Whenever the word "Samurai" is mentioned, it is accompanied by the memories of our childhood that we spent watching the small screen of films and anime that revolves around these mythical fighters of Japan, who drew with their sharp swords a history that is no less dazzling than its blood and brutality.

Who are the "samurai" who were symbols of the most important symbols of our childhood and heroes of their love and charm and mystery and strength?

Who are the samurai?


The Japanese province of Yamato was under 250 AD under the authority of a group of rich and noble families who called themselves Ogi. To protect its political and economic influence, the Uji used a group of mercenaries, peasants and slaves. In 721, militias were replaced by a group of fighters The professionals were less numerous than their predecessors, but they were the most thorny and able to protect the interests of the Uji thanks to their various skills called Boshi.

Al-Bouchi continued to protect their Ugandan masters until the end of 1185, the date of their revolt, their takeover of power and the establishment of a military government: Bakutu

Before the reunification of Japan in 1573, the Bouchi formed a giant army that included nearly three hundred men to defend their state against the attempts of the three generals, Oda, Toyotomi and Tugawa to destroy them and reunite the country, finally ending the rule of the Bosch in 1615 after 3 centuries of rule.


After the elimination of AL-Bosh i, General Tokugawa took over the country and was, as always, in need of those who protect his rule, especially after he was keen to reduce the role of the military and their powers for fear of the birth of new military groups comparable to Al-Bosh i and restore their way to take over the country, He decided to form a special detachment of fighters, chosen very carefully among the educated peasants. Thus was born the samurai, whose task was to protect Mr. (General Tokugawa) and obey him blindly.

Western Orientalists interested in the civilization of Japan likened them to knights who had the task of protecting the monarchy in European countries, but the samurai had a great favor with their masters and the people, making them transformed from mere law abiding by the aristocracy A halo of respect and holiness in the country.

The training and education the samurai receives


The samurai represents the backbone of Japanese society. It is the link between the class of the masters and the public class. It also reflects and protects the principles of ancient Japanese civilization. It is the balancing pillar that maintains the balance and continuity of society.

The Samurai therefore had to have a special and precise composition that made him a warrior capable of controlling himself, his judgments and actions, very altruistic and ready to sacrifice for what he believed.

Since their young age, Samurai students have been joined by a strict group called Kushijo, which sharpens their intellectual and combat skills, and teaches them to abide by the laws, especially the law of duty, which is the light that leads the Samurai life.

And trains the Samurai student to control his body and soul and bear physical and psychological harm, undergoes severe tests that make him face death and danger without fear or hesitation, but on the contrary make death for the duties of the samurai and his honor as the reward that will keep his memory alive forever, Death in samurai culture is only a way of glory and dignity.

As for religious training, the samurai learns to respect the ancient gods of Japan, to sanctify the spirits of ancestors and ancestors, and to offer obedience to them by participating in the religious ceremonies that are held to pray for those souls that the Japanese believe protects them from evils. The samurai also receives the teachings of Buddhism, Chinese Philosophy Rules.

Once the samurai passes through the age of 15, he is allowed to act in accordance with his own rules. His duties are reduced to teachers, but he is obliged to practice daily for the rest of his life.

Charter of Samurai


The samurai must respect the moral code that regulates the duties and rights of the samurai. This charter consists of seven moral laws: honor, loyalty to the master and the homeland, courage, honesty, self-control and feelings, humility and respect.

It is enough for the samurai to violate one of these laws so that he is stigmatized for the rest of his life. He may lose his status as Samurai and be stripped of all his privileges and be denied away, dubbed "Ronin," the scapegoat.

Samurai weapons


Although the Samurai teachings combine the intellectual and the combat sides, one of the most important elements of the samurai warrior is his mastery of martial arts, especially the mastery of sword and dagger. The sword, which is long and strong, is a symbol of samurai, in addition to a long, curved stiletto made of steel called wakizashi.

The samurai has a strong weapon, so he carries katana and wakizashi around his waist permanently, and is one of the worst mistakes that the samurai may commit, which requires a harsh punishment for the Samurai's disregard for his weapon or forgetting to wear it.

Where the samurai had to carry his weapon with him and ready to use at the first signs of danger.

The Samurai also uses sharp, serrated blades to defend itself, intercept the enemy sword, and a long arc called "Yumi" to throw arrows. Unlike the familiar bow, the Samurai arc is very long and very bent, Tapered steel is made of steel and is often soaked in the venom to eliminate enemies quickly.

During the training, Samurai uses flexible sticks ranging from 35 to 45 cm instead of the sword, in order to avoid accidents due to the severity of the sword blade and the seriousness of the injuries caused by it.

Samurai symbols


The fighters of Japan took the sakura (or cherry blossom) as their symbol. The life of the samurai fighter is said to be similar in color and precision to the cherry blossom that quickly dies and dies as soon as it falls from its tree. Who makes his life for the principles of honor, honesty and fulfillment.

But in some years the dragonfly was chosen as a symbol of samurai, where it adorned sword handles, warrior daggers, and war clothes. Japanese dragonflies symbolize strength, courage and victory. But perhaps the most important reason is that the dragonfly always flies in a frontal path. Never retreats like the samurai who never give up their enemy, but always collide face to face.

The principle of Harakiri


The Japanese culture is characterized by a strange principle called "Harakiri" or "Saboku", a method of death began in the Samurai class, where the Samurai when committing an error touching his honor to kill himself using the dagger "Wakizashi "By creating a deep cross wound that cuts the abdomen, then a longitudinal wound from the top to the bottom. There is a less painful way of suicide: only one casual injury, while another person cuts off the samurai head with one stroke of the Katana sword.

The law of Harakiri is a way of purifying the great sins that the samurai may inadvertently or intentionally commit. It is usually carried out in the temples in the presence of the samurai, who wears a traditional white dress, sits on his knees, opens his belly with a dagger, One of his servants is beheaded.

This Samurai method enables him to die with honor and to save himself and his family from shame and disgrace.

It is not the end of life for the samurai fighters. If the Harakiri method is exclusive to men, the noble women and the wives of the fighters adopted the "Jikayi" method of cutting the neck arteries with a sharp dagger.

Although Harakiri was banned in 1868, a large number of Japanese soldiers and commanders applied it at the end of World War II after defeating the Japanese Empire to avoid the shame they felt.

The end of the samurai


The end of the Samurai by the US naval commander, "Matthew Perry," used by the Japanese emperor to end their influence and face them in unequal battles, led to the defeat of the Japanese fighters and stripped in 1876 of their weapons and titles and privileges.

Only two years later, in 1878, the samurai fighters were completely eliminated. Japan began its challenge to join the Western countries. Japan's fighters became a myth of generations.


Sources

samourai: culture et pouvoir guerriers

dinosoria.com/samourai.htm

wikipedia - Sakura

clickjapan.org/art_guerrier/samourai.htm