Special Sub-Topic: The Samurai Click Here To Play: The Samurai

Samurai is derived from the Japanese word meaning what?

to serve. The word "samorau" means to serve. A samurai is a warrior in the service of a lord or Daimyo.

What is the Bushido?

the Samurai warrior code. The Bushido code was closely observed by the Samurai. The code was heavily influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism. In particular, it stressed loyalty, frugality, martial arts mastery and honor until one's death.

What does the word "Bushido" mean?

"Way of the Warrior". "Bushido" means "Way of the Warrior". The Bushido code was closely followed by the Samurai and was their way of life.

The Samurai code included the practice of "Seppuku". What is this?

ritual suicide. Seppuku was considered an honorable way to die. If captured by an enemy a Samurai would prefer to die by his own sword than live as captive.

Although the Samurai used many different weapons, one particular weapon was placed above all the others. What is it?

katana (sword). The samurai used various weapons, but the katana is the weapon that is synonymous with samurai. They believed that the katana was so valuable and precious, they often gave them names and considered it as one of the living. The katana did not become the primary weapon until the Edo period. The tachi and uchigatana were used prior to the katana when swords first came to the battlefield.

The "yumi", a longbow, was one of the many weapons used by a Samurai. Was was the art of using a longbow called?

"kyujutsu". "Kyujutsu" literally translates to "skill of the bow". The longbow was important throught Japanese millitary history even after the invention of firearms.

A Samurai with no attachment to a clan, lord or Daimyo is called a what?

a Ronin. Ronin literally means "wave man" because a ronin's destiny was to travel aimlessly like the waves of the ocean. Early on in the history of the samurai a ronin was a samurai whose lord died. Later, the term was also associated with a samurai who was banished or simply chose to become a ronin.

Starting in the "Momoyama period" only the Samurai were allowed to carry weapons. What ruler during this period enacted this law?

Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the year 1588, Hideyoshi forbade ordinary peasants from owning weapons and started a "sword hunt" to confiscate arms.

Despite the romantic 20th century portrayal of the samurai, they could be disloyal, dishonorable and even cowardly. A very notable example of the treacherous Samurai was a retainer of Oda Nobunaga. What is this Samurai's name?

Akechi Mitsuhide. Akechi Mitsuhide did not assassinate Nobunaga personally; he forced him to commit seppuku. Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu rushed to avenge the death of Nobunaga. Hideyoshi reached Mitsuhide first and defeated him at the Battle of Yamazaki.

Which of the following movie characters is NOT based on the Samurai?

"Diego De La Vega" portrayed in "The Mask of Zorro". Diego De La Vega and the character of Zorro is most likely based on the real-life "Mexican Robin Hood", Joaquin Murrieta.