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Samurai vs. Knight:
Knight:
different cultures, same values
Bussero, June 1st, 2012
Who was a Samurai?
Samurai was a hereditary military
class of feudal Japan. Hereditary
means the position (essentially a
“caste") was passed on from father
to sons. The samurai subscribed to
a strict code of behaviour. They
would be the vassals of lord
essentially under contract to him to
fight battles for him and protect him.
A samurai would be trained in
military skills and the use of the
sword (the soul of the samurai).
Philosophically they tended to be
Zen Buddhists.
Samurai Values
Samurai was expected to act with: sense of duty (Giri 義
理), tenacity (Konki 根気), generosity (Kouryou 広量),
steadiness (Koushin 恒心), nobility (Kouketsu 高潔 and
humanity (Ninjou 人情).
Samurai strictly adhered to a war code of ethic named
bushido literally «warrior path». Bushido most
important element was honour both when fighting on
battlefield and in his private life.
Samurai’s education consisted of a specific set of
social, philosophic and religious rules. His training
lasted for several years because he had to keep full
control of his emotional sphere at all times.
Samurai Weapons
• Japanese Swords are the weapons that
have come to be synonymous with the
samurai. Ancient Japanese swords from
the Nara period (Chokutō) featured a
straight blade, by the late 900s curved
tachi appeared, followed by the uchigatana
and ultimately the katana.
katana
• The yumi (longbow), reflected in the art of
kyūjutsu (lit. the skill of the bow) was a
major weapon of the Japanese military.
• Pole weapons included the yari, a sort of
Japanese spear.
Who was a Knight?
A Knight was generally a man
belonging to a noble family who
started his chivalry career
during his childhood. His career
plan included three stages:
Starting as a Page first, he
became a Squire and finally a
Knight.
The Page
Age: somewhen between the ages of 7 and 13.
Duties included but were not limited to:
• Serve and obey his superiors
• Ride a horse
• Use weapons
• Play special games
• Hunt with falcons and hawks
The Squire
Somewhen between the ages of 14 and 21, a
page became a squire. By this time, he had
learned the basic skills required during their
knighthood training. As a squire, he was
considered a man capable of fighting in
battles. To practice the lance moves, the squire
used a tool called the quintain, a shield and
dummy which was suspended from a swinging
pole.
The Knight
Commonly around the age of 21, knights would be admitted to their rank in
a ceremony called the "Accolade
Accolade".
Accolade Knights of the medieval era were asked
to "Protect the weak, defenseless, helpless, and fight for the general welfare
of all." These few guidelines were the main duties of a medieval knight, but
they were very hard to accomplish fully. They were also trained to practise
courteous, honorable behaviour, which was considered extremely
important.
The Armour
The helmet: This item was a
form of protective gear worn
on the head to protect it from
injuries. It was also a useful
tool to easily identify enemies
on the battlefield.
The Armour: The armour used in the Middle Ages was
gradually perfected, until it became a living fortress for
the knight. A Medieval Knights Armour was vital on the
Battlefields of the Middle Ages. The Knights Armour
provided essential body protection from the various
weapons which were used in battle including the twohanded sword, bow and arrows, crossbow, battle axe,
mace, dagger and lance.
The Sword
This is a bladed weapon (edged weapon) used primarily for
cutting or thrusting. During the Middle Ages sword
technology improved, and the sword became a very advanced
weapon. It was frequently used by men in battle, particularly
during an attack. Excalibur is the legendary sword of King
Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or
associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain.
The Battle
Knights rode their horses in battle
and formed the cavalry. They
were heavily armored and in large
battles, knights, supported by a
variety of infantrymen such as
bowmen and halberdiers, would
storm across the field in a
sweeping charge designed to rout
their enemies.
Such maneuvers required exact
timing and immense discipline
and self-control on the part of
participating knights.
Knight Values
When Knights were not busy in fighting
rude battles, they were used to engage with
women in the so called «courtly love» (amor
cortese). Courtly love was a peculiar way
of expressing love for a woman whom they
had never seen, merely on hearing their
perfection described, but normally she was
not so distant. Stages of courtly love
normally included:
• Attraction to the lady, usually via
eyes/glance
• Declaration of passionate devotion
• Virtuous rejection by the lady
• Physical manifestations of lovesickness
due to the unsatisfied desire
• Consummation of the secret love
• Endless adventures and subterfuges
avoiding detection
A mithic woman: Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc has remained a significant
figure in Western culture. She is a real
mith because she fighted to defend her
ideas and protect her rights.
Samurai vs. Knight:
Knight:
different cultures, same values
Bussero, June 1st, 2012