Samurai Culture

Samurai, the iconic warriors of feudal Japan, are renowned for their loyalty and discipline. The word "samurai" literally means "to serve" in Japanese. In this article, we will introduce the top 10 samurai. While they may not necessarily have been the best fighters on the battlefield, each of them holds a special place in history and has had a significant influence on both Japan...

Table of Content What is Ronin History of Ronin The life of Ronin What is Ronin? A Ronin is a masterless Samurai, in Japanese the word "samurai" (侍) means "to serve," a ronin finds themselves without a lord to serve. They remain a bushi (武士, warrior), but their social standing and purpose are drastically altered. Beyond the privilege of carrying a sword and a...

Table of Content What is Jinbaori Material of Jinbaori History of Jinbaori Jinbaori Design & Pattern What is Jinbaori The Jinbaori is a type of short haori worn over samurai armor, similar to a surcoat or sleeveless vest. In Japanese, the name "Jinbaori" (陣羽織) is made up of two words: 陣 (jin), which generally refers to battle formations or military encampments, and 羽織 (haori),...

Shields are used for protection all over the world. But when we look at Japanese wars, we don’t see shields as often as in the West. Is this true? Did the Japanese samurai even use shields? In this article, we’ll look at the history and details of Japanese shields. History of Japanese Shields Shields in Japanese are called 楯 (Tate). They have been used...

Table of Content What is Ashigaru? History of Ashigaru Ashigaru vs Samurai: Social Status Weapons of Ashigaru Armor of Ashigaru Necessary Supplies for Ashigaru Income of Ashigaru: Dangerous but Poorly Compensated What is Ashigaru? The term Ashigaru 足軽 in Japanese literally means "light feet," and it refers to foot soldiers hired by the samurai class. These soldiers were usually farmers who, during times of...