LESSON 9.6 Who were the samurai?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to describe the lifestyle, philosophies and conduct of the samurai class during the sh̄ogunate period.
Tune in Samurai armour was designed to be intimidating to opponents. It varied greatly during the sh̄ogunate period, which lasted nearly 1000 years. SOURCE1 Samurai armour from the time of the Mongol invasions (thirteenth century)
1. What are your thoughts on the armour in SOURCE 1? Would you find something like that intimidating if it was charging towards you in battle? 2. Discuss why you think the making of traditional samurai weapons and armour is held in such high regard by people from all around the world.
9.6.1 The role of a samurai The respect for warriors in Japan increased from the Heian period and grew further during feudal times when society was structured around military power. Daimȳo were influential warlords whose power relied on the combat skills of the samurai, who pledged loyalty to them. Samurai pay varied based on their success and experience. New recruits received basic amounts of money — just enough to live on — and were often assigned guard duties. Experienced samurai held significant influence over their lords and served as trusted advisors. However, they were not permitted to own land, since having independent income could compromise their loyalty to the daimȳo.
TOPIC9 Japan under the sh̄oguns 233
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