Historic Replicas

This is a continuation for our last blog entitled Ancient Japan…

Between the 9th and 12th centuries, Japan was engulfed in an ongoing war for land between the three ruling families:  the Minamoto, Fujiwara, and the Taira clans.  This epic struggle for control of the Japanese islands produced the samurai; astonishingly, they resembled the European knights in practically every way.  Both rode horses, wore elaborate japanese armor, and used exquisite, ceremonial historical weapons - samuari swords.  Both swore allegiance to a landowner (in Japan, they were known as Daimyo), and were eventually given land of their own.  The most remarkable similarity, though, was in the behavior; the knights had their code of chivalry, the samurai, their Bushido, or “Way of the Warrior”.  Bushido will be the topic of our next blog.