Post by Umeko on May 14, 2005 20:15:09 GMT -5
Another dose of unofficial history with yours truly.
The samurai's sole purpose is to serve their lord. At least in the early days of Japan. Bushido evolved later during the peaceful Tokugawa era.
China influence again. During the warring states era in China, feudal lords had loyal retainers who protected their lords while *quietly removing* opposition. They were known as jianke or chike, translated as sword-guest or assassin. If you get caught, you're acting solo.
(This is unofficial history, the way my pops tell it in folk history.)
The idea travelled with the first lot of Chinese immigrants to the islands of Japan. After the Qin dynasty came into power, the tyrant in charge ordered a small armada to set sail for the Islands of the Blest to seek the Elixir of Immortality. The commander in charge was given 500 young boys and 500 young girls (for sacrificial purposes
) and ordered not to return until he found the elixir.
The whole armada was never heard from again. Conclusion to the story: They settled in Honshu. Lucky devils ;D On the mainland, the tyrant continued oppressing the people until he was finally poisoned by one of his elixirs.
In Japan, the practice evolved in two ways.
The open protection unit became the samurai. Often of noble birthright, bestowed with lands and power by their lords. Then having developed a taste for power, the samurai started grabbing power from the emperor. The Shogun is the acting ruler of Tokugawa Japan, not the Emperor, even if he is a descendant of the Sun Goddess, yada yada.
The covert ops unit evolved into the ninja. Often of peasant stock, included both male and female, and to an extent disliked by some samurai for their *sneakiness* ;D. They are often very loyal and rarely rebel as their lord holds the power of life and death over their clan. Rebel and your next family reunion's going to be in hell. ;D
About seppuku,
(Pops says again ;D)
It was recorded in Chinese folk history, an incident very similar to seppuku occured in Shang dynasty China. A loyal & upright court official was falsely accused by the king's favorite concubine of treason. >:(The man was challenged by the woman in court to prove his loyalty by cutting out his own heart (yes, women are scary
;
According to folk history, he cut open his own belly and tore out his own heart. going through the chest can be very awkward with the ribs in the way. When the news reached the people, it triggered an uprising that ended the Shang dynasty.
Official records for this act of self-disembowelment in Japan stated that it is a means for samurai to salvage their clan's honor after suffering a defeat in battle and having the gall to survive it. Understandably, it's messy, painful & a slow way to go. So they introduced the use of a second swordsman to behead the victim and end his misery.
The samurai's sole purpose is to serve their lord. At least in the early days of Japan. Bushido evolved later during the peaceful Tokugawa era.
China influence again. During the warring states era in China, feudal lords had loyal retainers who protected their lords while *quietly removing* opposition. They were known as jianke or chike, translated as sword-guest or assassin. If you get caught, you're acting solo.
(This is unofficial history, the way my pops tell it in folk history.)
The idea travelled with the first lot of Chinese immigrants to the islands of Japan. After the Qin dynasty came into power, the tyrant in charge ordered a small armada to set sail for the Islands of the Blest to seek the Elixir of Immortality. The commander in charge was given 500 young boys and 500 young girls (for sacrificial purposes
) and ordered not to return until he found the elixir.The whole armada was never heard from again. Conclusion to the story: They settled in Honshu. Lucky devils ;D On the mainland, the tyrant continued oppressing the people until he was finally poisoned by one of his elixirs.
In Japan, the practice evolved in two ways.
The open protection unit became the samurai. Often of noble birthright, bestowed with lands and power by their lords. Then having developed a taste for power, the samurai started grabbing power from the emperor. The Shogun is the acting ruler of Tokugawa Japan, not the Emperor, even if he is a descendant of the Sun Goddess, yada yada.
The covert ops unit evolved into the ninja. Often of peasant stock, included both male and female, and to an extent disliked by some samurai for their *sneakiness* ;D. They are often very loyal and rarely rebel as their lord holds the power of life and death over their clan. Rebel and your next family reunion's going to be in hell. ;D
About seppuku,
(Pops says again ;D)
It was recorded in Chinese folk history, an incident very similar to seppuku occured in Shang dynasty China. A loyal & upright court official was falsely accused by the king's favorite concubine of treason. >:(The man was challenged by the woman in court to prove his loyalty by cutting out his own heart (yes, women are scary
;
According to folk history, he cut open his own belly and tore out his own heart. going through the chest can be very awkward with the ribs in the way. When the news reached the people, it triggered an uprising that ended the Shang dynasty.
Official records for this act of self-disembowelment in Japan stated that it is a means for samurai to salvage their clan's honor after suffering a defeat in battle and having the gall to survive it. Understandably, it's messy, painful & a slow way to go. So they introduced the use of a second swordsman to behead the victim and end his misery.
