Gay tales of the Samurai ?

http://www.paragonbook.com/html/browsesubj/fullcitation.cfm?item=25107

Help I'm confused ! I thought this was Japan, not ancient Greece !!

- Matt


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This was originally called, as I recall, 'Comrade Loves of the
Samurai'

'Gay' is unfortunate as it's a modern term, denoting a modern
expression of homosexuality - and usually an overt one at that.

To say samurai were homosexual is an over-simplification. Rather they
lived in an overtly-patriarchal society where masculine virtues were
held in high regard (higher than the feminine) and consequently found
a physical outlet.

All overtly-patriarchal societies are marked by same-gender sexual
activity - Greece (as you mention) particularly Sparta, Japan,
the English Public School, etc. etc.

Many notable samurai had 'close companions' - notably Oda Nobunaga
and Uesugi Kenshin, and I believe Takeda Shingen and Tokugawa
Ieyasu have been hinted at.

There are instructions in "Hagakure" for the proper arrangements (can
we say courtship) between samurai, and the film Gohatto (which by
the way has some splendid sword-play sequences) focusses on just
this point.

Thomas