The Role Of Heroes In The Edo Period

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The Edo period consisted of a variety of different heroes. Samurai class were the typical

heroes in the Edo Period. When samurai leaders were defeated in battle, they would perform a

ritual called sudoku. These samurai were always to be loyal to their master. Heroes during Edo

period were mostly male, strategic and fierce in battle.

Heroes were smart and fool-proof. Musashi was a young boy whose mother died and had a father that abandoned him. He was left in a monastery to be taught Zen Buddhism and became a courageous samurai. Musashi began to gain confidence and challenged an older samurai, he won that fight leaving his opponent vomiting blood. He walked out of the monastery when he was sixteen to go and challenge other samurai’s.
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Heroes in the Edo Period would

risk their lives to save their country. Samurai’s were to be prepared to take their own lives and

Live life there is no tomorrow. Shimazu Yoshihiza was a hero to his country. Shimazu

Yoshihiza was the eldest son of Shimazu Takahisa and fought for his people. He won

the battles against his rivals, but then focused on beating his greatest threat, Ito Yoshisuke.

He rallied up his best warrior and went to go fight Ito but was surprised with a disadvantage in

army size. Even with the disadvantage, he won the battle and conquered his land after four

years. There was a supreme leader known as Otomo Sorin, Otomo was being disturbed by the

southern border so he got all his strongest group of men and marched over there to see what
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Hideyoshi forgave the

shameful Yoshihiza and allowed him to keep his head. Yoshihiza died years later in 1611,

seeing his clan being defeated in the fighting of Sekigahara in 1600. (Shimazu Yoshihiza, 2017)

Yoshihiza was like his father, a leader of great energy, he was known as the greatest general

with the help of his brothers’ skills and the army. Yoshihiza was truly a great leader that has

ever lived to see how much he has accomplished and how many lands he has conquered. His

strategic plans and leadership was recognized and rememberable.

Heroes in the Edo Period were intelligent and fierce in battle. Japanese heroes were always thinking of strategies and has impacted many people. Whether if it was leadership or strategies in battle, the heroes accomplished saving their land and townspeople. People use the books Musashi wrote for strategies for battle in their own battles. Japan has become a strategic and strong country with these heroes. Japan expanded through many countries because of the heroes who possessed leadership and intelligence in battle. Japan will be known for its strategic offense and defense with their great leadership

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