The Sacred Origins of Japanese Imperial Rule
660 BC; The Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami gave her only son Mikoto three sacred objects – a clear mirror, a dazzling gemstone, and a shining sword. These precious objects were essential to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan. Because, the Japanese believe, whoever has these sacred objects will be the emperor of Japan. And so one day Mikoto handed them over to his successor Jimmu. According to tradition, Emperor Jimmu ascended the throne as the first emperor of Japan. He began the history of the royal family in the island country of Japan! Today we will be discussing about the great Samurai: Legendary Warrior History.
Feudal Japan and Agricultural Society
At the beginning of 794, Japan had not yet been touched by the industrial revolution. The entire country was based solely on agricultural production. At that time, most of the agricultural land in this feudal country was owned by the wealthy elite. They spent most of their time outside the home doing administrative work. In their absence, a group of trusted servants were engaged in looking after the fruit-growing land. In addition, they had armed soldiers-feudals to protect the crops from plunder. These soldiers protected the wealth of the master from local ruling groups and bandits. And so they eventually became known as samurai, which means service provider.
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The Samurai Tradition and Rise of Military Power
This is how the ancestors of the samurai have been fulfilling this duty of protection for generations. The samurai tradition has survived in Japan for many years by clinging to this profession. Gradually, they became irresistible historical soldiers for the sake of the security of the farmland. At one time, they also started fighting for the emperor against various enemy groups. In exchange, they received a large salary and the opportunity to live in the allocated barracks.
The Shift in Political Power
This is how the life of the samurai went on. However, while fighting with fierce bandits and enemies, they eventually became so strong that they became the leading figures of the clan groups. They gained the power to rule each disputed region. At this time, the power of the feudal Japanese emperor Mikado suddenly began to change. The power of the emperor and his council gradually began to decline.
The Gempei War and the Minamoto Shogunate
During this period, military groups and their loyal samurai warriors became the dominant force in the country. Political power began to shift to the hands of powerful clan leaders. Several clan conflicts also occurred. The Gempei War emerged. In this war, which lasted from 1180 to 1185, two clans, the Taira and the Minamoto, engaged in a struggle for state power. During this period, the Minamoto clan achieved the final victory. This clan was led by the samurai warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune.
The victorious warrior Minamoto formed a military government for the first time in Kamakura, Japan. He built his capital there. A strong military regime was created, which came to be known as the Minamoto Shogunate. After the formation of the government, the emperor was demoted to power. All political power was vested in the hands of the samurai. In this way, they began to run the empire as they wished. However, there was discipline in this wish as well. There was morality, loyalty and transparency. In this way, Minamoto established a dictatorship in the whole of Japan. No one could declare themselves as a samurai without his permission at that time.
The Mongol Invasions
1274-81, a powerful Mongol army was roaming in the Yuan Empire of China. Due to the aggressive power, they were greedily swallowing the honey of the Chinese Empire. One day, their eyes fell on Japan, the newly established land of the samurai. In the latter part of 1274, they set sail with a fleet to conquer Japan. The Mongols were ahead of the samurai in weapons and troops. And so they were snatching victory in every battle. However, even at that time they were stationed in Hakata Bay near Japan with their troops and troops.
One day, suddenly the familiar sea took on a terrible form. The Mongol fleet was caught in a storm. The sailors made a controversial decision at that time. To escape the storm, they set off for the Chinese coast in the fierce waves. The warship sank in the middle of the ocean due to the fierce waves. Thousands of soldiers died. Thus ended the first attack. Later, in 1280, they attacked again, but failed. However, the foundation of the Minamoto Shogunate was shaken.
The Ashikaga Shogunate
Taking advantage of the weakness of the Minamoto Shogunate, a samurai warrior named Ashikaga Takauji gathered others and started a rebellion. At one point, the Minamoto Shogunate also collapsed. A new power, the Ashikaga Shogunate, was formed. The activities of this shogunate, which began in 1336, lasted for about three hundred years. However, during this time, the power of several regions outside the shogunate was vested in the hands of local daimyo leaders.
Internal Conflicts and Samurai Authority
Then, internal conflicts for power arose again. The Ashikaga Shogunate was again disoriented by the clan-based Anin War that arose in 1467-77. These clan-based conflicts continued at various times later. At that time, only samurai were allowed to use swords. They used to carry two sharp swords called katana and wakizashi together, which caused anger in the minds of others.
They divided the professional groups within the country into different classes. Where the descendants of the shogunate stood at the top. Thus, the emperor took second place and the skilled samurai warriors took third place. The next in rank were the country’s farmers, fishermen, weavers and other communities. However, despite all this instability, the Japanese economy prospered at a great rate during this time.
The Tokugawa Shogunate and Bushido Code
In the late 16th century, political unity was re-established in Japan under the leadership of the noble daimyo Tokugawa Yasu and his successors. These clan conflicts ended in 1615. The samurai were once again united under the shadow of military rule. Tokugawa Yasu ascended to the throne. The capital was the then city of Edo, which is now Tokyo. During this time, the unwanted power of the samurai decreased. Public opinion and civil liberties increased. Peace and prosperity increased everywhere under the Tokugawa shogunate.
This rule lasted for 250 years. During this time, Buddhism spread everywhere under the hands of the Tokugawa. A unique code of life, Bushido, was established. Samurai warriors were bound by the rules of ethics, humility, politeness, accountability, and discipline. This became an unforgettable era in the history of prosperous Japan. Because, Japan made great progress during the reign of Emperor Muromachi. Many activities in present-day Japan are also carried out on the basis of this Bushido policy that was created at that time.
Western Influence and Decline of the Tokugawa Shogunate
At that time, Japan was known to the world as a country with a completely closed economy. However, this policy went against the grain of Westerners. And so in 1853, American naval commodore Matthew C. Perry rushed to Japan. He immediately started threatening and threatening. He forced them to participate in international trade. The Tokugawa Shogunate was forced to fall into the trap of this stubborn decision. Later, they also signed trade agreements with Britain, France, Holland and Russia.
The Meiji Restoration
As a result, the doors of the newly established peace-loving Japan of the samurai were opened for free Western trade and investment. At this time, famine and poverty struck the country. The stability of the Tokugawa Shogunate decreased. Unrest arose throughout the kingdom. Tokugawa’s reckless decision made everyone worried. The general public joined the movement. Samurai warriors also joined them. Everyone was engaged in restoring the political power of the Japanese imperial family, which had been dormant for almost 700 years.
The powerful groups of Choshu and Santumam declared the ‘Meiji Restoration’ in 1868 to return the power of the then Emperor Meiji. Finally, in 1871, the long-standing samurai rule was abolished. The imperial family was once again seated in the seat of power. After the abolition of the samurai rule, influential samurai secretly became involved in political parties. Thus, the samurai power has survived to this day. After regaining power, Emperor Meiji faced several wars with a strong hand.
The Legacy of the Samurai
Under his visionary leadership, Japan won the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 and the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. It achieved incredible success in geopolitics and economics. As a result, Japan participated in the First World War with the United States, Britain, and Russia. This time too, it returned victorious. However, it had to suffer the cruelty of fate during the Second World War. In that dark war, Japan, with the tradition of patriotic samurai in its heart, joined Germany on the battlefield with samurai swords and modern weapons. But the service did not end there.
The defeated soldiers surrendered, embracing the samurai tradition. The horrors of Little Boy and Fat Man in Hiroshima and Nagasaki still shock the world. The Japanese state was greatly damaged. The royal family donated a large part of their acquired wealth to rebuild the devastated country. In this way, the once powerful royal family descended into the role of historical characters of the state. Although they no longer have executive power, they are still respected in the eyes of the people.
The samurai’s far-reaching thinking, leadership skills, organization and cooperation were considered the national ideal of Japan until the end of samurai rule. These patriotic warriors have also protected the motherland from colonial invasions at various times. They have descended into the role of patriotic fighting soldiers.
And therefore, despite so many internal conflicts, they are considered national heroes of Japan. The code of conduct they followed, ‘Bushido’, continues to contribute to the elegant behavior of the Japanese even today. It has created a disciplined and orderly Japanese state. And so the heroic history of the samurai warriors will remain indelible in the diary of eternity.
