Summary
Highlights
Female warriors, known as “Onna-Bugeisha,” participated in combat alongside male samurai. Their weapon of choice was the naginata, a spear with a short curved blade, providing them with greater reach.
Samurai were open-minded regarding sexual relations, even encouraging same-sex relationships known as wakashudo, or “The Way of Youth,” typically formed between an experienced samurai and a trainee. This aspect of samurai culture is often overlooked in historical accounts.
The average height of samurai warriors was between 5’3 and 5’5, considered small compared to European knights. However, their smaller stature provided an advantage in mobility on the battlefield.
While early feudal periods saw frequent warfare, the Edo period (1615-1868) was largely peaceful for samurai. During this time, armor and weaponry became more ceremonial than practical for combat.
The unwritten code of Bushido emphasized loyalty, courage, veracity, compassion, and honor above all else. Respect for life also balanced the warrior's character.
Seppuku, a ritualistic suicide, was a gruesome but honorable act for samurai who failed to follow Bushido or faced capture. Battlefield seppuku involved disembowelment followed by decapitation by a fellow samurai. Formal seppuku was an elaborate ritual involving ceremonial bathing, a final meal, writing a death poem, and then performing the act, again followed by decapitation.
Samurai weren't exclusively Japanese. Western warriors could align with samurai, receiving their own weapons, armor, and a new Japanese name as honorary samurai.
Unlike common perceptions of warriors, most samurai were highly educated, with high literacy rates and a continuous pursuit of knowledge and skills in various arts.
Samurai armor was designed for mobility and protection, made from lacquered metal plates and leather tied with laces. The kabuto helmet protected the head and neck, often featuring masks to intimidate enemies. Over time, samurai armor evolved to be considered highly protective, influencing modern military flak jackets.
The Katana, the samurai's main weapon, was lighter and more aerodynamic than European longswords. Samurai would test the durability of their swords by making 16 systematic cuts through dead enemies hung from trees.