Quote:
Originally posted by Butterfingers:
Take the popular modern image if you should desire, it is a lot more fun, a good deal more romantic, and probably has a lot more role play potential. Just please, do not accuse me or blending anything. [img]smile.gif[/img]
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sorry, I wasn't *accusing* you as I put a question mark there, making it a question. I have doubts and I just asked. My point of departure is fiction and fantasy (if you read my posts carefully you should know that I always refer to fantasy world). No offense intended, if I offended you in anyway. Sorry.
as for how false the movie image (aka Seven Samurai style) is...I won't say it's completely false. Most Japanese period dramas get their art design ideas from traditional Japanese arts. That is, they will trace how samurai were portrayed in Japanese painting/drawing. here is a quick find online description of Samurai, from
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/faq/history.htm
"Samurai were the military and ruling elite for most of Japan’s history. Beginning in the Heian Period (794-1192 AD), samurai assumed high positions within Japan’s social structure. Often the most learned and cultured of society, the samurai lost all status and privileges after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Kendo, the Japanese art of fencing, comes from the ancient samurai sword fighting arts. Bushido, the ways of the warrior, is part of the extreme code of ethics and strict honor inherent in the samurai class. A samurai maintained the highest respect and piety to the lord whom he served. The honor and responsibility passed down from the samurai have always had a great impact on the Japanese people. A samurai’s weapon was the katana (sword)."
Not really sure about the detail of the history of Samurai; one thing we do know and know quite well, however, is *Kendo*, which now has become a corss between sport and fencing art in many countries other than Japan. If the above description has any truth in it, Samurai, at some point of the long Japanese history actually developed a specialized *art of sword/blade.* And more than likely, the sword [blade = the more exact translation] that Samurai relied on to develop kendo was katana (the longsword not the short sword).
There's a long history behind Samurai, and there are many *periods* that made Samurai's outlook and situation different from era to era. Your idea of the true Samurai and the movie image of Samurai don't necessary cancel each other out. Also, comparing the traditional Japanese drawing and the movie Harakiri (by Masaki Kobayashi) I don't see the movie exaggerate much the drawing image (unless of course Japanese traditional drawing isn't faithful to the historical fact either, then the movie of course will be unfaithful).
once again, the popular image of Samurai cannot be brought up if there's no root/historical reference for it to be based on.
[ 04-15-2004, 12:04 AM: Message edited by: teardropmina ]