Honor, Respect and Discipline. These aren’t just traits that leaders should have; these traits were what samurai lived by. The samurai, Japan’s elite military, started over 700 years ago. The samurai class rose to power in the 12th century and controlled Japan’s government until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
Not only did men have the honor of becoming a samurai, women could become a samurai as well. Women samurai were called Onna-bugeisha. Onna-bugeisha translated to english means female martial artist. These warriors were trained in numerous forms of combat but specialized in close combat. When not fighting on a battlefield the Onna Bugeshi protected homes, clans and led troops into battle.These female warriors were crucial to Japan’s protection.
Samurai were not primarily Japanese, in rare exceptions they allowed foreigners to become samurai’s too. The only African samurai, Yasoke, was alive during the Sengoku Period. Yasuke served under the powerful warlord named Oda Nobunaga. Oda Nobunaga died on June 21, 1852. Normally when a samurai’s master dies the samurai either became ronin known as masterless samurai or commit seppuku, a ritual suicide. These ancient warriors played a huge part in Japan’s history and their bravery, strength, and wisdom will never be forgotten.
