Roland Thorne - Samurai Films.

Put simply, the samurai were a warrior class, forming the armies of feudal leaders during Japans many civil wars between the 10th and 15th centuries, and during the relatively peaceful Tokugawa period (1603-1868). They wore distinctive armour and fought with weapons and styles unique to Japan.

There are many aspects of the samurais life which constantly crop up in samurai films, and these may confuse those unfamiliar with them. What follows is a summary of the main issues of samurai life, which are commonly referenced in the films, as well as a brief summary of the historical periods in which the films are usually set.

The importance of the samurai in Japans early civil wars gradually led to them becoming an important social class, the more powerful samurai becoming daimyo, feudal lords ruling a clan, and the warriors and peasants beneath him. Many of these daimyo began to study the fine arts, in what has been described by many scholars as an attempt to legitimise their rule over the uneducated peasants. Most of these daimyo insisted their samurai do the same, so the samurai became a highly educated warrior class, not only skilled at warfare, but also at arts such as painting, sculpture, calligraphy, poetry, and traditional dance and theatre. This created in the samurai an interesting contradiction: a man who could write a beautiful haiku one day, and strike his enemy down the next. Of course, to the samurai, there was no contradiction; both poetry and swordsmanship were considered arts, and there was beauty to be found in both.

The daisho were the two swords carried by the samurai, usually a katana (long sword) and a wakazashi (short sword). In the Tokugawa period there was actually a law which stated only samurai were allowed to carry both a short and long blade. These swords were immensely important to the samurai; they symbolised his position in the warrior class, and were described by many as the very soul of the warrior. Even a samurai in the most desperate of situations would be loath to give up his swords.

Focused on honour and obedience, the code of bushido has done much to colour how we view the samurai, specifically giving rise to the myth of all samurai being morally outstanding individuals obsessed with honour. The underlying principles of the bushido code are loyalty and obedience; the ideal samurai puts the wishes of his daimyo and clan above his own, and is prepared to die for them. Also important to bushido is a sense of honour, something which was tied closely to each samurais reputation.

However, the historical reality is far from the ideal. Any close examination of how the samurai conducted themselves in times of war reveals that the vast majority followed the bushido code only when it suited them. In truth, the samurai were much like many other warrior classes which have arisen throughout history. They strove to be the best at warfare they possibly could, and placed more importance on victory than on honour.

Both the mythical bushido samurai and his more brutal historical counterpart, have been the subject of many Japanese films. Regardless of his mythic status, the samurai always makes a compelling protagonist.

Part of the bushido code focused on ritual suicide, known as seppuku, or, more crudely, as hara-kiri. A samurai could be ordered by his daimyo to commit seppuku in punishment for some wrongdoing, or may have chosen to do so in the hope of absolving himself of some personal shame. Seppuku could also be used as a form of protest, a signed letter outlining the samurais grievance. A death through seppuku was considered much more honourable than being killed by enemies, so if a battle was completely hopeless, a samurai might consider seppuku. The actual ritual involved making a long deep cut across the stomach. When this was done an assistant would complete the process by swiftly beheading the samurai, putting an end to his suffering.

The term ronin literally means wave man, suggesting an individual adrift on the ocean, his future decided by the uncaring waves and currents. Ronin were masterless samurai, and there were many ways a samurai could end up unemployed. He may have displeased his daimyo, and been dismissed from his service. When daimyo were defeated in battle, and their lands taken by another, their samurai were usually left unemployed. It was also possible to be born a ronin. The strict class system of feudal Japan made it difficult for the ronin to fit into society; no longer able to fulfil the role he was born to, the ronin was also often too proud to give up his swords and become a farmer or merchant. Some lucky ronin were able to find employment with other daimyo. Others became bandits, or bodyguards and teachers to wealthy members of the lower classes. Many suffered dire poverty, unable to afford food and lodgings. The Tokugawa period produced many ronin. With the Tokugawa government regularly dissolving clans which displeased them, many samurai were left homeless and unemployed, forced to wander the roads.