SAMURAI |
The samurai were the members of the military class, the Japanese warriors.
Their importance and influence grew during the Heian Period (794-1185) when the powerful landowners hired them for the protection of their properties. In the latter phase of the Heian period, the most powerful military families, the Minamoto and Taira, had taken over political control over Japan and fought wars for supremacy.
The samurai stood at the top of the social hierarchy and had many privileges. On the other hand, he was supposed to be a good example to the lower classes and had to follow the principles of Bushido (the way of the warrior). A samurai's most important principles are unlimited loyalty to his master, extreme self discipline, and brave, selfless behaviour. Many samurai also followed the teachings of Zen Buddhism.
During the Edo Period, which was an era of peace, the samurai had nothing to fight anymore and dedicated themselves also to intellectual studies like literature, history, or the tea ceremony.
After the Meiji Restoration (1868), the samurai class disappeared. |
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SAMURAI
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November 20, 1997
In Deutsch | all copyrights by Schauwecker's Guide to Japan |