Illegitimate Transfer of Inalienable European Rights via Convention(s) & Supranational Bodies Establishment of Sovereignty-Usurping Supranational Body Dictatorships Enduring Program of DEMOGRAPHICS WAR on Europeans Enduring Program of PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR on Europeans Enduring Program of European Displacement, Dismemberment, Dispossession, & Dissolution
No wars or conditions abroad (& no domestic or global economic pretexts) justify government policy facilitating the invasion of ancestral European homelands, the rape of European women, the destruction of European societies, & the genocide of Europeans.
U.S. RULING OLIGARCHY WAGES HYBRID WAR TO SALVAGE HEGEMONY [LINK | Article]
Who's preaching world democracy, democracy, democracy? —Who wants to make free people free?
Samurai - Satsuma clan Boshin War period, circa 1867
[source wikipedia]
Samurai
military nobility & officer cast
medieval & modern Japan
originally 'bushi' (to attend upon)
middle & upper echelons of warrior class
usually associated with a clan & their lord
trained as officers in military tactics & grand strategy
followed rules, known later as: bushidō
samurai numbered less than 10% of Japan's pop.
their teachings in today's Japanese martial arts & modern life
Kabukimono
or hatamoto yakko
1573-1603 AD
'Strange Things' or 'the Crazy Ones'
from 'kabuku' - to slant or to deviate
composed of: ronin or samurai
or men who worked for samurai families in peaceful times
who formed gangs
ronin
'wave man' - 'vagrant' - 'wandering man'
term originated re serf who fled master's land
later used for samurai who had no master
samurai with no lord or master
Japanese feudal period: 1185 - 1868 AD masterless from death or fall of his master
(or upon loss of master's favour or privilege)
Samurai Bushido Shoshinshu (the Code of the Samurai)
eg. to commit seppuku
Japanese ritual suicide - disembowelment
upon loss of master
one who chose not to honour code was on his own
meaning: to suffer great shame
Ronin, like other samurai, wore two swords
also carried bo (to 6ft staff), & walking stick (yumi)
weapons, depend on ryu (martial arts school they are from)
in Edo period shogunate rigid class system & laws
large increase in ronin
in prior ages, samurai able to move b/w masters
& have occupations
could marry b/w classes
but in Edo period samurai were restricted
forbidden another master without master's permission
samurai could not legally take up a new trade
looked for other ways to make living with swords ronin who sought steady employment became:
mercenaries guarded trade caravans; or
bodyguards for merchants
Others became criminals, highwaymen, or joined organised crime
served as hired muscle for gangs, gambling rings, brothels, protection rackets
petty thieves, muggers
thugs, bullies, cutthroats, vagrants
Kamakura & Muromachi periods
warriors held lands that they occupied
whereas, ronin was warrior who had lost lands
small-scale wars in Japan in this time
opportunities for ronin to serve new masters
Later Edo period
bond between lord and samurai was loose
some left masters & sought new lords
many served a succession of masters
some even became daimyo (powerful feudal lords
dai 'large' - 'myo' for 'myoden', private land
subordinate only to Shogun
most powerful feudal rulers 10th Century to mid 19th Century
Shogun
general - ie military commander
hereditary military dictator in Japan 1192 to 1867
shoguns were de facto rulers of Japan
although nominally appointed by Emperor as formality held almost absolute power over territories, via military means
shogun's office or administration = shogunate
known as 'bakufu' = tent office / government https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogun
kabukimono
flamboyant dress, vibrant colours
short kimonos with light weights in hem
velvet lapels
wide obi (sash)
elements of European clothing or women's kimono used as cloaks
kabukimono
uncommon hairstyles & facial hair left to grow long
katana
traditional Japanese samurai swords
curved, single-blade, slender, circular or squared guard
long grip to accommodate two hands
thrust in belt-like sash (obi)
victory depended heavily on fast response times
sharpened edge facing up
intended to: strike target in a single motion
usually paired with smaller companion sword
pairing is known as: the daishō
only samurai could war daishō
representative of: social power and personal honour of samurai
companion swords: smaller wakizashi
traditional Japanese sword cases = koshirae https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katana
Kabukimono
or hatamoto yakko
1573-1603 AD
fancy hilts
large square tsuba
rounded or squared grip on sword round thing that would probably steady the grip / it is at base of sword grip, before blade look like a big button with a hole in the centre (for the sword)
have pretty, ornate designs
red scabbards, longer than normal
scabbards are sword holders
they're beautiful - many different designs, depending on culture
some kabukimono (ronin or samurai)
extremely long kiseru as weapons kiseru = Japanese smoking pipe
traditionally used for smoking kizami
finely shredded tobacco resembling hair
rod with metal ends, extremely long kiseru could be carried as weapon
status symbol for the owner, elaborately engraved
commoners were prohibited to carry sharp weapon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiseru
often very violent, rude
cutting down people to try a new sword
incidents of violence common
eg. in cities Edo & Kyoto
wrestling & dancing in streets common
fighting with other gangs at night
thought modern yakuza originated from groups of kabukimono
others believe yakuza origins in: machi yakko (private police) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabukimono
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimyo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C5%8Dnin
Bushido
'the way of the warrior'
way of samurai life
anologous to concept of chivalry in Europe
samurai code of conduct
frugality
loyalty
martial arts
mastery
honour until death
Bushido from Neo-Confucianism
influenced by Shinto & Zen Buddhism allowing violent existence of samurai to be tempered by wisdom & serenity
developed: 1500s to 1900s
possibly dating back to 10th Century
Nabeshima Naoshige
daimyo of Hizen
1538 - 1618
proved himself in battle
1570 assisted Takanobu at Saga Castle
which was surrounded by 60,000 Otomo clan army
versus Naoshige only 5,000
suggested night raid on enemy camp & successfully routed them
inherited position from Takanobu (on death)
"... it is shameful for any man to die without having risked his life in battle, regardless of rank ..."
Seppuku (stomach cutting)
Japanese ritual suicide / disembowelment
originally reserved for samurai
part of bushido honour code
either voluntary, not to fall into enemy hands (torture)
or as capital punishment for serious crime or bringing shame/dishonour
performed as part of elaborate ritual before spectators
plunge short blade (tanto) into abdomen from left to right, slicing abdomen open ritual standardised 17th century prior to standardisation, ritual much more painful on standardisation, kaishakunin ('second') appointed duty of kaishakunin to behead the ritual suicide agent at moment of agony kaishakunin is called 'kaishaku' ('nin' is person) suicide ritual agent spared prolonged death
ritual is preserved in modern martial art: iaido ritual varies, depending on fencing school all have steps in common: 1. sit or stand close enough with katana to strike 2. if seated, movements are ritualised 3. when samurai performs seppuku he returns tanto dagger back to its place
kaishakunin
uses katana to strike back of neck
of dying samurai
Katana double handed grip for:
precision & strength to cut
must be precision controlled, cutting only half neck of samurai
Intent to:
leaving skin to hold head attached to body
in single slash of katana
Kaishakunin slowly, silently shakes blood on blade of katana
movement known as: chiburi
katana returned to scabbard (movement called noto)
while kneeling towards samurai corpse
remains kneeling position as sign of deep respect to samurai
in state of zanshin (total awareness) before standing & bowing to samurai corpse
Execution Seppuku - some rituals no disembowelment just movement of dagger, stick or fan across stomach followed by beheading kaishakunin then becomes execution & seppuku becomes beheading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaishakunin
It seems brave and admirable, but I don't think I'd make a good samurai.
I couldn't do the seppuku and I'd probably run away if attacked, but it must be really exhilarating to handle beautiful weapons quickly and effectively.
Not sure how much samurai info I'll remember. Don't yet have a feel for Japanese. The names of things are difficult for me.
But I'll remember: katana.
Normally, I don't drink (even socially) ... which is just as well, because alcohol and me is not a good mix.
Felt like I drink today, when I saw one being cracked open. Looked inviting, and I like bubbles.
Having an Asahi Breweries beer (apparently, one of 4 largest Japanese brewers, founded in Osaka in 1889).
Tastes very light, even to a non-drinker. Nice, though.
I'd planned to watch a heap of videos, but I'm not sure I can catch up with everything I want to watch.
Attention span isn't what it should be; I can only handle small bits of info ... and I like pictures a lot. LOL
Dinner's easy, so it doesn't matter if I wind up pissed: Thai ChickenGreen Curry pre-cooked (frozen). Just need rice and it's good to go after defrost and heat, and dollop of my fabulous home-made yoghurt.
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