Japanese Warriors during the Samurai Era, p.

Samurai warriors first appeared during the early 10th century. I have been

interested in these individuals from a very early age. My experience with karate and my

three trips to Hawaii have helped me become even more familiar with Samurai heritage.

Karate has helped me learn various styles of Japanese and Korean martial arts that

originated with the Samurai. While visiting Hawaii, I viewed Samurai exhibits in several

museums of Japanese history and watched some Japanese martial artists perform moves

based on Samurai methods.

In cities and provinces throughout Japan, the Samurai (meaning “one who

serves”) were groups or clans of warriors who fought in civil wars with other clans for

power and land. Samurai warriors were one of four classes of Japanese society. The other

classes of people consisted of farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. The Samurai were

expected to “punish criminals disrupting society, and bring security to the members of the

other three classes.” (Code, p.46) During the 10th century, the Samurai became known as

the “armed guard” of the nobility. (Code, p.x) By the late 12th century, they became the

“dominant ruling elite” of Japan, even more powerful than the Imperial Government

itself. (Varley, p.7) They held this power through the late 1870s. To remain the leading

warrior class during the Samurai Era for nearly one thousand years was quite an

accomplishment.

A Samurai warrior typically began training at age twelve, so that he would be

ready for battle by age fifteen. The Code of the Samurai, a book of Japanese warrior

culture and everyday life written in late 1600s or early 1700s, says that a boy should
 Japanese Warriors during the Samurai Era, p.2

“select an appropriate mentor from whom to receive instruction in the arts of war.”

(Code, p.31) Samurai came from the upper class of society. Often, the second son was

born into a life of warfare, as the first son was needed to take care of the family

household. As part of his training, a Samurai warrior considered it “his foremost concern

to keep death in mind at all times.” Doing so, will “fulfill the ways of loyalty and

familial duty.” (Code, p.3)

The Samurai used several key weapons. Their most well known weapon was the

“katana,” a sword which ranged from twenty-three to forty-seven inches long. (Turnbull,

2004, p.150) The Samurai viewed the “katana” as their “soul,” and without this sword,

they were powerless. (Turnbull, 2004, p.150) Even today, we visualize the sword as the

supreme symbol of the Samurai. A Samurai also carried at least two “tantos” (or daggers)

into battle, in case he lost his sword. Another classic weapon was the “yari,” a spear up to

thirteen feet long. When at war, a Samurai warrior also wore a “sashimono” (colored clan

flag) on the back of his armor so that while fighting, others might identify him. (Turnbull,

1982, p.82)

The Code of the Samurai tells us that other weapons were used. For example,

early in the Samurai Era, the warriors were commonly known to be excellent archers.

These Samurai came from the Japanese countryside where “horses were very important

to them.” (Storry, p.21) Soon, they became superb at shooting arrows while riding

horses. Later in the Samurai Era, many warriors used a gun called an “arquebus”. These
 Japanese Warriors during the Samurai Era, p.3

guns were made by connecting a short metal barreled chamber to a wooden stock. With

the use of black powder, they propelled ball shaped bullets. (Turnbull, 2004, p.202)

Some Samurai also carried “war fans” with “metal endplates” that could be used as

weapons. (Storry, p.29)

Early in the Samurai Era, the Samurai warriors were commonly known

throughout Asia. After Japanese borders were closed to trading in the 1600s, the Samurai

popularity diminished outside of Japan. The Samurai Era began to close during the

1800s, when the warriors were “incapable of either meeting or resisting the military

threat posed by the Western nations.” (Turnbull, 1982, p.150) In the eyes of Japan’s

Imperial Government, the Samurai warriors could no longer defend their country. The

Samurai Era officially closed after the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, part of the last

Japanese civil war.

Although the Samurai Era closed, the brave and courageous nature of their code

of life is still remembered today. Martial artists are disciplined in ways similar to the

Samurai. Examples include people of lower belt ranks showing respect by bowing to

elders and higher belt ranks. As my karate sensei, Robert and Jan DeAngelis, said, the

martial art of Kendo is “the closest form to the Samurai.” Kendo teaches the way of the

sword, but uses wooden or bamboo or, more recently, padded swords. The Samurai

would have taught “in the same way, but with real swords.” (DeAngelis interview)

Kendo martial artists also practice “Iedo,” a form where they specialize on the Samurai
 Japanese Warriors during the Samurai Era, p.4

art of drawing the sword from their belt. In these ways, martial artists of today honor the

code and war style of the Samurai.

 Japanese Warriors during the Samurai Era, p.5

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Code of the Samurai, translated by Thomas Cleary. (North Clarendon, VT: Tuttle
Publishing, 1999).

Robert DeAngelis and Jan DeAngelis, DeAngelis Martial Arts, West Hanover
Township Recreation Center, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Interviewed February 8,
2008, Karate Sensei of interviewee.

Richard Storry, The Way of the Samurai (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1978).

Stephen Turnbull, The Book of the Samurai (New York: Gallery Books, 1982).

Stephen Turnbull, Samurai: The Story of Japan’s Noble Warriors (London: Collins and
Brown, 2004).

H. Paul Verley, “Samurai” in Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan (Tokyo: Kodansha

Ltd, 1983), volume 7, pp.7-8.
Doug Wilson
1080 Shadywood Drive
Hummelstown, PA 17036

Hershey Museum History Contest

170 W. Hersheypark Drive
Hershey, PA 17033