The Samurais, The ultimate Stoics

Essay by CeleryHigh School, 10th gradeB, March 1997

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The Samurais, The Ultimate Stoics

For seven centuries, the Samurai were Japan's warrior class. As a class of warriors and knights, they dominated society in feudal Japan. Their code or "Way of

the warrior", bushido(History of the Samurai-www),called

for a life of duty, discipline and self control, on and

as well as off the battlefield (History of the World-

Houghton Mifflin Company- Boston288). His loyalty and

bravery to his lord was much more important than his

loyalty to his friends, family and even their emperor.

Their philosophy was one of freedom from fear(World

Surfari-www), and for these reasons, The Samurai were

the ultimate stoic warriors.

The word samurai was derived from the Japanese word

for service, saburau(Grolier Electronic Publishing,

1993), for they served their masters faithfully. They

would die if necessary for them. The Daimyo or feudal

landowners used the samurai to protect their land and to

expand their rights to more land.

The Samurai would

transcend their fear of death, this made them the stoic

warriors that they were.

As experts in fighting on horseback as well as on

the ground they wore two swords. This was called

Daisho(World Surfari-www). The long sword was called the

daito-katena(Ibid.). It was more than twenty four

inches long. The shorter sword was called shoto

wakizashi. It was between twelve to twenty four

inches(Ibid.). Their swords were the "soul's" of the

worship. A good sword was tougher and sharper. The

swords were tested before they were used by the samurai.

The sword tester used the new blades to cut through

corpses and bodies of condemned criminals.(World

Surfari-www) The test results were put on the nakago,

the small metal piece on the sword blade or

handle(Ibid.). Another weapon, the nagita, was used by a

foot soldier on a horseman. The foot...