My fascination with Japanese Soldiers crossed with my desire to create
historical figures lead easily into
creating and kitbashing Samurai from Japan's
Feudal period.
The
samurai were the members of Japan's military class, the elite of the elite.
If you will, samurai represented the Special Forces groups of Feudal Japan.
While some early samurai can be traced as early as 300 AD, most people's
perception of Samurai come from two periods, the Heian
Period (794-1185) when the powerful landowners hired them for the protection
of their properties, and the Edo period (roughly 1550 - 1700). It was
immediately after the Heian Period when the Shogun ruled Supreme in Japan,
supplanting the emperor with a military leader. During the Edo
Period, which was a slightly more peaceful time, many samurai dedicated
themselves more to intellectual studies.
The
samurai stood at the top of the social hierarchy and had many privileges. He was
supposed to be a good example to the lower classes by following the principles
of Bushido (the way of the warrior). Some of a samurai's most important
principles were loyalty to his master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior.
After a defeat or other dishonorable event, many samurai chose to commit suicide
by cutting their abdomen with a sword in order to preserve their honor. Such
ritual suicide is called seppuku.
Ronin
This
is a Ronin, a samurai who's master has been killed. Ronin sometimes
retained their ways under the Bushido code, and sometimes went into simple
robbery and assault. Also, many common thieves and highwaymen simply
called themselves Ronin to impress their underlings, or scare the rural
populations. |
|
 Samurai, with
ring mail and a helm. 
War helms became very popular, and ornate as the Samurai eras
progressed. A few
forward-thinking shogun spent extra money to dress all
their soldiers alike, as a
method of identification and to spread terror and awe
into the enemy and local
populations. In most armies, samurai and lower
warriors simply wore whatever
clothing, armor and weapons they owned.
Simple Samurai
This
is a more common Samurai, dressed for travel or everyday activities. He
carries his rice rations in a cloth tube over his shoulder, each day carefully
measured out and separated by a tie. This ensures that if he cuts the
cloth on a briar or thorn, only one day of rice will fall out, not his entire
supply. e carries a Chrysanthemum in his left hand (the flower of the
Emperor), and wears the white sash showing he is in the Emperor's employ.
He may be a messenger, or have been sent to some precinct or village to
arbitrate a dispute, or to carry a favor to a local government agent. |
|
Variety of Looks
This
trio shows the variety of armor available to Samurai through the periods.
Although the bamboo and quilted armor was favored by many Samurai because of
it's weight and cost, Metal armor was also much prized when
available. |
|
Historically True
This shogun sports a braided beard, as well as an
eyepatch. One of the most famous Shogun in Japan lost his left eye in an early battle, and despite that loss, rose to the rank of Shogun in the next decade. This is
especially amazing given how important depth perception and peripheral vision is in Sword fighting! |
|
|
|
This "samurai" displays a fiercesome war mask. The full face
mask was rarely used in Combat, being more often reserved for plays,
dramas, and special court occasions. This mask represents Tengue,
a troll or demon living in the Western Mountains. Tengue is a
demon of mischief, and his visage is often used to scare children.
Half face masks were popular in combat, allowing the helm and chin
protection to exist, but keeping the eyes and face open for commands and
vision.
|
|
