Samouraïs

In the 21st century, we only know the samurais through movies such as Kurosawa’s "Seven Samurais", reporting a legend based on actual facts: « the story of the 47 ronins » in which honor, fidelity, and engagements are key elements.

But who really were those samurais?

This warrior’s class ruled over Japan for more than 700 years and has profoundly influenced Japanese culture.

For many centuries, Japan was the scene of fierce battles between various clans of rich landowners. Those landowners, facing the impotence of both the government and the emperor, raised personal armies to defend their filed, thus increasing the power of the warriors. Thus, far from the court, a distinct class was gradually born: the samurai.

Since the 12th century, the samurais constituted the highest of the four caste in Japan: warriors, peasants, craftsmen and tradesmen. A code of honor governed the samurai’s life: the "bushido" or "way of the warrior".

This code of conduct was most often transmitted orally from generation to generation within the same clan. Indeed, apart from the common values of all warriors, such as courage and loyalty to his Master (the Daymio), each clan had its own bushido to become a model warrior, and this specific code could be consigned.

Bravory, fidelity, loyalty, honor, but also courtesy, politeness, sincerity, are the precepts of the bushido. The seppukku (more known as hara-kiri) is an inseparable practice of the Bushido. Except from the battlefield, seppuku is part of the Bushido’s refinement of the ruling classes. It has its own code which must be scrupulously observed. This act is not a solitary act and practice restricted and selected groups.

The unification of the shogunate in the early 17th century (including the fall of Osaka in 1615) will see the Tokugawa dynasty establishing his court in Edo (now Tokyo). This unification will enable samurai to devote more time to poetry, music, or calligraphy... Thus, turning into men of letters or officials at the end of the Edo period (1868).

The opening of Japan to the Occident and the suppression of the privilege of carrying their swords (katana and wakizashi) in 1876, marked the end of those warrior’s reign.  

Under the samurai’s mask, there were men, with their richness, their diversity, but also an elite of warriors who dominated Japan for 7 centuries.


  • Garanties sécurité (à modifier dans le module "Réassurance") Garanties sécurité (à modifier dans le module "Réassurance")
  • Politique de livraison (à modifier dans le module "Réassurance") Politique de livraison (à modifier dans le module "Réassurance")
  • Politique retours (à modifier dans le module "Réassurance") Politique retours (à modifier dans le module "Réassurance")
  • Dans sa jolie pochette cadeau accompagnée de son certificat d’authenticité
Ou
Par chèques cadeaux valables un an sur le site ou à la galerie Dans sa jolie pochette cadeau accompagnée de son certificat d’authenticité Ou Par chèques cadeaux valables un an sur le site ou à la galerie