A Brief History of the Samurai
* 660 BC: Jinmu Tenno becomes Japan's first emperor, establishing
the ruling empire of Yamato. Weapons and armour develop.
* 400s AD: Warhorses introduced to Japan from China.
* 500s AD: Buddhism introduced to Japan (via China) and becomes
the dominant philosophy for rulers and warriors. The Yamato court is dominated
by the Soga clan.
* 645 AD: Taika Reform begins.
* 702 AD: Taihô codes of law establish the Great Council
of State.
* 710 AD: Nara established as first permanent capital.
* 781 AD: Emperor Kanmu comes to the throne and moves the capital
to Kyoto.
* 794 AD: Heian period begins (and imitating the Chinese becomes
extremely fashionable).
* 858 AD: Fujiwara family regains control of the Imperial court.
* 935 AD: Taira Masakado leads a revolt and proclaims himself
new Emperor. Other Samurai leaders exert their influence across the lands.
* 1180-85 AD: Minamoto Yoritomo wages the Genpei War with the
Taira Clan.
* 1192 AD: Yoritomo becomes the first permanent Shogun and establishes
a Samurai government in Kamakura.
* Late 1200s AD: The Mongols invade Japan. After many years
of bitter warfare, the Mongols are defeated. During this war, the Samurai
develop a fighting style more dependent on the sword as the primary weapon
in battle.
* 1318 AD: Go Daigo becomes the 96th Emperor. He attempts to
overthrow the Hojo regents, but instead gives rise to a new dynasty of
Shoguns led by the Ashikaga family, who establish a government in Kyoto.
* 1400s AD: Master swordsmen establish schools to teach their
Kenjutsu styles.
* 1467-77 AD: The Onin War. This saw the decline of the Shogun's
power and the beginning of the 150 year Sengoku ("Warring Nations") Period.
* 1542 AD: The Portugese introduce guns.
* 1560 AD: Oda Nobunaga begins the process of unifying Japan
as a single nation. After his death, he is succeeded by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
* 1592 AD: Hideyoshi invades Korea on his way to invade China,
but dies in 1598 before succeeding.
* 1600 AD: The Edo Period begins.
* 1603 AD: The Tokugawa Shogunate begins.
* 1605 AD: Famous Samurai, Miyamoto Musashi, begins his
Musha shugyo (Warrior Pilgrimage). By the age of 30, Musashi fought and
won over 60 sword fights. He established his own school and taught for
many years. At the age of 60, he writes the book "Gorin no sho"
(The Book of Five Rings), one of the most famous writings about Japanese
sword arts. He also writes the "35 Articles on the Act of Swordsmanship."
* 1615 AD: Tokugawa Ieyasu writes "Bukesho Hatto" (Rules for
Martial Families) before his death. It gave the Samurai thirteen commandments
to live as warriors during times of peace.
* 1630 AD: Japan isolates herself from the rest of the world.
* 1854 AD: The United States of America sends a "Goodwill" armada
led by Commodore Matthew Perry. Japan opens herself up to foreign trade
at gunpoint.
* 1867 AD: Emperor Mutsuhito regains his traditional powers
and takes the name Meiji. The Meiji Restoration begins. Meiji establishes
his capital in Edo (later renamed Tokyo).
* 1868 AD: Emperor Meiji introduces the "Five Articles Oath,"
which begins the destruction of the Samurai class.
* 1873 AD: Emperor Meiji establishes an army based on open conscription
where anyone can join, hence eliminating classicism in the military.
* 1876 AD: Emperor Meiji outlaws the carrying of swords. The
Samurai have now lost their profession, heritage and right to bear swords.
Their position as an elite class ends after almost a millenia.
Disclaimer: This page has no official affiliation
with the SCA.
This page is currently
Under
Construction
E-mail
Home