FREE ESSAY ON SAMURAI

SAMURAI

SAMURAI
The samurai is a part of a warrior class in Japan. The samurai formed a one of a kind
class. The samurai wore two swords as a symbol of their caste . In 1867 the last shogun
resigned, and the samurai class lost its privileges in 1871 when the whole feudal system
was wiped out. During that time the practice of wearing swords was prohibited. In 1878,
the name samurai was changed to kwazoki, nobility, or shizoku.
The way of the warrior, called the Bushido, was a code of the ethnics observed by the
samurai of feudal Japan. Bushido was based on virtues such as rectitude, endurance,
frugality, courage, politeness, veracity, and, especially, loyal ruler and country. Only
through the exercise of these could a samurai keep his honor . If the samurai forfeited
the virtues he would be compelled to commit suicide by hara-kiri. Fully developed by the
late 12th century, Bushido became a written code in the 16th century. When feudalism was
wiped away about mid-19th century, the code was forgotten.
The Ronin were a class of masterless samurai, who had lost their place in the normal
loyalty pattern of the Japanese feudal society. Samurai could become ronin for different
reasons, such as the death of their lord, their own transgressions, or loss in battle.
The famous incident of the 47 ronin occurred in the early 1700's after their lord had
been first insulted beyond endurance and then having attempted to redress his grievances,
was ordered to commit suicide , the 47 ronin plotted to avenge him, but in so doing
forfeited their own life.
Hara-Kiri was the Japanese practice of ceremonious suicide by cutting their belly, or
otherwise known as disembowlment. The term is also used to signify any suicide performed
for the sake of personal honor. Hara-Kiri originated in feudal Japan, when it was used by
the samurai to avoid the dishonor of capture by their enemies . As practiced by persons
of all classes, hara-kiri frequently served as an ultimate gesture of devotion to a
superior who had died, or as a protest against some act or policy of the government. The
practice eventually became so widespread that for centuries an estimated 1500 deaths
occurred annually by their method. hara-kiri was abolished in 1868.