Knight vs Samurai Essay

During the Edo period in Japan, society was divided into 4 major classes consisting of Samurai, Farmer, Artisan and Merchant. There was the ideal version of social organization that we preferred by the Tokugawa Government however this format did not really match the reality of Edo period life. In the article, Tokugawa Period/Edo Period: Economy and Society, it says that, “the merchant class, officially at the bottom of the Tokugawa social structure, benefited greatly from the period’s economic…

Miyuki Ishikawa, born 1887 in Kunitomi, graduated from the University of Tokyo and later married Takeshi Ishikawa. She found work at the Kotobuki Maternity Hospital as a midwife and would end up becoming the director of the hospital, a surprising advancement for a woman in her country at the time. Despite little being recorded about her personal life, it would seem as though she lived one serving the new mothers and their children diligently throughout her career. However, at the end of World…

The Heian period in Japan was one of the last divisions in the classical part of the Japanese History which was from the year of 794 to 1185. During this period of the Japanese history was when Taoism and Buddhism were at their peak. The Heian period which is known as the most historical phase which Japan went through was because of its poetry, literature and art. The period of the Heian had started before the Nara period which had started in 794 by the 50th emperor which is known as Emperor…

Caught up in between an industrialization and isolation period, Japan had to make choices promptly in order to hold a solid future. The Meiji Era 1868-1912, was the period in Japan's history where ports were opened to the outside industrializing world. However, this caused controversy considering whether or not this restoration was really the best alternative. Additionally, it is often debated, to what extent was the Meiji beneficial for Japan. Looking to the surrounding historical context of…

By the end of the twelfth century, as rivalries among the noble families led to almost constant civil war, centralizing forces again asserted themselves. A powerful noble from a warrior clan named Minamoto Yoritomo defeated several rivals and set up his power base on the Kamakura. To strengthen the state, he created a more centralized government under a powerful military leader known as the shogun. The shogun attempted to increase the powers of the central government while reducing rival…

Japan’s Samurai heritage influenced modern Japanese thinking and behaviour Japan’s Samurai heritage has influenced modern Japanese thinking and behaviour through Samurai. In modern day Japan we can still see many examples of Samurai behaviour through the bushido code and the eight virtues of a Samurai. The Samurai changed Japan’s history by introducing Feudal Japan. This was a period in time were Samurai were in power. The Samurai’s values of the Bushido code were what made the Samurai…

In the book The Samurai's Garden, many of the characters are let down by family, health and other unexpected reasons. Though during the most unexpected times, one will find the light they need through the beauty of others and the world. When one takes a step back in life to see the bigger picture, it is easy to find more beauty in the simple things, than the complex items in life. Throughout the book, many friendships are evolved. As time goes on, the friendships grow and trust becomes a key…

history of Japan are the Samurai warriors. Samurai were Japanese warriors who were honored for their skills as a warrior and their distinct influence on Japanese fashion. One thing that was important to the Samurai were The Seven Virtues. The Seven Virtues of Bushido are: Justice, Courage, Benevolence or Mercy, Compassion, Honesty, Honor or Dignity, and Loyalty. The Virtues are important because it embodies a daily code of living for the Samurai. To become a Samurai, a lot of training is…

Zoughari, Kacem. The Ninja: Ancient Shadow Warriors of Japan (The Secret History of Ninjutsu). 1 ed., Vermont, Tuttle Publishing, 2013, pp. 28-88. The Ninja: Ancient Shadow Warriors of Japan (The Secret History of Ninjutsu), is a book about the art of ninjitsu, including its various forms, how it is practiced and the history of ninjitsu. However, for doing research on historical ninja, its second and third chapters, “The Public Record of Ninjitsu”, and “The Private History of Ninjitsu,” proved…

The Yakuzas, a criminal underground organization that lurks within the shadows of Japan, featured a various amounts of innovative tactics, unlawful activities and strategic formation. These gruesome barbaric acts that highly benefited the organizations, was insured by the “Oyabun”. The term, Oyabun, means boss. (It’s the highest role and figure in the organization.) Every “head honcho” had their differing ideologies than the previous leader of which helped the progression of the gang move…