History of the Samurai - Feudal Japan - Full Documentary

The samurai (or bushi) were the warriors of premodern Japan. They later made up the ruling military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo Period (1603-1867). Samurai employed a range of weapons such as bows and arrows, spears and guns, but their main weapon and symbol was the sword.

Samurai were supposed to lead their lives according to the ethic code of bushido ("the way of the warrior"). Strongly Confucian in nature, bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior. Many samurai were also drawn to the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism.
History

The samurai trace their origins to the Heian Period campaigns to subdue the native Emishi people in the Tohoku Region. Around the same time, warriors were increasingly hired by wealthy landowners that had grown independent of the central government and built armies for their own protection.

The two most powerful of these landowning clans, the Minamoto and Taira, eventually challenged the central government and battled each other for supremacy over the entire country. Minamoto Yoritomo emerged victorious and set up a new military government in 1192, led by the shogun or supreme military commander. The samurai would rule over Japan for most of the next 700 years.

During the chaotic era of warring states in the 15th and 16th centuries, Japan splintered into dozens of independent states constantly at war with one another. Consequently, warriors were in high demand. It was also the era when ninja, warriors specialized in unconventional warfare, were most active. Many of the famous samurai movies by Kurosawa are set during this time.

The country was eventually reunited in the late 1500s, and a rigid social caste system was established during the Edo Period that placed the samurai at the top, followed by the farmers, artisans and merchants respectively. During this time, the samurai were forced to live in castle towns, were the only ones allowed to own and carry swords and were paid in rice by their daimyo or feudal lords. Masterless samurai were called ronin and caused minor troubles during the 1600s.

Relative peace prevailed during the roughly 250 years of the Edo Period. As a result, the importance of martial skills declined, and many samurai became bureaucrats, teachers or artists. Japan's feudal era eventually came to an end in 1868, and the samurai class was abolished a few years afterwards.

[obiwanshinobi]

Watching this while taking a little break from Ghost of Tsushima

[skeletonmandiecastcollector]

I’m not alone when it comes to looking up Samurai history but I think a lot of us that are playing a game called Ghost of Tsushima are taking a break from playing and researching Samurai history via google or book or watching Samurai documentaries on YouTube 👍🏻😊🇯🇵

[Berengier]

8:42 "the ritual of a samurai sword duel begins" both men begin to fly

[jpowell]

As a kid growing up in the early 80s I fell in love with Japanese culture and especially the Samurai after watching Richard Chamberlains SHOGUN💯

[mehkimatthews]

I search one Ghost of Tsushima and most of my recommendations are just Samurai, but no complaints; this is awesome

[TheArtOfMind]

That samurai would of lived if he just learnt the “Dance of Wrath”, smh.

[prashatt]

Who’s here after finding out about The Ghost of Tsushima🤣🤣🤣.

[princegroove]

Here I am living as a virtual samurai while playing Ghost of Tsushima. 😁

[captainspiffy]

I'm here because of blue eye samurai. it made me interested in japan and cool samurai

[Beanibirb]

Why is Japanese history so fucking interesting

[roninrider]

I want a Netflix series about feudal Japan produced by Ken Watanabe NOW..or the director that did 47 Ronin but in a series.

[mimiali]

I love Japan so much and the samurais that I have a tattoo of a samurai on my back, I can't wait to vist it there soon

[Copat]

Watching everything Samurai related after beating Ghost of Tsushima.

[Life]

I hate when they get these non practicing know it alls to demonstrate a theory. Someone trained versus non trained will always yield a different effect.

[potnoodleslife]

8:51 Went from a history lesson in Samurai warriors to Crouching tiger hidden dragon fake bullshit 😂🤦‍♂️

[killerbsting]

Who came looking for a good samurai documentary after diving into ghost of tsushima????

[enterthebruce]

Haven't even played Ghost of Tsushima yet and I'm already watching this documentary!

[HAPPYFUNTIMEx]

Pretty cool, until they gave that lanky dude, who isnt a swordsman, 2 swords to try and cut things with. That part was useless... both styles of sword require real technique to bring out their true cutting potential. They are not machetes...

[ryanstevens]

8:56 I didn’t know they could fly through the air back then! Huh I guess you do learn something new everyday.

[bobs]

I'll give you the real story. Emperor samurai walks in, hacks the family to death and the reason why their hands are cut up, because they were holding them over their face .