The Samurai Research Paper

"When you hear the word samurai, what image comes to mind? Savage, blood-spattered warriors lopping off heads with great swords? How about quiet, refined gentlemen writing poetry about the delicate beauty of cherry blossoms? Both of these images reflect the dual nature of the samurai. They were powerful, ruthless warriors, and at the same time, respectful, cultured thinkers. A samurai was expected not only to be an expert with the bow and the sword, but also to read and write and even to know mathematics. The term samurai originally meant "those who serve in close attendance to nobility" in Japanese. The samurai emerged late in the tenth century in and around the city of Kyoto. When the emperor was unable to gather an effective army from the

They paid these men to be their soldiers; loyal, not to a nation, but to them. These men were the first, true samurai. For hundreds of years, under several different shoguns, the samurai were bound to specific daimyo. If one daimyo declared war on another daimyo, it was the samurai who fought. The early wars were more like civil engagements between respectful opponents than massacres between bloodthirsty adversaries. Often, a battle began with a warrior announcing his fighting accomplishments, thereby declaring his worth as an opponent. Since the early weapon of choice for the samurai was the bow, conflicts began with high-ranking samurai archers mounted on horses. The battle proceeded in a somewhat orderly fashion with the samurai foot soldiers bearing lances and

The legendary bravery of the medieval warriors stiffens the backbone of public figures who long for a militarily strong Japan. Recently a general prefaced his remarks about meeting the challenge of a threat by North Korea by saying, "We are the descendants of samurai." And though the Japanese constitution prohibits the use of military force in international disputes, and public opinion strongly supports a pacifistic foreign policy, conservative politicians increasingly channel the samurai spirit as they argue for amendments that would allow Japan to fight foreign