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The Meiji Restoration of 1868 took power from the warlords that had been the de facto rulers of Japan and consolidated it under the Emperor Meiji. With the Restoration came many changes, including the creation of a modern, western-style, conscripted army in 1873. The famous Samurai, who despite making up only 10% of the Japanese population, and who wielded a tremendous amount of power, lost their right to be the nation's only armed force, and eventually, even their right to wear a sword in public.
In honour of these noble warriors, Bored Panda has collected this list of coloured Samurai photographs, all taken between 1863 and 1900, in the twilight years of the Samurai's reign. As it's unlikely that any of you are Samurai, this list is closed, but you can still vote on your favourite photo!
More info: Amazon.com (h/t: demilked, fubiz)
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#1
LoriDuchrow 9 years ago
I didn't know there were samurai women. I looked it up and this is a fun tidbit that I found: With their husbands in combat almost continuously, 16th century samurai women provided for the defense of their homes and children. Their wartime roles included washing and preparing the decapitated bloody heads of the enemy, which were presented to the victorious generals. Like their samurai husbands, personal honor was paramount for samurai women. They carried small daggers and were always prepared to die to maintain their honor and family name. http://www.pbs.org/empires/japan/tokaido_6.html
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#3
ElainaAllen-Velando 9 years ago
He looks ill..face is a tad emaciated. Otherwise a wonderful photo.
#5
GonçaloMartins 9 years ago
"Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young."
#8
BeluaqSoul 9 years ago
Imagining how fast a samurai moved without those heavy attire. Must be awesomely fast
#15
JaclinSullivan-Scholey 9 years ago
I have enjoyed these pictures and am thankful to have been able to view them they were an awesome people with much honour - I am sorry that so many had nothing but negative foolish responses to these ancient pictures. Thank You for sharing them.
#18
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What do you think ?
-- 9 years ago
They still exist (descendants of the original Iga and Kōga clans), but they nowadays give tours in their old home compounds which are loaded with traps and escape passages
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LaniO'Donnell 9 years ago
Beautiful and interesting to look at it. Still, these photos were staged for a Western audience, and many of the details such as the tattoo were painted on after the fact (and are not in fact tattooed on the models). I think this speaks more to Western perspectives of Samurai during the early Meiji period as opposed to real samurai culture at this point. But again, I do like the aesthetic.
BarnabyBurten-Shaw 9 years ago
I disagree... I don't know why you should imagine these photographs were staged principally for a 'western audience'... And tattoos were indeed, during certain periods of samurai history, very much a part of samurai culture, and ceromonial practice.
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-- 9 years ago
They still exist (descendants of the original Iga and Kōga clans), but they nowadays give tours in their old home compounds which are loaded with traps and escape passages
Load More Replies... LaniO'Donnell 9 years ago
Beautiful and interesting to look at it. Still, these photos were staged for a Western audience, and many of the details such as the tattoo were painted on after the fact (and are not in fact tattooed on the models). I think this speaks more to Western perspectives of Samurai during the early Meiji period as opposed to real samurai culture at this point. But again, I do like the aesthetic.
BarnabyBurten-Shaw 9 years ago
I disagree... I don't know why you should imagine these photographs were staged principally for a 'western audience'... And tattoos were indeed, during certain periods of samurai history, very much a part of samurai culture, and ceromonial practice.
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