The Great Samurai

Richard Le
East asia and china history

The Downfall of the once Great Samurai

Samurai’s have a long rich history and what it meant to be a Samurai is honor, valor, loyalty. You were also wealthy and were on of the elites of Japan’s class system. Although samurais were once known as “Great”, the samurai’s downfall was inevitable because they want to keep same traditions not trying modernize. During eighth century, the Heian Period, around the year 800 to 1200, Samurai originally was referred to household servants. The Heian Era was a time where Japan’s government was ruled by an Emperor who ruled with military force. The Emperor had heavy taxation and those who refused to pay the fine, which were rich landowners, were killed by a well

To enhance their military power, they would hire these Bushi warriors because of their abilities to protect and serve the lords who had hired them. Bushi Warriors were a very dedicated group of individuals. True Bushi warriors, If commanded, were expected to take their own life without the slightest hint of hesitation. Any form of disgrace whether it being a coward, or dishonor, or even defeat that would damage the reputation of their lord would be enough of a reason to commit suicide by seppuku. Seppuku is a punishment done by stabbing yourself in the stomach and cutting left to right. Seppuku is also used when you would rather die with honor instead of the hands of your enemy or has done an action that had cause shame to

But, one of the biggest names in Japanese history is Tokugawa. Tokugawa reigned from 1603 to 1867. This was also referred to as the Edo Period. A Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu was the man who started this Tokugawa Dynasty. A Shogun is the Commander and Chief of an army, which is pretty much the ruler of the land. Even though the name of Tokugawa was already powerful and revered as it is, they grew even bigger when Tokugawa triumphed over the western army commanded by Ishida Mitsunari in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. This gave the name of Tokugawa supremacy in Japan. Just 3 years later in 1603, the emperor at the time, Go-Yōzei gave Ieyasu the title of Shogun to confirm his superiority. Being the Shogun of Japan, means that Japan is under his control. Ieyasu worked to encourage foreign trade and reinstitute the strength of Japan . It was only later when Japan isolated themselves from any foreign trade, under the successors of Ieyasu. The Tokugawa period lasted for about two hundred and fifty years.
Tokugawa Shogunate was a Militaristic way of government that feudal Japan adopted after Tokugawa was victorious in battle of Sekigahara and Ieyasu was named Shogun. The heads of the government were shoguns and each member had the name of Tokugawa and all these Shoguns were ruling from Edo castle. Many year later under the government of Tokugawa Shogunate, the name had changed to the Edo