"1,218 Years As A Warrior Class: The Samurai Of Japan"

Abstract

Traced from the 8th Century, the Samurai Class followed the martial philosophy of 'Bushido', or 'Way of the Warrior.' During 700 years of internecine warfare, some 2.2 million troops served various Daimyos - with 340,000 wounded, captured or killed. In 1603, however, all that disruption and civil commotion ceased under the Tokugawa Shogunate which restored peace for more than 250 years. The regime was sustained by a large bureaucracy and by land revenues worth, in July 2012 money, a huge US$60 trillion a year. Under the peace, Samurai turned to more benign pursuits than killing to administration, business, literature, poetry, mathematics and the tea ceremony. Women in marriage were expected to be humble, caring towards children, efficiently keeping household accounts and, above all, as required by widely observed Confucian law, being subservient to their husbands. Divorce was possible,but not often implemented. Modern day Samurai, whilst respected for their historical families, tend to work in business and other related areas. Modern day swordsmiths, like Seto Yoshihiro, whose work was once vital to the entire Samurai Class and their Feudal Lords,number only 200 and are restricted in their output of blades - one such blade sometimes taking five months to complete. Seto Yoshihiro is a designated master swordsmith and living national treasure - though his work is now more symbolic than military.