(Newswire.net — January 11, 2019) — When we think about ancient Japanese warriors, one particular group stands out from the others—the Samurai. Of course, these weren’t the only types of warriors in ancient feudal Japan, but they were a formidable opponent to face in battle. The Samurai and Ninja warriors are discussed the most, but history tells us that there are other classes of warriors who have their own stories to tell.
Types of Japanese Warriors
The Ashigaru
In the 1300s, Japan was in a constant war, and soldiers were in short supply. This gave rise to the Ashigaru, a class that was essentially comprised of foot soldiers that were hired in times of war to support the Samurai warriors who predominantly fought in small numbers. The Ashigaru consisted of hired muscle with little skill or training, but who were armed with various weapons and covered in armor. In events such as the Mongol invasion, they provided the numbers necessary to win wars despite their lack of skill and discipline.
The Samurai
The Samurai remains the most well-known warrior class of feudal Japan to date. In early Japan, they served as warriors, bodyguards or tax collectors. Despite their honorable ways, many of them used their skills to earn money. It is later that they became a value based warrior class that strived to live by their own code of ethics. If you attend a local club that talks about Samurais, you’ll learn how their weapons and armor also improved with the years, making them the legendary fighters we know today.
The Wokou
The Wokou were better known as Japanese Pirates. During the 13th century, these pirates would plan and carry out raids from the coastlines and off the coast of mainland Japan with the goal of getting as much loot as possible. They, however, did not act independently and were instead under the control of feudal lords who ruled over the coastal regions of Japan at the time. The Wokou conducted raids on China and Korea as well.
The Sohei
Buddhist monks had their own class of warriors in the war-torn Japan of the 13th century, and this class was known as the Sohei. The Sohei lived as a brotherhood that mostly fought to ward off attacks while passing down their skills and knowledge to younger generations. They used weapons and were very skillful fighters as well, and despite bringing the mental image of shaven monks with swords, the Sohei dressed similarly to Samurais and used the same fighting skills as well.
However, the Sohei possessed a unique weapon—the naginata—which was basically a blade attached to a long pole that was used to disarm or kill attackers on horseback. The Sohei fought mainly to preserve their safety.
The Yamabushi
Yamabushi can be loosely translated to mean mountain warrior, but the term itself refers to “one who lives in the mountains.” That was the way of life of this group of Japanese mountain hermits, who lived by a code that denied them earthly pleasures. The Yamabushi adhered to the Shugendo way of life. Many of them were believed to possess supernatural abilities, making this the most mysterious class of Japanese warriors that ever existed. The Yamabushi were skilled fighters that were well-versed in martial arts and were a philosophical and deeply spiritual people. They dressed much like Samurais in battle and were just as deadly.
So, Who are the Different Types of Japanese Warriors?
While the Samurai are one of the widely discussed, there are other Japanese warriors who play a role in Japan’s history. For example, the Woku were compared to pirates because of the raids they participated in. It is important to know the other types of Japanese warriors, because they each have their own stories.