The samurai warrior was the most formidable foot soldier during the Medieval era. Professional horsemen and archery experts, they were fierce warriors who lived by the military Bushido code, which means the warrior’s way. Bushido emphasized a warrior’s duty, honour, loyalty and combat preparation. By the late 12th century, the Taira and Minamoto warring samurai groups dominated Japanese society. In 1185, Yorito, Minamoto’s leader, defeated the Taira and made himself Shogun (military ruler). Although there was a Japanese emperor, the shogun had the real power. Yoritomo based his rule on the samurai’s loyalty and honour code, which placed the samurai into a power position throughout Japan.
During the 13th century, there were many civil wars in Japan. However, from 1603 to 1867, Japan became peaceful. The samurai’s fighting capabilities were not required and many warriors took up other professions, as government officials. By 1868, shoguns were abolished and Emperor Meiji ruled Japan. Although the Bushido code continued, many samurai’s privileges disappeared, while Japanese historian studied Minamoto Yoshitune.
Minamoto Yoshitsune: A Samurai Legend
Minamoto Yoshitsune was Japan’s most celebrated samurai warrior; he was a brilliant military commander who won many battles for his brother, Yoritomo. He helped the Minamoto group defeat the Taira clan to takeover Japan. When he was 15-years-old, he ran away from the Buddhist monastery that he joined to fight for his brother. In 1184, while leading his army, Yoshitsune conquered his cousin, Yoshinaka, before occupying Kyoto city. In 1185, following many combat successes against the Taira, Yoshitsune defeated them in naval engagements. However, the two Minamoto brothers became enemies. Yoshitsune rebelled against Yoritomo, but failed. While Yoshitsune was on the run, he was betrayed by a noble with whom he had taken refuge, and he was forced to commit suicide with a deadly samurai weapon.
Samurai Weapons
Samurai weapons consisted of a bow, a long pole, a curved blade, a dagger, and a sword. The wakizashi short sword was about a half a meter long. While the longer katana sword, was a razer sharp curved blade. A samurai warrior wore an iron helmet with neck flaps on his head accompanied with a ferocious-looking face mask. A warrior’s body armor was made of either lacquered leather rows or metal scales strung together by silk cards, offering excellent flexibility for the warrior’s way.
The Warrior’s Way
Samurai formed the Japanese Army’s core. During earlier times, they employed horses in combat, but they later became foot soldiers. During a samurai battle, a single arrow with a whistling tip was fired to commence the fighting. Mounted archers would then send arrow volleys into the enemy formations before charging violently into battle. During the engagement, warriors attempted to fight equally ranked opponents. Victors would cut off the victim’s head for trophy display. Many Japanese battles were primarily individual duels until 1274 and 1281 when the China’s Mongol rulers sent warships to invade Japan. During both occasions, a small number of samurai warriors defeated the invaders with the help of thunderstorms and a typhoon.
Sources:
- Battles; R.G. Grant; 2010.
- The Book of War; Dwight Jon Zimmerman; 2008.
- The Book of Weapons; Dwight Jon Zimmerman; 2009.
- Warrior; R. G. Grant; 2010.
- Weapon;Sunita Gahit and Sharon Spencer; 2010.
Eliot Elwar - This author enjoys studying ancient military history, reading biblical eschatology, analyzing Greek mythology, and illustrating military ...
