Re: Two ideas...Bushi-------Jack Murphy

In response to Tom Helm's point, I would like to volunteer a rough
definition of bushi. Of course, no kanji here is carved on stone! From the
earliest days, figurines called haniwa were found in Japanese tombs. Many of these
were likenesses of warriors in full armor. We can assume that from at least
the Nara Period, circa 700, horses had already been introduced into Japan,
most likely from the three kingdoms on the Korean peninsula. In a country
riven by war like Japan, inevitably the horses would be used by mounted warriors.
Therefore, I would submit that this may be taken as perhaps the first
appearance of bushi, or warriors, into Japanese life. By the time of the Gempei War
of 1160-85, the bushi began, in weapons, sword and bow, and in armor, to take
on more of the characteristics of the samurai we recognize today. Of
course, at no time does it appear that the world bushi actually was replaced by the
term samurai; by the same token, the English word "sergeant" has been used as
that of a commander of men at least from the time of the battle of Agincourt
in the Hundred Years War in 1415. Certainly from the time of the Gempei War,
a samurai was considered a warrior who owed loyalty, fealty, to his daimyo,
or lord. Those samurai who lost their master were, of course, known as the
ronin. The period of the Age of the Country at War saw the greatest flowering
of the samurai in Japanese military history. Of course, this definition is
subjective, and only intended to stimulate further discussion. Concerning
Bushido, I would invite Tom Helm to offer a definition. All the best, Jack
Murphy, The Japan Foundation.


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Jack et al-
There is some terrific info in the archive, takes a little effort put
some of it together, especially if one were new to the subject. The
problem think our erudite webmaster faces is having to "dumb it
down"(god forbid). I suggest something like;

Q. What is a samurai?How can I become a samurai?

A. Samurai or more properly Bushi were a social class in pre-modern
Japan. All classes were abolished in Japan in 1877(?) there are no more
samurai only their descendants. For more on the samurai class see;

www.samurai-archives.com/originalgangsta/html

on the abolition of bushi status;

www.samurai-archive.com/bustthisup!/html

on Bushi culture;

www.samurai-archive.com/cultofpersonality/html

I realize there is some groaning going on out there, far be it from me
to place extra burdens on someone who has done a terrific job to date.
It is not my intent to step on any toes, just thinking out loud
really...
-t