Samurai commanders and field leadership (1 Viewer)

[Currahee Chris]

I have read a few books on the Samurai of feudal Japan and I am noticing a trend here- that their commanders- "Company" level- weren't known for being the most innovative on the battlefield. Generally, the code of Bushido and the Samurai mindset demanded absolute subservience to the Emperor or Shogun. As such, the men were not afraid to just blindly follow orders and execute them to the letter without regard for personal safety. Many authors I have read believe that the commanders of these field units understood that and just threw their men into the meat grinders. Well, that is how we would see it, those individuals saw it in a far different light.

Anyway, just curious if anyone else has had the same impression of samurai commanders.

 

[indiana81]

I have read a few books on the Samurai of feudal Japan and I am noticing a trend here- that their commanders- "Company" level- weren't known for being the most innovative on the battlefield. Generally, the code of Bushido and the Samurai mindset demanded absolute subservience to the Emperor or Shogun. As such, the men were not afraid to just blindly follow orders and execute them to the letter without regard for personal safety. Many authors I have read believe that the commanders of these field units understood that and just threw their men into the meat grinders. Well, that is how we would see it, those individuals saw it in a far different light.

Anyway, just curious if anyone else has had the same impression of samurai commanders.

Currahee Chris,
I get that impression. Not from reading about Samurai in feudal Japan, but from reading about their "descendants" in the Imperial Japanese Army in WW2. Did the Samurai have the same level of suicidal fanaticism with Bushido that the IJA did?
Justin

 

[Currahee Chris]

Hello Justin-

Oh yeah- the era of Bushido- the equivalent time period of the middle ages in Europe, spawned the tradition of Bushido and led to the rise of the samurai and that caste system. Japan has always had a caste system but it was further developed during that time frame.

The IJA officer corps- a lot of them claimed samurai heritage and that is why they wielded katana's- to harken back to those days. Many of those katana's in fact were familiy hierlooms going back several centuries. Other's weren't- just depended on their family status. But yes, there was a very close connection to the IJA and the samurai mindset and Bushido.

 

[indiana81]

Hello Justin-

Oh yeah- the era of Bushido- the equivalent time period of the middle ages in Europe, spawned the tradition of Bushido and led to the rise of the samurai and that caste system. Japan has always had a caste system but it was further developed during that time frame.

The IJA officer corps- a lot of them claimed samurai heritage and that is why they wielded katana's- to harken back to those days. Many of those katana's in fact were familiy hierlooms going back several centuries. Other's weren't- just depended on their family status. But yes, there was a very close connection to the IJA and the samurai mindset and Bushido.

Currahee Chris,
Very interesting! If I were to read up on Samurai and Bushido, what titles would you suggest?

Justin

 

[Currahee Chris]

Hello Justin-

Well, you could start by reading the code of Bushido- I have "Code of the Samurai- by Thomas Cleary which I read quite often- I drive my wife nuts with it because whenever I need an excuse to pass on some kind of chore, I just dig up some quote from Bushido- drives her nuts.

I started by reading some of the Osprey books. In particular, among their titles in the Campaign series line- Sekigihara and Nagashino. You can also check out there Men at Arms series on the Samurai and I think they did a Warrior title on them as well.

Progressing from there, I am reading Secrets of the Samurai- a good read but pretty intensive. I found it on a Barnes and Nobles discount pile. One thing I have had a problem with is dealing with the names- they are difficult to follow but once you read enough, you can get a good feel of the major players.

 

[indiana81]

Currahee Chris,
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll keep them in mind.
Justin