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The beginning -

During the Heian Period (794-1185 CE), Japan was not unified and faced battles from China and ethnic populations within the country. The army was based on the Chinese Tang dynasty model, which was fairly immobile.

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The Emishi -

The Emishi people dwelled in the north of Japan. They were regarded as barbarians or, "the hairy ones." However, their fighting tactics were far superior to those of the rest of the country. They used archery and were able horsemen.

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Absorption -

These Emishi were the foundation of the samurai warrior. Heian soldiers wanted to learn these tactics, and so absorbed the Emishi people into their territory.

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The Fujiwara clan -

From the 8th to the end of the 11th century, the Fujiwara clan dominated the political system by marrying its daughters to the Japanese emperors.

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Political friction -

The Fujiwara clan pushed other wealthy clans away from the emperor. Consequently, these clans left the imperial court to establish power elsewhere. These powerful elites were called daimyos, and they needed protection from the imperial forces.

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The samurai -

The daimyos wanted the best warriors in the land, and so hired those who had Emishi and Heian training. They were called samurai because it means "those who serve."

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Clans rise up -

In the mid-12th century, it was not the emperor who held the most power, but the clans. In the great Gempei War (1180-1185), the Minamoto clan defeated the Taira, making them the dominant power in Japan.

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Kamakura shogunate (1185-1333) -

The leader of the Minamoto, Minamoto no Yoritomo, created a military dictatorship, the Kamakura shogunate. In essence, samurai now ran the country.

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Shogunate -

The shogunate was basically a military dictatorship. On paper, the shogun was meant to represent the interests of the emperor, but in reality the emperor was just a figurehead. In some cases, the shogun was also just a figurehead for the daimyos.

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Samurai -

Samurai were at the head of the shogunate, and so now enjoyed great privileges in Japanese society.

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Zen Buddhism -

During the Kamakura shogunate, the samurai adopted Zen Buddhism because its behavioral code was similar to that of their own. It involves seeking one's own nature through meditation.

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The katana -

It was also during the Kamakura shogunate that the katana, or the samurai sword, became a mark of honor. Soldiers embellished them with gems and beautiful carvings.

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Time moves on -

The Kamakura shogunate was not very stable. When Japan had to deal with two Mogul invasions, it fell and was taken over by the Ashikaga shogunate (1338-1573). They too fell because of so much fighting between clans.

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Feudalism -

Japan had a feudal system, and so landowners had a lot of power. At the end of the 15th century, there was no central power. Samurai had the most control because they were the ones who were able to fight to gain power.

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Sengoku Jidai (1467 to 1615) -

The daimyos were constantly fighting each other to increase their power. The name of the period literally translates to "Period of the Country at War." This is seen as the golden age of the samurai, as it is when most of their fighting took place.

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Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) -

In 1615, Tokugawa Ieyasu did what no leader had done before, and united Japan. The union meant that there were fewer fights, thus the samurai had to adapt. Many slid from warfare to diplomacy.

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Confucius (551-471 BCE) -

During this period of peace, samurai adopted more principles from Buddhism and the Chinese philosopher Confucius. The moral code Bushido arose. It encourages honor, kindness, loyalty, and military skill. Some say it is similar to the European code of Chivalry.

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Bushido -

It was in the 16th century that Japan adopted the principles of Bushido across the country. It became a national identity and is still prevalent in contemporary Japan.

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A different calling -

In the 16th century, many samurai had adapted to the new peaceful norm and did not fight. Instead, they spread out into society with different roles, but their privilege remained.

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Slow demise -

In 1588, samurai were making less than they were previously. It was also banned for anyone who was not a samurai to carry a katana. This social rule meant that samurai were still highly respected. The prestige they had kept them happy for a while, despite their worse financial position.

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Losing tradition -

After a few centuries, Japan was becoming more familiar with the West. In 1858, the Tokugawa leadership started making trade deals that brought them much unpopularity among the conservative Japanese, including the samurai.

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Restoration -

In 1861, the Meiji Restoration saw the emperor restored to power by the traditionalists. The samurai class played a large hand in the restoration, but ultimately it was not to their benefit.

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A new Japan -

In 1871, feudalism was abolished, which left samurai without a role in society. At the same time, they were banned from having katanas unless they were part of the national army.

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Stripped of all -

The samurai were brought to their lowest when their stipend was transferred into government bonds. The money they received before was worth much more than what they received from the bonds.

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Rising up -

They did not go down without a fight. There were several samurai uprisings, but the imperial powers stamped them down. It was ironic considering the samurai helped them get back into power in the first place.

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Normal people -

The samurai had no choice but to assimilate into society as politicians, clerks, lawyers, and so on. Anything but warriors.

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Their legacy -

The culture of the samurai left an indelible mark on Japanese culture in the shape of Bushido. In 1912, Bushido became the national moral code and much of the national identity was built around it.

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WWII (1938-1945) -

During WWII, Japanese soldiers returned to the samurai principle of "death before honor." They would carry out banzai attacks where a group of soldiers would charge at the enemy with no regard for their own safety.

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Kamikaze pilots -

Famously, the Japanese had a squadron of pilots who would carry out suicide flights in order to blow up their targets. There was much honor in dying for your country.

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Propaganda? -

Even though the samurai were loyal, it is now thought that the stories have been exaggerated for the sake of nationalism. In reality, samurai would still betray each other and their shogun if needed. In this way, the banzai and kamikaze were a product of the Japanese state distorting the stories of the samurai for the sake of emboldening soldiers.

Sources: (History) (Japan Guide)

See also: Japanese recipe ideas that go beyond sushi

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