Are Samurai Still Alive?

As we all know, and are perhaps saddened by, the era of the Samurai ended about 100 years ago. There is no ands, ifs, or what’s about it. Samurai simply do not walk around the streets of Japan anymore. They no longer dominate the social classes. However, is it really true that you can’t become a Samurai anymore? Is Bushido completely nonexistent now?

Well, while the blatantly obvious would deter someone form believing in the existence of true Samurai in the modern day (you can’t exactly wield a weapon in the streets of modern Japan) yet you may still do other things worthy of a Samurai though. For instance, Bushido is the code of ethics, immensely important to Samurai. One may certainly follow that code as well as train in weaponry and martial arts. In short, live as a warrior, live as a Samurai. It does not matter how the outside world treats you, sure you do not have the social respect, or the feeling of “I am a Samurai, hear me roar”, but it is on the inside. You simply know that you are a warrior and that is all that matters.

On the other hand, it may be a good thing that the Samurai do not fully exist anymore. Now, they can focus on solely their fighting skills and living up to the code of ethics. Now there is no way for a warrior to feel himself better than others (IE a Samurai was allowed by law to attack any commoner that disrespected him). You are simply not any better than them; they are human just as you. To be frank, I believe that that was a huge weak point in the traditional Samurai; they believed themselves to be God, when they were no better than any other good citizen.

Ok, so maybe it’s not as cool, not as amazing, but its better this way. Samurai may not roam the streets, and battle in the open. But at least you know that the ones who are Samurai, are real warriors. They practice in the dojo and train, nothing more, there is no vanity, there is no superiority. And for another thing, I’m sure that most warriors nowadays do not condone the practice of Seppuku, and that my friends is a good thing. So in conclusion, do Samurai really exist? Of course they do, they are the true warrior’s out there who are never heard nor seen, and that is the way it should be

Posted in History

Bushido: The Soul of Japan

This is a wonderful book that does not fail to impress. If you are a all interested in marital arts, Japanese culture, and especially samurai, read this book. This book tells the reader all about the Samurai, and the ways of the warrior. That is, this book covers all of details of the life of the Samurai. It goes in depth from warrior ethics, to Seppuku, a samurai ritual suicide.

As you read you will realize that these warriors really did follow their pact to “Live by the sword and die by the sword”. In fact, you may begin to see that Japanese warriors shared many of the same qualities as the Medieval European knights! And that my friends, is truly amazing! “Bushido: the Soul of Japan”, covers all of the codes and values of the military way of life. These are explained through a plethora of examples and fables which further help the audience feel “in tune” so to speak with the Bushido way of life.

Through this book, you will see that there clearly is value to the warrior way of life; it is not just shear bloodshed. There is honor and pride, a love for your people that most certainly masks “brute power”. You will find interesting also, the style of the book, for this is not a fake, not a modern “Take on Bushido” This is the “real” deal. Bushido: The Soul of Japan was written in 1900, and perfectly captures the true feeling and meaning of Bushido.

If nothing else, do yourself a favor and read this book as a means of acquiring knowledge about a past culture. Because, the fact is, there were and are cultures out there that, to us, seem “taboo”. However, one must fully walk in another’s moccasins before one may be given the right t truly judge that culture. So please, just for once, step out of your westernized box. Experiment with something new for once.

Posted in Books

Bushido derived from both Buddhism and Shintoism. There are seven important principals that can summarize Bushido. Although simple, they were each and every one of them, absolutely essential for these warriors.

Gi: this refers to rectitude, or justice. It is the power of deciding upon a certain course of conduct in accordance with reason, and without wavering; that is to die when it is right to die, to strike when it is right to strike. This principle also held the warriors responsible for choosing at all times, the correct decision from the heart rather than from the mind.

Yu: this referred to courage and bravery. “Courage is doing what is right” That is, a warrior’s bravery came after rectitude, and courage was only courage when the warriors were doing what was right. This last part was very important, for if a warrior died for a cause that was unworthy of death, it was known as a “dog’s death”.

Jin: This referred to benevolence, love, and magnanimity. This was an extreme virtue. The warrior had to display love and commission, and a stone heart made for a terrible samurai. The warrior had to “show universal love to all mankind” or he was not truly a warrior.

Rei: this referred to courtesy, etiquette, and urbanity of manners. This principle was extremely important, as the samurai believed that it was better for one to die than be impolite. The warrior had to be polite and courteous at all times.

Makoto: this referred to honesty, veracity, sincerity, and truthfulness. There is nothing worse that a dishonest warrior. “Sincerity is in the end and the beginning of all tings, without sincerity there would be nothing.” The warrior had to be honorable in thought, word, and deed, always.

Meiyo: This referred to honor, pride, and glory. There are no better words to characterize the Samurai, these characteristics stood out above all because Samurai were born and bred to value the duties and privileges of their profession. The Samurai had to display glory without ego, and promised to be honorable in thought word and deed.

Chugo: This referred to the Samurai duty of Loyalty and devotion. Samurai displayed complete loyalty to their lords. Life for the Samurai was regarded as a means to serve a lord, and everything (education, and training) were conducted accordingly Warriors had to be loyal to any superiors.

These are the seven principles that made up the whole of Bushido. These are also the virtues that a samurai must have and display daily. In he simplest terms, this was the “Way of the Warrior”. This, in retrospect, defeats the perception that “warriors do nothing but fight”. It proves on the other hand, that warriors led a notably moral and honest life.

Posted in Articles

Bushido made the sword its emblem of power. In fact, a wise man one said that “The sword is the Key of heaven and hell”. Indeed, the swords of Samurai never left their side, they were priceless. But more than just that, these swords also have a unique and amazing history.

Historically the first Japanese sword was produced around 700 AD. A Blacksmith named Amakuni Yasutsuna, was responsible for making the first single edged long sword. At first, his swords were doing little to help the warriors in battle. There was of course reason for this, One day Amakuni realized that the Emperor never gave Amakuni any sign of recognition for his efforts. So, upon realizing this, Amakuni observed the warriors as they returned from battle. Of these warriors, nearly half of them were returning with broken swords.

Amakuni was heartbroken. He realized that all of his work had been put to shame. He had to make things right, and so he and his son Amakura set off to work again. They at first, evaluated the broken sword of a warrior, and realized that they were improperly made. The swords could not handle large impacts, yet they desperately needed to. So Amakuni and his son locked themselves up in the forge for seven days and nights, during which they prayed to the Shinto gods. After their long prayer session, Amakuni selected the finest Iron sand ore and refined it to steel. Thirty days later after arduous work and days of sleepless nights, Amakuni and his son emerged from the foe with a single edged sword that had curvature. They polished this new sword, and later continued to work developing many more like it.

And so, the warriors came to wield these new swords. The next spring, there was another war, and the Samurai fought with Amakuni’s swords. They returned however, not with broken swords, but with perfectly intact swords. Afterwords, the Emperor congratulated Amakuni, saying that he was an expert swordsman. And thus, the Katana, the Wakizashi, and the Tanto were born.

Even today, there still exist sword smiths who practice the ancient art of sword making. Currently, the best known Japanese sword company is the Japanese Sword Company in Tokyo.

Posted in History

In 1853, Samurai changed forever. It all happened when massive steamships from the US Navy imposed a broader commerce system, on the previously strict system. That system, isolationism, kept the Japanese from socializing with the western half of the world. And thus, with the strict system abolished, the Samurai were exposed to a different side of the world.

From then on, the Samurai and the Japanese navy were modernized. In 1855 a naval training school was brought about in Nagasaki. There, you guessed it, they learned about western ways of life. Of course, this also brought upon the future onset of westernized and foreign educated leaders. By 1867 the Japanese Navy possessed 8 western style steamships; soon the armies were heavily modernized as well.

Of course, this also brings us to another point, in 1967 the Japanese saw an end to Traditional Samurai, and this was also around the time of the Boshin War. In late 19th century around 1968, another change occurred that pretty much brought an end to Samurai. You see, previously Samurai were the only armed forces in Japan. Emperor Meji abolished this however in favor of a more westernized army of course. The right for a Samurai to wear a Katana or other weapon was also abolished, as well as the right to attack any commoner who disrespected them.

As well, Samurai were no longer really Samurai; their name was even changed to Shizoku in 1873. Sadly, Samurai were simply nonexistent; they had no longer a high status or fame. It was official in the 19th century, that Samurai no longer walked the streets of Japan. In place of them, was a more westernized army. Later on along the lines, in 1943 to be exact, the name Shizoku, a last shred of Samurai spirit, also disappeared.

Posted in History