues of Bushido are: Benevolence 仁, Courage 勇, Honesty 誠, Honour 名誉, Loyalty 忠実, Respect 礼(禮), and Rectitude 義. These tenets were part of an oral history for generations, thus, you will see variations in the list Bushido tenets depending on who you talk to.

Also means: honor loyalty morality righteousness yì 義 is about doing the right thing or making the right decision, not because it's easy but because it's ethically and morally correct. No matter the outcome or result, one does not lose face if tempering proper justice. This character can also be defined as righteousness, justice, morality, honor, or "right conduct." In more a more expanded definition, it can mean loyalty to friends, loyalty to the public good, or patriotism. This idea of loyalty and friendship comes from the fact that you will treat those you are loyal to with morality and justice. This is also one of the five tenets of Confucius doctrine. There's also an alternate version of this character sometimes seen in Bushido or Korean Taekwondo tenets. It's just the addition of a radical on the left side of the character. If you want this version, click on the image to the right instead of the button above. 勇 can be translated as bravery, courage, valor, or fearless in Chinese, Japanese and Korean. This is the simplest form to express courage or bravery, as there is also a two character form which starts with this same character.

This character can also be translated as brave, daring, fearless, plucky or heroic. 인 Beyond "benevolence" this character can be also be defined as "charity" or "mercy" depending on context. The deeper meaning suggests that one should pay alms to the poor, care for those in trouble, and take care of his fellow man (or woman). This is one of the five tenets of Confucius. In fact, it is a subject in which Confucius spent a great deal of time explaining to his disciples. I have also seen this benevolent-related word translated as perfect virtue, selflessness, love for humanity, humaneness, goodness, good will, or simply "love" in the non-romantic form. This word is so important to me that I named my second daughter with this character. Her name is "Renni" which means "Benevolent Girl." -Gary. Can also be a sign of gratitude lǐ We show respect by speaking and acting with courtesy. We treat others with dignity and honor the rules of our family, school and nation. Respect yourself, and others will respect you. This is also one of the five tenets of Confucius.

This character can also be translated as propriety, good manners, politeness, rite, worship or an expression of gratitude. Please note that Japanese use a simplified version of the character for respect - it also happens to be the same simplification used in mainland China. Click on the character to the right if you want the Traditional Chinese version. 성 誠 means truth, faith, fidelity, sincerity, trust and/or confidence. As a single-character wall scroll, this suggests that you believe "honesty is the best policy," as your personal philosophy. 명예 This version of honor is about having or earning the respect of others and about your reputation. It is the status of being worthy of honor (not to be confused with doing honorable things or specific actions - see our other "honor" listing for that). Both modern Japanese and modern mainland Chinese use the same simplified version of the second character of honor. You can make a special request for the traditional second character as shown to the right (just click on that character to the right of you want to order that version). Before WWII, both Japan and China used the traditional form but modern Japanese and Chinese use this simplified form.

Koreans still use the traditional form when they are not writing in their modern Hangul glyphs. Loyalty / Faithful / Devoted 충실 忠實 is a Japanese way to write "Loyalty" - it also contains the ideas of being faithful, devoted, true, and obedient. The second character is a modified form only used in the Japanese lexicon, however, Chinese speakers can easily guess the meaning. Filial Piety This character represents filial piety. Some will define this in more common English as "respect for your parents and ancestors." This is a subject deeply emphasized by the ancient philosophy and teachings of Confucius. Some have included this in the list for the Bushido, although generally not considered part of the 7 core virtues of the warrior. Note: This character is not the best of meanings when seen along as a single character. Some will read the single character form to mean "missing my dead ancestors." However, when written at part of Confucian tenets, or in the two-character word that means filial piety, the meaning is better or read differently (context is important for this character). We suggest one of our other two-character filial piety entries instead of this one.

信 is another character that expresses the idea of honesty. It can also mean truth, faith, believe in, fidelity, sincerity, trust and/or confidence. Some have included this in the list for the Bushido, although "makoto" is probably more common/popular. Note: In some context, this character can mean letter; news or envoy. However, alone, it will generally be read with the honesty-meaning. 지 智 is the simplest way to write wisdom in Chinese, Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji. Being a single character, the wisdom meaning is open to interpretation, and can also mean intellect, knowledge or reason, resourcefulness, or wit. 智 is also one of the five tenets of Confucius. 智 is sometimes included in the Bushido code but usually not considered part of the seven key concepts of the code. Search for Bushido in my Japanese & Chinese Dictionary During the 9th and 12th centuries in Japan the warrior class were known as Samurai, also called Bushi ("Bushi" means "warrior", "Do" is "Way", hence Bushido = Way of the Warrior).

They emerged from the provinces of Japan to become the ruling class until their decline and later total abolition in 1876 during the Meiji Era. These warriors were men who lived by Bushido; it was their way of life. The Samurai's loyalty to the emperor and his overlord or daimyo were unsurpassed. They were trustworthy and honest. They lived frugal lives with no interest in riches and material things, but rather in honor and pride. They were men of true valor. Samurai had no fear of death. They would enter any battle no matter the odds. To die in battle would only bring honor to one's family and one's lord. The actual code was passed on verbally to each generation of Samurai, but over time, seven chief virtues emerged, and became the written form of Bushido. Please note that variations exist, as some people use different Kanji or have 8 or 9 tenets. Of course, credit is generally given that a Chinese man (known in the west as "Confucius") is the father of these values in China. Therefore, you'll find these concepts belong not only to the Japanese samurai, but have spread throughout Asia.

Variations of these soldierly and moral values can be seen in China, Korea, Vietnam, and elsewhere. This in-stock artwork might be what you are looking for, and ships right away... zhì / zhi4 / zhi chih In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size" single-character wall scroll. We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size. Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days. Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up. There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form of art alive. Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.

The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat. Skwirk :: Online Education Read It Introduction Japanese samurai were warriors of the shogun rulers during feudal times. While their origins are unknown, what is known is that they were fearsome in combat and were fast on horseback. In the 8th century, Japan's government sent warriors to subdue barbarians in northern Honshu. The government relied heavily on these warriors, and the term samurai ('those who serve') came into use in this period. Samurai were also hired by wealthy landowners, who feared for their safety while local clans fought over land and power. In exchange for protection and loyalty, the samurai were given land and rights. By this time samurai began to adopt the first signs of samurai tradition, including leather and metal armour and curved blades.

After samurai Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1198) won control of most of Japan from the emperor, following five years of fighting, the samurai became more powerful. Yoritomo was made 'Sei-i Tai Shogun' (Great General Subduing the Barbarians). The shogun issued power by giving orders to other samurai, and until they were abolished in the Meiji Restoration (1868), the samurai remained the most influential class. Refer Image 1 Way of the warrior Samurai were extremely disciplined and followed a strict code of honour, called bushido (way of the warrior). Bushido was so strict that the samurai were prepared to kill themselves if they broke its rules. When a samurai killed himself it was a form of suicide called harakiri which involved his slitting himself open with his own sword. As defenders, they could be relied upon to fight to the death for the protection of their lords and property. They trained for both armed and unarmed combat. When they were not fighting, the samurai lived on their own lands. Arms and armour Samurai wore armour made of metal plates and leather, held together by colourful cords.

These were elaborate suits that included a protective headpiece. The weapons used by samurai were the lance, bow and sword; and were carried by the samurai as they rode into battle on horseback. Samurai were the only class in Japan who had the right to carry a sword. Samurai carried two types of sword, the katana and wakizashi, which hung on the samurai's left side as symbols of power. They wore their hair tied back at the top of their head in a knot. The brow and crown, at the top of the head, were shaved bare. Refer Image 2 Position of the samurai Samurai were the only people in Japan who could ride horses, carry swords and even have a last name. As such, they had great rights and responsibilities, and occupied a high position in society. Samurai were expected to be fearless, loyal servants of the samurai lords, the daimyo, while leading a plain and simple life. These warriors made up a very small portion of the Japanese population, while the rest of the population were farmers, merchants, priests, monks and artisans. Samurai answered only to their lords, who hired them to fight their wars and protect their land.

The position of a samurai was inherited from father to son. Samurai were expected to be kind to the poor, but also had the right to kill if insulted by a person of a lower social rank. Refer Image 3 Ronin Ronin is a term used to describe a samurai who no longer had a lord, either through his lord's downfall, or through the loss of his lord's favour. Many ronin emerged during the relatively peaceful period of the Edo shoguns (1600-1868), and worked as writers, Confucian scholars or teachers, instructors of martial arts or bodyguards. The ronin were forbidden to work as farmers or merchants, roles which were restricted to the lower classes. Many ronin were consequently on fixed incomes and became poor and unhappy. Pop Quiz Samurai - Japanese Warriors Samurai Samurai Armour The samurai (or bushi) were the warriors of premodern Japan. They later made up the ruling military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo Period (1603-1867). Samurai employed a range of weapons such as bows and arrows, spears and guns, but their main weapon and symbol was the sword.

Samurai were supposed to lead their lives according to the ethic code of bushido ("the way of the warrior"). Strongly Confucian in nature, bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior. Many samurai were also drawn to the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism . History The samurai trace their origins to the Heian Period campaigns to subdue the native Emishi people in the Tohoku Region . Around the same time, warriors were increasingly hired by wealthy landowners that had grown independent of the central government and built armies for their own protection. The two most powerful of these landowning clans, the Minamoto and Taira , eventually challenged the central government and battled each other for supremacy over the entire country. Minamoto Yoritomo emerged victorious and set up a new military government in 1192, led by the shogun or supreme military commander. The samurai would rule over Japan for most of the next 700 years. During the chaotic era of warring states in the 15th and 16th centuries, Japan splintered into dozens of independent states constantly at war with one another. Consequently, warriors were in high demand.

It was also the era when ninja , warriors specialized in unconventional warfare, were most active. Many of the famous samurai movies by Kurosawa are set during this time. The country was eventually reunited in the late 1500s, and a rigid social caste system was established during the Edo Period that placed the samurai at the top, followed by the farmers, artisans and merchants respectively. During this time, the samurai were forced to live in castle towns , were the only ones allowed to own and carry swords and were paid in rice by their daimyo or feudal lords. Masterless samurai were called ronin and caused minor troubles during the 1600s. Relative peace prevailed during the roughly 250 years of the Edo Period . As a result, the importance of martial skills declined, and many samurai became bureaucrats, teachers or artists. Japan's feudal era eventually came to an end in 1868 , and the samurai class was abolished a few years afterwards.

Samurai march in the Jidai Matsuri Parade in Kyoto How to appreciate the samurai today Samurai related attractions can be found across Japan in form of castles, historic residences, museums, historically themed amusement parks and dress up tours. The following are some of the many ways tourists can learn about and experience samurai culture and lifestyle today: Castles Castles developed over the centuries from small defensive forts built high up on mountains into massive complexes at the heart of cities, where they served as the status symbol, administrative center and residence of the local lord. The lord's samurai vassals resided in the town surrounding the castle: the higher their rank, the closer they were allowed to reside to the castle. Over a hundred castles exist in Japan today, including twelve original castles (that survived the post-feudal years intact) and many modern reconstructions. Most of the castles contain exhibits or entire museums that display samurai artifacts and lifestyle. See our castle page for more information.

Men in samurai outfits at Kumamoto Castle (left) and Aizu's Tsuruga Castle (right) Samurai Districts and Mansions In order to separate the social castes, samurai were forced to reside in designated districts of the castle towns during the Edo Period . Today, a few of these samurai districts remain preserved with their historic atmosphere of narrow lanes, earthen walls, entrance gates and residences, and allow tourists to get a glimpse into the samurai lifestyle. In other cases, single samurai mansions have been preserved and opened to the public. Below is a list of some of the better of these districts and residences: This residence on the rural Noto Peninsula served as the home of the Kita family who administered local villages on behalf of the feudal lord. It includes a spacious main residence, a unique entrance gate and a museum. Museums While most history museums in Japan display at least a few samurai swords or armors, there are a few specialized museums that exclusively feature relics of the samurai.

Some of these include the Sword Museum in Tokyo , which displays one of the largest public sword collections in the country; the Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya , which exhibits armor, swords, tea utensils, artwork and household items; and the Maeda and Honda Museums in Kanazawa , which display relics of the two most prominent samurai families in the region. An exhibition room in the Aoyagi House in the Kakunodate Samurai District Theme Parks There are a few history based theme parks around Japan that feature recreated towns from the feudal era. The parks typically offer a variety of attractions, live shows, museums, shops and restaurants and are usually staffed by a whole host of "townspeople" in period costumes, making them a fun way to experience the culture and history of samurai. Closed: December 29 to January 1 Admission: 756 yen Locate in Iga Ueno , home to one of the leading ninja schools during Japan's feudal era, this small but excellent ninja museum consists of a ninja residence with revolving walls, trap doors, hidden compartments and exhibition halls displaying tools and weapons of the trade. Live shows and ninja demonstrations are held daily at the museum.

Dress up Tours Several travel companies offer tour packages that allow participants to put on a samurai armor or ninja costume, learn about the various weapons and techniques, and in some cases mock battle (chambara). One of these companies, Japanican , offers several samurai and ninja tours . Advertisement Bushido (1963) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Bushidô zankoku monogatari (original title) 2h 2min After a salary-man's fiancée attempts suicide, he remembers his gruesome family history, which sees his ancestors sacrificing themselves for the sake of their cruel lords, and realizes that he's about to repeat their mistakes. Director: What Makes the Golden Globe Awards So Entertaining? IMDb Special Correspondent Dave Karger breaks down why the Golden Globes are so much more entertaining than other award shows. Don't miss our live coverage of the Golden Globes beginning at 5 p.m. PST on Jan. 8 in our Golden Globes section.

a list of 387 titles created 06 Mar 2013 a list of 32 titles created 25 Apr 2014 a list of 263 titles created 02 Jan 2015 a list of 200 titles created 24 Feb 2015 a list of 363 titles created 08 May 2015 Search for " Bushido " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. A samurai pursues a married lady-in-waiting. Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa February 17 to March 3, 1860, inside Edo castle. A group of assassins wait by Sakurada Gate to kill the lord of the House of Ii, a powerful man in the Tokugawa government, which has ruled ... See full summary » Director: Kihachi Okamoto Post war Hiroshima: It's been four years since the last time she visited her hometown.

Takako faces the after effects of the A-bomb when she travels around the city to call on old friends. Director: Kaneto Shindô The lives of two slum neighbors, one of a happy-go-lucky gambler and the other of a poor ronin, converge when the two get involved with the affairs of a powerful samurai official and his gangsters. Director: Sadao Yamanaka A poor rickshaw driver finds himself taking care of a young woman and her son after the woman's husband dies suddenly. Director: Hiroshi Inagaki After killing a high-ranking officer in an illegal duel, a low-ranking samurai is declared insane and challenged to a fixed duel by the vengeful clan to which his dead opponent belonged to. Director: Tadashi Imai A simple yet devout Christian makes a vow to Saint Barbara after she saves his donkey, but everyone he meets seems determined to misunderstand his intentions. Will he be able to keep his promise in the end? Director: Anselmo Duarte After killing a child when his plane crashes in a Vietnamese village, Pierre suffers from delayed stress and partial amnesia. Returning to France, he lives like a vegetable until he meets a...

See full summary » Director: Serge Bourguignon Ishun is a wealthy, but unsympathetic, master printer who has wrongly accused his wife and best employee of being lovers. To escape punishment, the accused run away together, but Ishun is certain to be ruined if word gets out. Director: Kenji Mizoguchi Two Jesuit priests encounter persecution when they travel to Japan in the 17th century to spread Christianity and to locate their mentor. Director: Masahiro Shinoda A destitute ronin allies himself with an established clan, but its ruthless leader tries to turn him into a mindless killer. Director: Hideo Gosha Hirotaro Iguchi (as Ko Kimura) Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Edit Storyline After a salary-man's fiancée attempts suicide, he remembers his gruesome family history, which sees his ancestors sacrificing themselves for the sake of their cruel lords, and realizes that he's about to repeat their mistakes. The Shock Picture of the Year!

See more » Genres: 28 April 1963 (Japan) See more » Also Known As: Cruel Tales of Bushido (1963) 30 March 2015 | by mevmijaumau (Croatia) – See all my reviews Well, I think I've found a movie which beats those Italian exploitation films in the number of alternative titles; get this, the movie is usually known as Cruel Tale(s) of Bushido, but also went under the titles Bushido Samurai Saga, Cruel Stories of Samurai Ways, The Oath of Obedience, Bushido: The Cruel Code of the Samurai, Stories of Samurai Cruelty, or simply Bushido. It was directed by Tadashi Imai, who specialized in directing social indictment films. This one in particular and Revenge (1965) were part of the zankoku jidaigeki (cruel jidaigeki) subgenre of films, a subgenre which crossed film noir with samurai films, portraying a dark world of doomed souls, of corruption, cruelty and raw emotions.

Probably the most famous zankoku jidaigeki film is Masaki Kobayashi's Harakiri (1962). Tadashi Imai was also forced to do propaganda films during wartime, under threats of being sent to the front. Later he became an outspoken critic of the military, active in Communist politics. Cruel Tales of Bushido, based on Norio Nanjo's novel, is a story about a contemporary salaryman whose wife-to-be attempts suicide and he reflects on his bloodline's tragic past. After we find out that each of the ancestors sacrificed themselves pointlessly in some way to their lord, he comes to the realization that nothing has changed in Japanese society, and that now he's a slave to his company just as how his ancestors were slaves to feudal lords. It's not exactly subtle, actually it's completely confrontational and harsh, but it's always interesting to follow. This movie features some actors you may know from other Japanese films, like Kyoko Kishida from Woman in the Dunes, but the two prominent ones are Kinnosuke Nakamura and Masayuki Mori, who, Blackadder style, appear in each generation as the exploited family member and the cruel lord, respectively.

Nakamura is especially excellent because all of the characters he plays have a completely different presence and you forget it's the same actor. The stories range from Edo period to 60s Japan, focusing on everyone from samurai to kamikaze pilots, and are usually connected with the ninjo-giri dilemma (the clash of duty and humanity). The B&W photography is incredibly dark, as is to be expected from films of this genre. There are barely any light sources and the characters are lined up perfectly geometrically, so that every corner of the frame is always occupied by at least one actor, with Masayuki Mori always at the center of the frame. The movie is very brutal and uncompromising, but it has sort of an uplifting final scene. All in all, it's one of the most underrated samurai films I know of. I'm really looking forward to seeing more films from the zankoku jidaigeki subgenre. 1 of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes

Question: What name was given to the code of the Samurai?
Answer: Bushido