The Evolution of the Ancient Way of the Warrior

From the Ancient Chronicles to the Tokugawa Period

Bibliographic Data

ID13070397
AuthorsMaria Paola Culeddu (Sapienza University of Rome, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume6
Issue2
Pages87-109
Publication date2018-06-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAsian Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2232-5131 • E-ISSN: 2350-4226
PublisherUniversity of Ljubljana (PUBLISHER • SI)
DOI10.4312/as.2018.6.2.87-109
OpenAlexW1572444937
LanguageEN
References cited10

The term bushidō is widespread today and involves history, philosophy, literature, ­sociology and religion. It is commonly believed to be rooted in the ancient “way” of the bushi or samurai, the Japanese warriors who led the country until modern times. However, even in the past the bushi were seldom represented accurately. Mostly, they were depicted as the authors thought they should be, to fulfil a certain role in society and on the political scene.By taking into account some ancient and pre-modern writings, from the 8th to the 19th centuries, from the ancient chronicles of Japan, war tales, official laws, letters, to martial arts manuals and philosophical essays, and by highlighting some of the bushidō values, this article attempts to answer the questions how and why the representation of the bushi changed from the rise of the warrior class to the end of the military government in the 19th century

Aesthetics · Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Literature · Martial arts · Period (music · Political science · Politics · Representation (politics · Classics · History · Japanese History and Culture · Law · Martial Arts: Techniques, Psychology, and Education · Philosophy

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