Japanese Castles

Japanese Castles as they are known today evolved from traditional fortifications. These fortresses were built for the main purpose of military defense. For this reason they were placed in very strategic locations. These fortifications were also built to serve as governing centers which meant they needed to be well protected.


By the Sengoku (1467 – 1603) period these fortifications became the homes of daimyo’s (feudal lords). The fortifications served as a way to not only show other lords their strength and power but also to impress them with the beauty and elegance of the interior. As these fortifications became more and more elaborate they became known as Japanese castles.

The first one of these castles was built in 1576 by Oda Nobunaga. This was the first fortification or castle to include a tower keep and it was the center of governance for Oda’s territories as well as being his lavish home. The location of the castle allowed him to keep track of the movement and communication of his enemies and it was only a short distance from Kyoto.

These castles were built to last and they had to be able to be defendable and strong, despite this they were still primarily constructed of wood. They did include more stone that other Japanese buildings but nowhere near the amount that is found in European castles.

Few of these castles remain today many of them were destroyed by conflict which they were built to guard against. While others were destroyed in a more modern era, such as the castle at Hiroshima which was destroyed by the atomic bomb, this castle was rebuilt as a museum. Castles that remain today include the castles at Matsue and Kochi which were built around 1611. Today more than 100 castles can be found throughout Japan, this number may seem large, until you realize that at one point there were over 5,000 castles scattered all over Japan.

A large number of these castles were deliberately destroyed by the Meiji Restoration in 1871 which sought to abolish the Han system. During this period 2,000 castles were either destroyed or dismantled. Many of the castles you may see in Japan are reconstructions that are made out of concrete and made to resemble the wood that they were originally built from.

Samurai Armor

The samurai were well known throughout Japan and the world for their fighting skills. Despite the fact that they were most commonly remembered for their swords and skills, their armor was also a very impressive sight.


The first dedicated attempt at armor for these highly trained warriors was plate armor in the 5th and 6th centuries. This armor was short lived and popular culture recognizes the armor as wearing a different type of armor.

The lamellar armor is what the samurai are most known for. This armor is made by binding metal scales together to create a plate. These plates were then covered with lacquer so that they would be able to withstand water. The plates were bound together with leather in a way that each plate slightly overlapped the other. This reduced the ability of an enemy to find a gap between the armor.

There are two main type of lamellar armor. The Yoroi armor was worn by the samurai who were honorable enough to be mounted. This type of armor featured a metal helmet and very striking shoulder guards. This armor was considered to be relatively heavy since the samurai had the aid of the horse.

The second type of armor was Do-Maru. This was the armor that was worn by the samurai who fought on foot. This armor was much lighter than the Yoroi armor because the samurai had to be able to walk and fight efficiently in the armor. This type of armor was also more closely fitted as the fighters on the ground were more vulnerable.

Eventually the Do-Maru armor became the most popular because hand to hand combat became more prevalent. The helmet of this armor was called the kabuto and they were often riveted together in distinctive patterns. The more important the samurai the more intricate the helmet and the more likely that it would be decorated with clan symbols. Some of these helmets are so intricate that today they are considered to be works of art.

To get dressed the samurai would first don an undergarment. This would then be covered by a kimono and a pad would be placed on the head to make wearing the heavy helmet more bearable. The samurai would then put on the Do which was the main torso armor and it hangs from the shoulders. On top of the Do would be Tsurubashiri which was a leather covering that went over the Do. This would often have colorful and intricate designs. Then the Sendan-no-ita, kyubi-no-ita would be placed over the shoulders. These metal plates hang down from the shoulders and protect the leather strands which bind the Do together. Finally there would be the Kote which was an armored sleeve placed on the left arm. The right arm was left uncovered so that the samurai would be able to fire a bow. This practice continued even after the samurai no longer practiced archery.

Samurai Yoroi / Kabuto

At the beginning of Edo period Samurai families used to display Armor and Helmet to celebrate the birth of a boy while ordinary citizens used a hand-made helmet called Iris Helmet to decorate the gateway. In the later years of Edo period, this display was moved indoors and the armor was added to it. Its handcraft has become sophisticated and they are displayed on chest with the wish of the boy’s heath and prosperity.

What is Bushido?

Bushido is translated at the “Way of the Warrior” and it was the strict code of honor that was adhered to by the Samurai. What makes this code so mysterious and important was that it developed over centuries of warriors and it was code that was never spoken of and never written. It developed out of the honor and morality that was prized by the samurai and became something that every samurai strived to live by.

The research that had been done in Bushido traces a distinct set of values that can be traced down through the centuries, despite location, lineage, class and even writing style. As far back as the 8th century a common set of ideals can be seen throughout the samurai of Japan. While it was rare for these values to ever be written down, it can be seen in the written communication and it the way that the samurai lived their lives.

The Bushido is the evolution of the samurai code that has existed for centuries. This code stressed honor above all else and that honor is achieved and maintained through loyalty, frugality, and of course a mastery of various forms of martial arts. Bushido contains this and the extra addition that if a samurai ever lost his honor he could regain it by committing seppuku or ritual suicide.

This code was widely practiced by the samurai who at one point equated to about 10% of the Japanese population. They were divided into both “high” and “low” samurai, high samurai were allowed to ride a horse and low samurai were allowed to carry two swords but not to ride a horse. Both levels of samurai were expected to uphold the ideals of Bushido.

The Bushido is known to have seven virtues which are Rectitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor and Loyalty. It was also sometimes the practice to include Wisdom, Care for the Aged and Filial Piety. But despite these honorable intentions and goals, it was all for one thing and that was to die a good death with one’s honor intact.

But despite the popularity of Bushido, there were a number of notable warriors who held the beliefs in disdain. The reason for this was that according to the tenets of Buddhism the warrior could reap no reward in the afterlife because as due their title their life involved killing. So even if one upheld Bushido it was the belief in Buddhism that they would receive no reward in the afterlife. It was for this reason that the soul of a warrior suffering in Hell or as a lingering spirit is a common image in Japanese art and literature.

The Rise of the Samurai in Japan

The Samurai has become one of the most infamous and popular parts of Japanese history. The reason for this is that they have often been known as the knights of Japan, elite warriors who were bound by ideals of honor and courage. It was between the 9th and 12th centuries that the Samurai ended up becoming a class of their own.

The wars that were present throughout Japan were over the fact that only 20% of the land was available for farming. With such a great need for warriors there arose two major warrior classes. The Samurai, who were considered knights and the bushi who were known as warriors. The samurai were a mixed group with some of them being part of the ruling class and some of them being hired men, completely loyal to their daimyo (feudal landowner).

As time passed the emperor allowed these elite warriors to become protection for all of districts and provinces. These positions became hereditary and the families became known for their skills as warriors. These warrior families perfected their skill and became to govern their lives around honing their skills as a warrior. They developed a strict system of codes known as Bushido. This code was at its core completely and utter devotion to the daimyo.

This devotion was so strong that part of the code that the samurai would kill himself if he ever failed in his duty to the daimyo. Any samurai who did fail in his duty and survived would become known as a ronin or masterless samurai. These ronin became beggars, assassins and they were completely shunned by society. Many of them would commit ritual suicide and some would threaten to commit suicide about the houses of wealthy lords as a way of embarrassing the lords into giving them food.

The life of a ronin was one that no proud and true samurai wished for and so suicide became a strict part of the code as well. Anytime a samurai failed in his duty or risked being caught in war, he would commit suicide in order to retain his some of his honor. These strict rules also applied to the females who lived in these warrior families.

The samurai were also known for being skilled both on foot and on a horse. They based their code, samurai dress and weapons on the ancient Yayoi warriors of China. These warriors wore a helmet to protect their head and neck, a breastplate, arm and shoulder protectors and a belly warp. Later this armor would include protection for the legs and thighs.

The samurai are still known today as some of the best and most honorable warriors Japan has ever known.

Masamune Date Word

"Stick too much to Justice, you become inflexible.
Too much compassion, you get weaker."

"Jin-仁" Love and compassion

Someone can take over the country without Jin, but No one can become the ruler of the kingdom without Jin.

This is a word of Mencius.

So, Samurai must have Jin to rule people.
This is Samurai's duty to have Jin, otherwise, society can not be reserved many years cause if people don't feel their favor, another ruler should stand.

Samurai imposed themselves on having Jin as ruler.

This is so true in anywhere. If you become a manager, we try to have Jin.
Otherwise we never win the hearts and minds of the people.

"Yuu-勇" bravery

My favorite word - 義を見てせざるは勇なきなり
Translation is like
You are not brave if you don't do right thing, facing the necessity of right thing.
Sometimes people can not take right actions due to her/his circumstances.
However, they themselves know they are cowards.

So, Samurai was trained to overcome this cowardice because cowardice ends up losing the phlegm in an extreme situation.

It is the Samurai to control their fear in any circumstances and judge their actions in a calm manner.Genuine bravery can do this calm manner in really really extreme situations.

Interesting enough Samurai was trained not to be confused in any situations.

Totally different world from peaceful everyday.

"Gi"

"Gi-義" is the most important virtue.

Simple explanation is "Do the right thing as human beings".

For Samurai, "Gi" is a kind of self-rule to judge their action.

If death is the right thing, Samurai dies.
If you have to fight against justice, Samurai never escapes and fights even they know they die.

Filthy behavior, foul actions,, these are totally against "Gi" way.

Looking at myself, it is sometimes quite difficult to fight back against evil just because we want to secure our daily lives.. Poor weak mind.

Be SAMURAI! Boy.

Bushido the way of the Samurai by Inazo Nitobe

Greetings from Artcraft Japan

As our start, writing about "Bushido - the way of the Samurai" written by Inazo Nitobe is very meaninful to discuss the essence of Samurai spirit.

For foreigner (from the Japanese point of view), the fact Samurai kills himself must be really hard to understand.

However, if you can overcome the extreme fear - death, and more than than, if you can control your own life closure by yourself,,, how you want to live your life?

So, Bushido is all about "how to live".

you wan to die with grace and dignity.

In order to die with dignity, you must live with high level of discipline and polish Samurai virtue.

Samurai spirit still lives in Japanese Culture and Consciousness.

Too serious???

Samurai Grace

This blog is about Samurai and Japanese Culture.
Samurai Culture is the main roots of current Japanese culture backbone.