Famous samurai of Japan. Famous samurai Samurai clans
The Japanese samurai have an almost mythical reputation. The idea of katana-wielding warriors adhering to a noble code is incredibly romantic. Moreover, it was supported by legends and films. But in fact, many real facts about samurai are kept silent, since this would destroy the romantic flair created by cinema and literature.
1. “Horo” capes
Samurai wore massive 2-meter horo capes, which were stuffed with lightweight materials and fluttered around the samurai's body at the slightest wind. The horo was supposed to protect the samurai from arrows. The horo was also the main status symbol of the war. An enemy killed in battle wearing a horo was buried with honors.
2. Samurai swords
In the 13th century, when Japan was attacked by the Mongols, the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun first encountered an army equipped with heavy armor. Their swords did not stand up to criticism at that moment. Thin Japanese weapons got stuck in Mongolian leather armor, and often simply broke in half. These thin samurai swords broke so often that they were forced to abandon them and begin making larger, heavier swords to resist the Mongols.
3. Samurai “sissies”
In feudal Japan, a man who spent the night with a woman was considered a sissy. Samurai believed that sex with women had a "feminizing" effect on a man's mind and body. The samurai married if he needed it to procreate, but he never allowed himself to get carried away by his wife. If a samurai was seen kissing his wife in public, then his masculinity was questioned. At the same time, homosexual relationships were perceived as something ordinary.
4. The guarantor-lover
When a boy was learning the art of the samurai, he was often paired with an older man. The elder taught the boy martial arts, etiquette, a code of honor, and in return used him to satisfy lust. This was called "sudo", which means "the path from boy to teenager." When a boy turned 13, he usually swore allegiance to his teacher and lived with him for the next six years. This was considered completely normal. One Japanese poet wrote: “A young man without an older guarantor-lover is like a young girl without a groom.” It really was treated like a marriage.
5. Immediately and in front of a witness
If a samurai was treated disrespectfully by someone from the lower class, he could kill this person on the spot. There were several rules. The samurai had to do this immediately and in front of witnesses. Moreover, not doing this was considered shameful.
6. Right pant leg only
Samurai began to be paranoid about their bathroom after the incident of the daimyo Uesugi Kenshin, who was killed in the toilet in the 16th century. The killer sneaked into the toilet and stabbed Uesugi Kenshin with a spear, catching him by surprise with his pants down. After this, his rival Takeda Shingen became concerned that someone might do something similar to him and took action. Since then, all martial arts masters began to teach adherents to go to the toilet with their right pant leg completely lowered in order to ensure freedom of action. Samurai bathrooms were designed to be safe from assassins.
7. Post-mortem smell
A legendary samurai named Shigenari Kimura fought his last battle in 1615, defending a castle in Osaka. He boldly led his troops onto the battlefield, after carefully cutting his hair and fumigating his helmet with incense. Kimura knew that he would not survive and decided to "take care" of his future killer, leaving him with a fragrant corpse. He knew his head would be someone's trophy and he wanted it to smell good.
8. Dog in armor
At least one set of samurai armor, custom-made for a dog, survives today. Details are no longer known regarding how the dog armor was used, but scientists believe that it was likely that the armor was not intended for combat, but rather that it was used during parades or was simply ordered by someone from a collector. However, at one point in history, a samurai walked the streets of a Japanese city with a dog dressed in full battle armor.
9. Shakuhachi
One of the strangest types of samurai weapons are shakuhachi - bamboo flutes. Initially, these were simply musical instruments played by Buddhist monks. Over time, flutes were transformed when a group of Buddhists called komuso began walking around with baskets on their heads, playing the flute and preaching. The samurai realized that these people with baskets on their heads were simply the perfect disguise and began to pretend to be them. The samurai spies who were sent to suppress uprisings looked like monks in komuso. At the same time, samurai flutes had spikes for use as self-defense weapons.
10. Samurai Devotion
The Samurai Code didn't actually exist until the 1600s, and before that, samurai constantly betrayed their masters. Even after this, the samurai's loyalty existed only on paper, but not in real life. If the owner did not care about the samurai and did not adequately reward the warrior who protected him, then the samurai, as a rule, used any chance to slaughter him and go to serve the one who pays more. When Western missionaries first came to Japan, they were shocked by how much betrayal and backstabbing they saw.
And in continuation of the Japanese theme, we publish.
Warriors watch the hara-kiri of a samurai in white.
Samurai emerged during the Heian period around 710 AD with the goal of subjugating the local people in the Tohoku region in northern Honshu. Over time, they became increasingly powerful and became the military elite in Japan. They were the ruling class from the 12th to the 19th centuries.
The samurai commits hara-kiri, or seppuku, a ritual of suicide through the release of intestines.
Samurai followed a code influenced by Confucianism, which is known as bushido - literally "the way of the warrior." The unwritten and unspoken code glorified modesty, loyalty, mastery of martial arts and honor until death. The rules also called for heroic courage, fierce defense of family pride, and selfless devotion to the lord.
A group of samurai in ancient armor and weapons, circa 1870.
In the 15th and 16th centuries there were many warring factions, but their number subsequently decreased. Fearless warriors wore plate armor and a variety of weapons, including bows and arrows, spears, guns and, of course, the samurai sword. However, peace remained in the Edo period and many samurai became teachers, artists or officials as the need for mastery of martial arts became less important.
Photograph taken and colored by Felice Beato: women in a traditional Japanese shop, late 19th century.
When Emperor Meiji ascended the throne in 1868, he began to abolish the powers of the samurai. He first deprived them of their right to be the only army in Japan and began forming a Western-style conscript army in 1873.
One of the first war photographers, Venetian Felice Beato, took this photo around 1862.
The samurai became shizoku, merging with another social class under the influence of the Meiji reforms, and the right to carry a katana was lost, as was the right to execute anyone who publicly disrespected the samurai.
Group of samurai, circa 1890. Illustration for the booklet “In Japan: types, costumes and customs.”
The term "shizoku" (untitled nobility) remained part of Japanese culture until the end of World War II, but was abandoned in 1947. Despite the fact that at their peak, samurai made up no more than 10% of Japan's population, their influence is still very noticeable in Japanese culture, especially in modern martial arts.
A samurai in traditional attire and shoes blows into a sea shell.
Three Japanese samurai in full uniform.
Colorful traditional armor and ancient weapons on samurai, circa 1890.
Samurai is...
A samurai is a Japanese warrior. Stories about the courage and fortitude of the samurai have survived even to this day. The samurai class existed until the bourgeois revolution, and even after that some features in society were preserved. A samurai is not just a warrior; initially only feudal lords became such. The lifestyle and virtues of medieval samurai were widely reflected in art. Such popularization led to the distortion of some facts about the warriors of feudal Japan.
Origin
The meaning of the word samurai can be interpreted as “a person who served.” The first samurai appeared back in the 7th century. During Taika's reign, a number of different reforms were carried out. Thus, a privileged class of warriors emerged. Initially, these were people who already occupied a high position in society and were landowners. Samuraiism became widespread in the 9th century, when the Japanese Emperor Kammu waged a war against the Ainu. Over the next centuries, clear dogmas were formed that define a warrior. A set of rules "Bushido" appears, which states that a samurai is a person who puts loyalty to his master above all else. This is the practical difference from European chivalry. "Bushido" also pointed to kindness, decency, and honesty, but the focus still remained on loyalty to war and the master.
Ideology
Among the samurai, the most revered virtues were courage, loyalty, and lack of fear of death and suffering. This nihilism is due not least to the influence of Buddhism. The path of the warrior (literal translation of Bushido) also involved moral and psychological development. Many procedures, such as meditation, were designed to maintain balance and spiritual tranquility of a person. The main task of the “path of the spirit” was to cleanse oneself from emotional experiences and develop an indifferent attitude towards worldly vanity.
The absence of fear of death has become a kind of cult. A striking example of such an ideology is hara-kiri. This is a ritual suicide with a special knife. Harakiri was considered a worthy death for any samurai. The person who decided to commit it knelt down and then ripped open his stomach. Similar methods of suicide were observed among the soldiers of ancient Rome. The stomach was chosen as a target because the Japanese believed that this is where the human soul resides. During hara-kiri, a friend of the samurai could be present, who would behead him after cutting him open. Such execution was allowed only for minor crimes or deviations from the code.
Who is a samurai
Modern art has somewhat distorted the image of samurai. In ancient Japan, a samurai was, first of all, a feudal lord. The poor classes could not belong to this movement. In addition to social prejudices, this was also due to material problems. Samurai ammunition and weapons were very expensive, and training lasted a lifetime. A warrior was raised from childhood. These were, first of all, hard physical training. The teenager had to constantly work and train. For this, he had a personal mentor, who was the ideal and spiritual image of courage for the student. Training mainly consisted of endless repetition of the same combat situations. This was done so that the fighter remembered actions under certain conditions at the reflex level.
Spiritual education of a samurai
In addition to physical training, there were also moral ones. From childhood, the father had to teach his son not to be afraid of pain and hardship. To strengthen the spirit, a teenager could be woken up at night and ordered to go to a place that was considered cursed. Also, in their youth, future warriors were taken to watch the execution of criminals. At some stages it was forbidden to sleep or even eat. Such hardships were supposed to strengthen the body and spirit of the samurai. Home, family and children were never a soldier's priority according to Bushido. Before going to war, he swore to forget them and not remember them until his return.
Among the samurai there was a special elite - the Daimyo. It was believed that these were the most experienced and brave warriors. However, in reality these were simply large feudal lords who actually ruled individual regions. A samurai is not necessarily a man. History has preserved many memories of women warriors.
Samurai weapons
Samurai- this is, first of all, a man in expensive armor. On the battlefield, this is what distinguished them from the ashigaru - the peasant militia. Samurai armor was difficult to make and could cost more than an entire settlement. Unlike European armor, samurai armor consisted mainly of metal plates. They were connected to each other with silk threads and covered with leather. The samurai used swords as weapons - katanas, something between a saber and a European knight's sword. In addition to the katana, the samurai carried a small dagger with him. Yari - spears with a long sting - were also used. Some samurai used bows. With the advent of firearms, armor lost its practical use and was used only as an attribute of high status. Some elements of armor were used as a manifestation of military rank in capitalist Japan. In the Russian film "The Priest" the samurai is shown in modern society, which is not uncommon.
Mikhail Ikhonsky | Jun 25, 2018
At the turn of the 7th – 8th centuries, the rulers of Japan began to form professional military units. The basis of the regular army were samurai.
Over time, they were separated into a separate class, and the fame of their valor and courage spread throughout the world. Everything that was connected with them with Japanese warriors gradually became overgrown with legends and myths, until the samurai themselves became a kind of ideal warrior: brave, loyal and at the same time educated, and putting the honor of a warrior above all else.
But... what remains if we weed out all the existing myths that have been repeatedly reinforced by modern directors, artists and writers? What were Japanese samurai really like? As it turns out, they are not ideal at all.
Unconventional sexual preferences
Among the samurai, sex between masters and their young students was considered the norm. Such relationships were called “shudo” (translated as “the way of the youth”) and were part of the education of a new generation of samurai. It was believed that in this way young warriors were prepared for subsequent submission and service to their master.
Starting from the age of 13, a teacher was “attached” to each teenage student. The young and adult samurai lived together for the next 6 years, and all this time the master used his student to satisfy his own sexual needs.
As for intimate relationships with women, they were considered unnecessary and even unnecessary among samurai, since, according to the warriors, they could weaken their spirit and body.
Samurai married only in order to have offspring, but they never tried not to get carried away with their own wives - this was considered a sign of bad taste and could serve as a reason for the loss of respect among their “colleagues.”
Loyalty exclusively to one's own interests
It would seem that the loyalty and devotion of a samurai is an indisputable fact. However, it turned out to be a myth. There are facts in history when samurai not only went over to the side of the enemy in order to avoid death, but also handed over the head of their master to the enemy.
To obtain benefits, some samurai clans even deliberately divided themselves and stood on opposite sides of the barricades when sorting out the relationship between the two feudal lords. As a result, no matter which side won, the clan still received its “honestly earned” money.
At the same time, public opinion did not at all condemn the samurai, who served first one master or another. On the contrary, such concern for one’s own interests was even encouraged.
As for the boundless courage of the samurai, this fact is significantly exaggerated, since history knows battles during which an entire army, consisting of the elite of Japanese warriors, simply ran away at the sight of the enemy. Similar evidence was preserved not only in Japanese chronicles, but also in the documents of its closest neighbors.
Those left out of work
Whether bad or good, but while the passions of civil strife were raging in Japan, samurai were quite in demand. However, after the unification of the country and the cessation of internal wars, when there was no one to fight with, the samurai were left completely out of work (in external conflicts, to protect the interests of the country, the most famous Japanese warriors in their entire centuries-old history took part only once - in the 12th century) .
By this time, many samurai were already hereditary professional warriors, and were not accustomed to other work.
Along with their work, the samurai also lost their many advantages, so, willy-nilly, they had to look for other ways of existence.
Some managed to adapt, taking up crafts, trade and other activities, along with respectable citizens. Others continued to earn their living through their martial arts, as bodyguards for wealthy Japanese nobles.
But there were also many who, unable to find a use for themselves, took the criminal path. They became hired killers and founders of the Japanese Yakuza, no less famous than the samurai.
And not aristocrats at all
It is widely believed that only representatives of the Japanese nobility could become samurai. But in fact, samurai were originally the name given to the servants of aristocrats who held military posts in peacetime. These servants were mainly engaged in farm work and accompanying their master to various official events.
For a long time between military conflicts, samurai also continued to engage in farming. However, they were practically no different from other farmers in the country. Their only privilege was the right to bear arms.
Samurai code of honor
The Code of Bushido appeared much later than the samurai themselves and became one of the elements of that very myth, due to which the glory of Japanese warriors far outlived them.
The foundations of the “Way of the Warrior” were laid by Daidoji Yuzan and Yamamoto Tsunetomo, both from families of hereditary samurai. The second formulated the basic principles of the code in his work.
However, the code itself was never written down anywhere - its postulates were transmitted exclusively orally from generation to generation.
At the same time, the truth of the statements was never disputed or questioned. Those who dared to break at least one of the rules could not only be expelled from the samurai, but also forced to take their own lives (commit hara-kiri).
Who are samurai? They represent the feudal class of Japan, which was held in great esteem and respect among all other classes. Samurai were feared and respected for their cruelty in battles and nobility in peaceful life. The great names of the samurai of Japan are written in history, which will forever remember these legendary figures.
This is a kind of analogue of European knights, who swore an oath to serve faithfully to their master and played one of the most important roles in the Japanese community. Their activities and way of life were strictly bound by a code of honor, which was called “bushido”. The great samurai of Japan fought for the feudal lords or daimyo - the most powerful rulers of the country, who were subordinate to the powerful shogun.
The era of daimyo lasted from the 10th to the mid-19th century. During this time, the samurai managed to surround themselves with a kind of aura of nobility; they were feared and respected even outside the Land of the Rising Sun. Ordinary mortals admired them, admiring their cruelty, courage, cunning and resourcefulness. The samurai were credited with many feats, but the truth was actually much more prosaic - the famous samurai of Japan were ordinary killers, but what was the nature of their crimes!
Top most famous samurai of Japan
We can talk endlessly about great samurai. Their stories are shrouded in an aura of mystery and nobility; very often undeserved feats were attributed to them, but these individuals still remained the subject of worship and selfless respect.
- Taira no Kiyomori (1118 - 1181)
He was a commander and warrior, thanks to whom the first samurai administrative system of control in the history of the Japanese state was created. Before his work began, all samurai were simply hired warriors for aristocrats. After this, he took the Taira clan under his protection and quickly achieved success in political activities. In 1156, Kiyomori, together with Minamoto no Yoshimoto (head of the Minamoto clan), managed to suppress the rebellion and began to rule the two highest warrior clans in Kyoto. As a result, their alliance turned into bitter rivals, and in 1159 Kiyomori defeated Yoshimoto. Thus, Kiyomori became the head of the most powerful warrior clan in Kyoto.
Kiyomori was able to seriously advance his career. In 1171, he gave his daughter in marriage to Emperor Takakura. A little later, their first child was born, who was often used as leverage on the emperor. However, the samurai’s plans could not be implemented; he died of fever in 1181.
- Ii Naomasa (1561 – 1602)
He was a famous general or daimyo during the period when the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu was in power. He was one of the most loyal samurai that Japanese history has known. He rose significantly through the ranks and received great recognition after 3,000 soldiers under his leadership won the Battle of Nagakute (1584). He fought with such vigor that even his opponents admired his behavior on the battlefield. The Battle of Sekigahara brought him the greatest popularity. During the battle, he was hit by a stray bullet, after which he never fully recovered. His squad was called the “Red Devils” for the corresponding color of the armor that the warriors wore during battle to intimidate their opponents.
- Date Masamune (1567 - 1636)
The list of “The Most Famous Samurai” continues with this legendary figure. The daimyo was ruthless and merciless, as almost everyone said about him. He was an outstanding warrior and an excellent strategist, and his personality was made even more memorable due to the loss of one eye, for which Masamune received the nickname "One-Eyed Dragon". He was supposed to take the leading place in the clan after his father, but the loss of his eye caused a split in the family and his younger brother Date came to power. Already being a general, the samurai was able to gain a good reputation and was rightfully considered a leader. It was after this that he launched a campaign in order to defeat the neighboring clans. This created considerable excitement. As a result, the neighboring clan turned to the father with a request to curb his eldest son. Terumune was kidnapped, but he managed to warn his son about a similar outcome of events and asked him to kill all members of neighboring clans. Date Masamune followed his father's instructions.
Although this contradicts some ideas about samurai, Date Masamune was a supporter of religion and culture. He even knew the Pope personally.
- Honda Tadakatsu (1548 - 1610)
He was a general and one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Ieyasu along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa, and Sakai Tadatsugu. Of the four, Honda Tadakatsu had the reputation of being the most dangerous and merciless. He was a true warrior, even in the depths of his soul. So, for example, Oda Nobunaga, who, by the way, was not very happy with his followers, considered Tadakatsu a real samurai among all the other samurai. It was often said about him that Honda bypassed death itself, since he never received serious injuries, despite the fact that the number of his battles exceeded 100.
- Hattori Hanzo (1542 - 1596)
He was the most famous samurai and ninja of the Sengoku era. Thanks to him, Emperor Tokugawa Ieyasu survived, and a little later became the ruler of a united Japan. Hattori Hanzo showed brilliant military tactics, for which he received the nickname Devil Hanzo. He won his first battle at a very young age - Hanzo was only 16 years old at the time. After this, he was able to free the Tokugawa daughters from hostages at Kaminogo Castle in 1562. The year 1582 was decisive for him in his career and in gaining a leading position - he helped the future Shogun escape from his pursuers to the province of Mikawa. Local ninjas helped him in this operation.
Hattori Hanzo was an excellent swordsman and in his last years, as historical sources say, he hid under the guise of a monk. Many often attributed supernatural abilities to this samurai. They said that he could instantly hide and appear in the most unexpected places.
- Benkei (1155 - 1189)
He was a warrior monk who was in the service of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Benkei is perhaps the most popular hero of Japanese folklore. Stories about his origins are varied: some claim that he was born to a raped woman, while others are inclined to believe that Benkei was a descendant of a god. Rumor has it that this samurai killed at least 200 people in each of his battles. An interesting fact is that at the age of 17 he was more than 2 meters tall. He learned the art of using a naginata (a long weapon that is a mixture of a spear and an axe) and left a Buddhist monastery to join a sect of mountain monks.
According to legend, he went to the Gojo Bridge in Kyoto and was able to disarm every passing swordsman. Thus, he was able to collect 999 swords. During the 1000th battle with Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Benkei was defeated and forced to become his vassal. Several years later, while under siege, Yoshitsune committed ritual suicide while Benkei fought for his master. Rumor has it that the remaining soldiers were afraid to oppose this giant. In that battle, the samurai killed about 300 soldiers, who saw with their own eyes how the giant, pierced by arrows, was still standing. So everyone was able to find out about Benkei’s “standing death.”
- Uesugi Kenshin (1530 - 1578)
He was one of the most powerful commanders of the Sengoku era in Japan. He believed in the Buddhist god of war, and his followers were convinced that Uesugi Kenshin was an incarnation of Bishamonten. He was the youngest ruler of Echigo Province - at the age of 14 he took the place of his older brother.
He agreed to go against the greatest commander, Takeda Shingen. In 1561, the largest battle between Shingen and Kenshin took place. The results of the battle were mixed, as both sides lost about 3,000 people in this battle. They were rivals for more than 14 years, but even this fact did not stop them from exchanging gifts. And when Shingen died in 1573, Kenshin could not come to terms with the loss of such a worthy opponent.
Data on the death of Uesugi Kenshin are ambiguous. Some say that he died from the consequences of heavy drinking, others are inclined to believe that he was seriously ill.
- Takeda Shingen (1521 – 1573)
This is perhaps the most famous samurai in Japanese history. He is known, by and large, for his unique military tactics. Often referred to as the "Tiger of Kai" for its distinctive characteristics on the battlefield. At the age of 20, he took the Takeda clan under his wing, then united with the Imagawa clan - as a result, the young warlord gained power over all nearby territories.
He was the only samurai who had enough strength and skill to defeat the powerful Oda Nobunaga, who was striving for power over all of Japan. Shingen died while preparing for the next battle. Some say that he was wounded by a soldier, while others are inclined to believe that the samurai died from a serious illness.
- Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543 - 1616)
He is the first shogun and founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. His family practically ruled the Land of the Rising Sun from 1600 until the start of the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu gained power in 1600, three years later he became shogun, and two years later he abdicated his position, but remained in power the rest of the time until his death. He was one of the most famous commanders in the entire history of Japan.
This samurai outlived many famous rulers in his lifetime: Oda Nobunaga laid the foundation for the shogunate, Toyotomi Hideyoshi seized power, Shingen and Kenshin, two of his strongest rivals, were dead. The Tokugawa Shogunate, thanks to Ieyasu's cunning mind and tactical thinking, would rule Japan for another 250 years.
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 - 1598)
He is also the most famous samurai of his kind. He was a general and a great politician of the Sengoku era, as well as the second unifier of Japan and the man who brought an end to the Warring States period. Hideyoshi made efforts to create some cultural heritage. For example, he introduced a restriction that meant that only members of the samurai class could carry weapons. In addition, he financed the construction and restoration of many temples, and also played a significant role in the history of Christianity in Japan.
Hideyoshi, despite his peasant origins, was able to become Nobunaga's great general. He failed to obtain the title of shogun, but made himself regent and built a palace. As his health began to fail, Hideyoshi began to conquer the Ming Dynasty with the help of Korea. The class reforms carried out by the samurai significantly changed the Japanese social system.
In world history there have always been groups of people whose image remained forever romanticized in people's hearts. Western pop culture draws on European and American heroic figures, bringing them to life in Westerns, medieval films, and fairy tales set in countries ruled by kings and queens. Cowboys and knights have always served as an ideal image for creating popular media products, thanks to the countless adventures and exciting situations in which they found themselves with enviable consistency.
Samurai were the equivalent of European knights, a noble military class in medieval Japan. For hundreds of years, samurai played a vital sacred role in Japanese society. The samurai swore allegiance to his master and pledged to serve him with his blade and wisdom, following a certain set of moral and philosophical rules called bushido. Following the path of bushido helped the samurai to embody the concepts of chivalry, achieve mastery in martial arts, honor concepts such as loyalty, honor, service, and prefer death to dishonor. Some samurai could become military leaders by right of inheritance, without waiting for the will of the master.
After stories about samurai spread beyond Japan, people from all over the planet took a keen interest in their history. It was actually very exciting: samurai embodied the image of an ideal warrior who revered culture and laws, and who took his chosen path in life seriously. When a samurai failed his master or himself, according to local customs he had to be subjected to the ritual of seppuku - ritual suicide. In our list you will find the ten greatest samurai who lived in Japan at one time or another.
10. Hojo Ujitsuna (1487 - 1541)
Hōjō Ujitsuna was the son of Hōjō Soun, founder of the Hōjō clan, which controlled a large swath of the Kanto region, Japan's most populous island, during the Sengoku period (1467 - 1603). The Sengoku period was characterized by constant wars between families of high-ranking military personnel, and Hojo Ujitsuna was lucky enough to be born during this period of time, in 1487. Ujitsuna reignited a long-standing feud with the Uesugi clan by taking over Edo Castle in 1524, one of the main seats of power in medieval Japan. He managed to spread his family's influence throughout the Kanto region, and by the time of his death in 1541, the Hojo clan was one of the most powerful and dominant families in Japan.
9. Hattori Hanzo (1542 - 1596)
This name may be familiar to fans of Quentin Tarantino, since it was based on the real life biography of Hattori Hanzo that Quentin created the image of the swordsman for the film Kill Bill. Not much is known about Hanzo's early life, but historians believe he was born in 1542. Starting at the age of 16, he fought for survival, participating in many battles. Hanzo was devoted to Tokugawa Ieyasu, saving the life of this man on more than one occasion, who later founded the shogunate that ruled Japan for more than 250 years, from 1603 to 1868. Throughout Japan he is known as a great and devoted samurai who has become a legend. His name can be found carved at the entrance to the imperial palace.
8. Uesugi Kenshin (1530 - 1578)
Uesugi Kenshin was a strong military leader and also the leader of the Nagao clan. He was distinguished by his outstanding ability as a commander, resulting in his troops achieving many victories on the battlefield. His rivalry with Takeda Shingen, another warlord, was one of the most widely known in history during the Sengoku period. They feuded for 14 years, during which time they engaged in several one-on-one fights. Kenshin died in 1578, the circumstances of his death remain unclear. Modern historians believe it was something similar to stomach cancer.
7. Shimazu Yoshihisa (1533 - 1611)
This is another Japanese warlord who lived through the bloody Sengoku period. Born in 1533, he proved himself a talented commander as a young man, a trait that later allowed him and his comrades to conquer much of the Kyushu region. Thanks to his successes on the battlefield, he earned the selfless loyalty of his servants (sworn swords, as they were also called), who fought desperately for him on the battlefield. Yoshihisa became the first to unite the entire Kyushu region; it was subsequently defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his 200,000-strong army.
6. Mori Motonari (1497 - 1571)
Mori Motonari grew up in relative obscurity, but this did not stop him from taking control of several of the largest clans in Japan and becoming one of the most feared and powerful warlords of the Sengoku period. His appearance on the general stage was sudden, and equally unexpected was the series of victories he won over strong and respected opponents. He eventually captured 10 of the 11 Chugoku provinces. Many of his victories were against much larger and more experienced opponents, making his feats even more impressive.
5. Miyamoto Musashi (1584 - 1645)
Miyamoto Musashi was a samurai whose words and opinions still mark modern Japan. Musashi was a ronin, a masterless samurai who lived during the Sengoku period. Today he is known as the author of The Book of Five Rings, which describes the strategy and philosophy of samurai in battle. He was the first to use a new fighting style in the sword technique of kenjutsu, calling it niten ichi, when the fight is fought with two swords. According to legend, he traveled through ancient Japan, and during his travels he managed to win many fights. His ideas, strategies, tactics and philosophies are the subject of study to this day.
4. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 - 1598)
Toyotomi Hideyoshi is considered one of Japan's Founding Fathers, one of three men whose actions helped unify Japan and end the long and bloody Sengoku era. Hideyoshi succeeded his former master Oda Nobunaga, and began to implement social and cultural reforms that determined the future direction of Japan for a period of 250 years. He banned sword ownership by non-samurai, and also began a nationwide search for all swords and other weapons that were henceforth to belong only to samurai. Although this concentrated all military power in the hands of the samurai, such a move was a huge breakthrough towards general peace since the reign of the Sengoku era.
3. Takeda Shingen (1521 - 1573)
Takeda Shingen was perhaps the most dangerous commander of the entire Sengoku era. He was born heir to the Takeda family, but personally seized power when it turned out that his father was going to leave everything to his other son. Shingen allied with several other powerful samurai clans, which pushed him to expand beyond his home province of Kai. Shingen became one of the few who were able to defeat the army of Oda Nabunaga, who at that time was successfully capturing other territories of Japan. He died in 1573, suffering from illness, but by this point he was well on his way to consolidating power over all of Japan. Many historians believe that if he had not fallen ill, Oda Nabunaga would never have come to power again.
2. Oda Nobunaga (1534 - 1582)
Oda Nobunaga was the driving force behind the unification of Japan. He was the first military leader to rally a huge number of provinces around himself and made his samurai the dominant military force throughout Japan. By 1559, he had already captured his home province of Owari and decided to continue what he had started, expanding his borders. For 20 years, Nobunaga slowly rose to power, emerging as one of the country's most feared military leaders. Only a couple of people, including Takeda Shingen, managed to win victories against his unique military tactics and strategy. Fortunately for Nobunaga, Shingen died and left the country to his destruction. In 1582, at the height of his power, Nobunaga was the victim of a coup d'état launched by his own general, Akeshi Mitsuhide. Realizing that defeat was inevitable, Nobunaga retreated inside the Honno-Ji Temple in Kyoto and committed seppuku (ritual suicide of the samurai).
1. Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu may not have been the most effective samurai, but by the end of the Sengoku period, he became the man who held the best cards. Ieyasu formed an alliance between the Tokugawa and Oda Nobunaga clans, but with the death of the latter, a huge military force found itself without a commander-in-chief. Although Toyotomi Hideyoshi replaced Nobunaga, his absolute power over the country lasted a very short time. From 1584 to 1598, Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces fought with Toyotomi Hideyoshi's army for control of the country. In 1598, Hideyoshi died of illness, leaving a 5-year-old son as his heir. In 1600, at the Battle of Sekigahara, the forces of the Tokugawa army dealt a mortal blow to the remnants of the Oda-Toyotomi alliance. From this point on, he became the first shogun, whose dynasty ruled Japan until the revival of the Meiji dynasty in 1868. The years of rule of the Tokugawa clan left their mark on the path of development of the country, isolating it from the rest of the world for a whole quarter of a millennium.
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