During the period of Japanese history known as Feudal Japan, there were many warring fiefs, or
states, with different lords. Their objective was unifying Japan. and, it couldn’t have been done
without the help of samurais and ninjas. Samurais had masters and went by a code of conduct
known as Bushido. The ninjas were just thieves and hired assassins. What else can be learned
about these warriors? Some questions that might pique a person’s curiosity are many. How did
they training? What requirements had to be met to become a master? How has modern day Japan
been influenced by its medieval history? Feudal Japan has had much influence on Japan’s shape
into modern day.
“The kami came into existence on a plane parallel to the Prime Materia, whence Japan is
created after Izanagi (the male) ‘dips his spear into the ocean and creates Japan along with
Izanami (the female).
They procure a pantheon of gods, and it is through this natural divinity that
the hegemony of the Yamato House is mythically legitimized” (Lewis 1999).
Here Lewis explains
the myth of how Japan was created. He uses reference in relating the relationship of man, with the
kami, or gods.
“Kobutai refers to the traditional assertion that feudal Japanese have divine roots, and but
one Imperial Line.” (Lewis 1999) . This explains of how the Japanese felt about themselves, and
The Essay on Japan At War Book Japanese One
Commentary: Japan at WarT he book for me was a difficult reading experience. I myself as a Chinese who have never live through that time can only imagine the horrors that people of my race encountered through the many atrocities the Japanese committed on us. As I read this book the recurring thought on my mind was what if the Japanese massacred my family and that would have meant that I would have ...
how proud they were of their own culture. Not only that, they felt as if to be more superior beings
than any other race on the planet. “Although the Emperor is the logical apex of this
structure…..the lower classes were not allowed to lay eyes upon him.” (Staff 1999).
Like all
feudal systems there were many classes. Only a few lived lavish lifestyles, while many work as
slaves.
At the top of the chain was the emperor, he spent most of his time isolated in the palace.
The emperors felt so bored that they often became monks. This allowed for more freedom and
the ability to travel beyond Kyoto, (Japanese capital).
Many times the emperor was only a
symbolic representation of authority, because the real power holders of Japan were the Shoguns,
(Japan’s top military oligarchy).
Next in line were the Kuge, “The Kuge ran Japan’s central government….they held many
powerful positions.” (staff 1999) Indeed, just as in any feudal system, they were the nobles, and
aristocrats. Their lives were based upon the government most of the time, which in occupied all
their spare time.
Just below the Kuge came the Buke. They were Japan’s military class. Started around
1100, this class includes samurai, ashigaru (foot soldiers), and daimyo (governor-general).
Their
main duty was to act out the duties enacted to them by the Kuges, some of which included
leadership of different geographic regions.
At the bottom of the list are the Bonge. They were the common people. “These
unfortunate people have the lowest social ranking besides the Ainu. Who are considered wild
barbarians.” (Mcdowell 1996) The people of this class often wanted to distinguish themselves so
within this class were subclasses. Ryoke were independent land owners and farmers, Gesakukin
were renter farmers, and Genin were craftsmen and laborers. These common people struggled
and worked like slaves for the higher classes. A good example of this is that 95% of the people
The Essay on Growing Up in Samurai Japan
?Growing up in Samurai Japan? by Brenda Ralph Lewis is about the society and history of Japan. This book gives you specific details on the actions of the traditional way of the samurai and Japanese (which are the same, but samurais have different beliefs). This book also mentions how they treat their newborn child, and how strong and strict they follow their beliefs in life. Japanese?s leader of ...
supported the rice needs of the 5% who were higher class. This often caused many riots and
rebellions. The samurai were called upon to break up the turmoil. This lead to the samurai
becoming an official class.
The Samurai became an official class, but how did that happen? “War played a central
part in the history of Japan.” (Staff 1999) For the most part, the struggle was the one often
repeated thoughtout history, the controlling of land. About 20% of Japan’s land was fit for
farming. No wonder it was so valuable. This struggle, along with the rebellion of the lower
classes helped the samurai to be distinguished as a class. “Emperor Keiko was cunning, fearless,
strong, and a great marital artist” (Mcgee 1999).
Emperor Keiko was an important person.
Legend says he was the first person obtain the title of Shogun, or General of Japan. He was
important because the legend goes on to say his son Prince Yamato, through his father’s
teachings, set the role for the samurai.
Ancient Yayoi warriors developed weapons, armor, and a code which, during the
centuries, became the core of the samurai. The ancient weapons were bows, arrows, and swords.
Armor included a helmet protecting the head and neck, a breastplate for chest protection, arm and
shoulder protectors, and a belly wrap. Later forms of armor came to include leg and thigh
protectors. The reason for changes in armor was the change in fighting technique. In the fifth
century, horses were being imported to Japan. This led the samurai to fight with bows and on
horses. “After seeing the skill of Mongols on horseback…the samurai later changed their ways of
fighting .” (Mcgee 1999) Later on, in the 13th century, when battling with Mongols, their
methods changed to ground. They used swords during close range combat for beheading foes.
The long sword was 24 inches, while the short was between 12 and 24 inches. The samurai often
believed their swords were their souls.
With the demand for stronger swords over the centuries, the straight swords became the
long curved ones seen today. The sword began as iron combined with carbon. The swordsmiths
The Essay on Japan in Isolation
The problem question being dealt with is “To what extent was Tokugawa Japan’s policy of isolation a benefit or drawback when examined in terms of social stability, treatment of foreign influences, and standard of living?” The benefits of isolation when looked at by the subject of social stability are numerous. The social stability of Japan during isolation was something to be looked at upon with ...
used fire, water, anvil, and hammer to shape these swords. After forging the blade, the sword
was then polished. Then the sword was tested for its sharpness. “The sword tester took the blade
and cut through bodies of criminals”(Mcdowell 1999).
Tests of these swords were often recorded
on the nakago, or the metal piece attaching the sword blade to the handle.
Against such a skilled warrior class, how were the common people of Japan going to
strike back? “The ninjas came from the working class people, the farmers” (Tanemura 1994).
Their only hope was finding a way to fight back. The ninja became the form of defense against
the samurai.
Ninjas originated more than 800 years ago among the common people of Japan. The
ninjas (Japanese for stealers-in) were those who revolted against the warrior class. They left to
the barren, cold and mountainous regions of Iga and Koga. There is were they trained in the arts
of war. Their training is based upon a great Chinese book written by Sun Tzu called the Art of
War. Over centuries they trained in every martial art known. Their main objectives were
espionage and assassination by any means possible, but their training also took them to spiritual
states. They trained to increase mental abilities and expand their human endurance.
In order to train for a ninja, a child started at a young age around 2. The kids played
games that taught them unarmed combat, swordsmanship, use of weapons, camouflage, and
escape. With ninjas earning a name among the warrior class, the warrior class started to fear
them. even the samurai, when approaching a particular region known to be controlled by ninjas
watched his back.
Over the centuries, the ninjas practiced all in secrecy, no one knew anything about them
except the ninjas themselves. They had many power techniques. The physical ones were called
outside techniques. The more complex and deadly moves of the ninja were in the inside
techniques. “The basics of running, camouflage, and stealth were the outside techniques of the
The Essay on Class Teacher People One
Know It All " just because a person thinks they know it all, doesn't mean they can teach. In America, the land of the free, gives this privilege every year to many people. They get their Masters or even a PHD degree in college and think they can mold the minds of others. This is such a farce. The degree may give you the right to become a teacher or even a doctor, but it does not mean you will be a ...
ninja. The inside techniques were dangerous. ” Certain secret medicines can be very dangerous if
taught the wrong people. Masters, and only masters with kind hearts are taught these techniques.
They are taught through direct teachings” (Tanemura 1994).
These secret techniques include use
of poisonous powders, ways to kill a person with a single blow, and torture techniques.
So with the warring states of Japan in constant warfare, what happened?
After the break up of Feudal Japan during the 1900s, the once warrior class of the samurai
became modern martial artists. The techniques of the ninja have been absorbed into Japan’s
Secret Service. Today ninja has developed into a modern form of martial arts known as Ninjitsu,
practiced by many from around the world. The traditional art, once used for self-defense, now is
used as a way to maintain the body, mind and soul. The samurai sword techniques are taught as a
sport.
Though out history, not just in Feudal Japan but in Europe, people have developed ways
to put up with oppression and unfair treatment. As we look though history most conflicts were
over land and oppression. An example we all are familiar with is immigration to the Americas. It
started with white settlers coming over and taking the land of the Native Americans, and
continues with struggles of Afro-Americans and others for the right to claim America as their
homeland too.
Whatever the case cannot put a whole people at a lower class and treat them less human
than yourself, put more of a burden on them than what they are able to do. Just as the higher
classes of Japanese society, did to the common people, as the white slave owners did to the
slaves. In the case of Japan the samurai and ninjas, so if we treat each other fairly maybe the
world would be a better place, but that rarely ever happens. Why? Because It is human nature to
want more and be better than those around us.
