Samurai Culture

Table of Content What is Ronin History of Ronin The life of Ronin What is Ronin The word "Ronin" (浪人) in Japanese originally referred to someone who left their registered land and wandered to other places, much like a vagrant. In ancient Japan, due to strict census systems, becoming a ronin could lead to many inconveniences. However, the more commonly known meaning of ronin...

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...

Complete Guide to Understanding Samurai Horse Armor: Uma Yoroi (馬鎧) Samurai armor has long fascinated people worldwide with its intricate design, historical significance, and iconic appearance. You might know that the earlier type of samurai armor, the Ōyoroi (大鎧), was designed for mounted warriors. But have you ever wondered if the horses they rode were also armored, like the knights of medieval Europe? In this guide, we...