Way of Life of the Samurai
Samurai- Attire (Armour and
Helmet)
The attire, weapons and the warrior code (developed by the ancient Yayoi
warriors at about 200 BC) had been the centrepieces for the Japanese Samurai
since the early period. As such, each armour and sword was highly regarded and
meticulously made and chosen for each Samurai.
An
early, simple armour consisted of a helmet that protected the head and neck, a
breastplate that provided protection for the chest, arm and shoulder protectors
and a belly wrap. However, the armour had shown changes in design and materials
as the types of battles changed over time.
Between
the 11th and the 12th century, there were two basic types
of armour. The first one was the ‘Oyori’ (great armour) that was worn by
high-ranking Samurai. It had a ‘square, box-like appearance with large
shoulder and arm protectors and a large helmet with neck protection’. It was
later improved by adding greaves to protect the legs, an armoured skirt or apron
for protection of the thighs and mail for protecting the forearms. The Oyori
completes itself with a gorget and an iron mask (which interestingly, usually
resembles a scowling face) to protect the neck and face.
Nonetheless,
by the 15th century, most Samurai had abandoned their Oyori as its
heaviness and inflexibility restricted their movements.
The
other type of armour was the ‘Haramaki’ (belly wrap). It was simpler and
lighter than the Oyori. Although it was initially worn by only low-ranking
Samurai, it became more popular among different levels of Samurai with the
Mongol invasions during the 13th century. The reason was that as the
need for hand-to-hand combat and foot-fighting rose, flexibility and mobility
became more vital than before and the lighter Haramaki was therefore worn for
practicality. In simple terms, the Haramaki consisted of a body protector made
from laced rows of scale armour. It was then improved by adding better shoulder
protectors and helmets. By the 15th century, even the high-ranking
Samurai wore Haramaki instead of the Oyori. Still, to befit their status, their
Haramaki were carefully decorated and they wore large helmets that were made
from small plates riveted together.
In the following years, as
the demand for a simple armour that could be made quickly and economically
increased, a new type of armour was made by sewing metal plates onto a cloth
base, with gaps being protected by mail. After 1543, with the introduction of
firearms, solid plates were used in place of the lamellar forms used for the
former types of armour for a more effective protection.
In
1868, the fighting that accompanied the restoration of the emperor was the last
occasion when the Samurai armour was worn in battle.
Samurai- Weapons and the Martial
Arts
Like
the attire that they wear, the weapons used by the Samurai had shown much
adjustment to their varying needs with time. The use of Samurai weapons can be
dated back to the early times, when bows, arrows and swords were used, with a
greater emphasis on archery. In those days, the Samurai sword (which later
became their most important weapon) had very limited uses, such as for close- in
fighting and beheading their enemies.
In
the 5th century, horses were introduced to Japan and the Samurai
quickly became experts in horseback fighting. But as the 13th century
approached, the battles that broke out with the Mongol invasion changed the
Samurai’s style of fighting. From then on, the Samurai started to make more
use of their swords and there was more fighting on foot than on horses. Besides
swords, they also used spears, daggers and Naginata. Of all the weapons, the
swords were the most highly valued possession of the Samurai, so much so that
the Samurai swords were often named and regarded as the ‘soul of their
warriorship’. To add on, a highly detailed etiquette evolved around the
correct way to wear, touch and use the traditional sword of the Samurai.
Therefore, casual treatment of the swords was taken as an insult to the
Samurai owner and could bring about lethal consequences.
The
Samurai wore not just one, but two swords (daisho). One of the swords,
‘daito-katana’ is long (more than 24 inches) and the shorter one was called
‘shoto-wakizashi’ (12 to 24 inches long). In battle, these two swords were
worn slung across the back. One
major change in the Samurai swords was that early swords which were straight
(designed in Korea and China) were later toughened and sharpened by making them
curved. Until today, the Samurai swords we see have curved blades.
The
class of martial arts practised by the Samurai in the early Edo period was
termed ‘Bugei’ or ‘Bujutsu’. It refers to actual combat, or specially
designed rigorous exercises for war-like situations. Under Bugei, there were the
various arts, which all carry the suffix-jutsu
(technique). Examples included Kenjutsu
(sword) and Yarijutsu(spear).
Then, with the coming of peace, there was a shift in the Samurai’s mentality.
Increasingly, Bugei was learnt and practised more for their own sake than for
application in wars.
In
a later period, modern forms of the Samurai martial arts were recognised and
called ‘Budo’. Budo was very different from Bugei as it emphasised on
friendly combat rather than the life or death duels involved in Bugei. Examples
of Budo skills carried the suffix-do
(way) and they include Kendo (sword)
and Aikido (Karate).
Contrary to common beliefs, the Samurai did have a very different life
outside the warrior class. In fact, as opposed to the aggressive and the
high-spirited image that they so often portray, many Samurai actually have a
peaceful and aesthetic side. Not only were they preoccupied with accomplishments
in the martial arts, many were attracted to poetry, calligraphy and other
literary arts. In time to come, many Samurai became accomplished poets. Even in
wartime, some Samurai continued in their artistic pursuit and developed artistic
talents to match their martial skills.
Although
verse- making was widespread among Samurai at that time, it was the art of
‘Cha no Yu’ (Tea ceremony) that became the most popular mode of artistic
expression. The Cha no Yu is a Zen-inspired art which aimed to develop a sense
of natural simplicity, a direct experience of reality, uncluttered by
intellectual considerations. In short, a world of recluses. Consequently, tea
bowls were highly prized as a preferred gift to a fine sword which used to be
valued above all other things.
However,
it is fascinating to note that not every Samurai who frequented the teahouses
were there to practise Cha no Yu. Instead, they were there for private
discussions of sensitive military affairs and the isolation and calm of a
teahouse provided just the right kind of ambience for them. In addition, many
Samurai also took the tea ceremony as just another means to show off their
wealth and sense of fashion. They went to large extends and paid much money for
the pottery, bamboo and metal utensils that they used for the tea ceremony.
Still,
the above pastimes that the Samurai have picked up were generally viewed as
being very important to them. It was thought that the Samurai needed to balance
his martial studies with more peaceful accomplishments.
As
a result, poetry and the tea ceremony were thought to be able to ‘divert the
Samurai’s energies from a single-minded devotion to war and absorb them into a
more peaceful state.’