The samurai, figures of immense cultural resonance, have long captured the imagination – inspiring everything from medieval depictions and literature to blockbuster cinema and even Star Wars. But a groundbreaking new exhibition at the British Museum is challenging conventional understandings of this iconic warrior class, revealing a far more complex and surprising history than many realize.
The exhibition, simply titled “Samurai,” doesn’t shy away from the violence and spectacle associated with these warriors. Arms, armor, paintings, woodblock prints, and even a bullet-proof cuirass are on display, offering a visceral glimpse into their martial world. However, the exhibition’s core message is a deliberate attempt to dismantle myths and offer a more nuanced portrait of samurai life, both on and off the battlefield.
The most startling revelation, and the one that has generated significant global discussion, is the assertion that roughly half of all samurai were women. This isn’t to say that half the samurai were actively engaged in combat, but rather that the definition of “samurai” itself has been historically narrow. As Dr. Rosina Buckland, Asahi Shimbun curator of Japanese Collections, explains, “It’s a surprise that comes from a narrow use or a narrow understanding of the word samurai, because samurai doesn’t mean warrior.”
The samurai emerged in the 10th century as mercenaries employed by wealthy landowners, gradually evolving into a rural gentry and, by 1615, transitioning into government officials, scholars, and patrons of the arts. It was during this later period, as battles subsided and a prolonged peace settled over Japan, that women came to comprise a substantial portion of the samurai class. While men continued to dominate the battlefield, women played vital roles in maintaining the social and economic fabric of the elite order.
The exhibition highlights figures like Tomoe Gozen, a celebrated female warrior who died in 1247, renowned for her bravery and skill in combat. Accounts from The Tale of the Heike describe her beheading an enemy samurai who attempted to capture her for ransom. But the story doesn’t end with battlefield heroics. As the Edo period unfolded, women within the samurai class took on diverse roles, from artists and firefighters to scientists and patrons of the arts.
However, the exhibition’s interpretation of these historical dynamics has sparked debate. Cultural commentator and historical author Sumiko Nakano cautions against oversimplification, arguing that the claim of “half of Japan’s samurai were women” risks obscuring the complexities of the social structure. Nakano acknowledges the value of the exhibition in generating public interest in samurai history, but stresses the importance of encouraging deeper engagement rather than settling for simplified conclusions.
The exhibition traces the evolution of the samurai from their origins as pragmatic mercenaries to their eventual transformation into a culturally refined elite. Early samurai were not bound by a rigid code of honor, often resorting to tactics like ambushes and deception, motivated more by reward and social advancement than by abstract ideals. They were quick to adopt foreign technologies, exemplified by the bullet-proof cuirass modeled after European designs, introduced to Japan in 1543.
As the samurai gained political power, they recognized the need to cultivate a more sophisticated image. They embraced Confucian principles, blending military prowess with artistic and intellectual pursuits – a strategy Buckland describes as “the balance between hard military power and soft cultural skill.” This cultural power became a crucial tool for maintaining authority and legitimacy.
The role of women within the samurai class expanded significantly during the Edo period, as the Tokugawa shogunate consolidated power and sought to control the samurai through a system of residential rule. Women managed households, oversaw staff, and played a key role in raising the next generation, while also mastering the arts of hospitality and etiquette. The exhibition showcases examples of their artistic contributions, including a beautifully rendered fan painting depicting orchids.
The samurai’s story didn’t end with the Meiji Restoration in , when the samurai class was officially abolished. The image of the samurai continued to evolve, becoming a potent symbol of Japanese identity. The exhibition notes the influence of works like Nitobe Inazo’s book, Bushido: The Soul of Japan, which helped shape Western perceptions of the samurai code.
The samurai’s influence even extends to modern pop culture. The exhibition points to the clear inspiration drawn from samurai aesthetics in films like Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai and, remarkably, in the design of Darth Vader’s armor in Star Wars: A New Hope ().
“Samurai” at the British Museum, on display through , offers a compelling re-examination of a legendary warrior class. It’s a story not just of battles and bravery, but of cultural adaptation, social evolution, and the enduring power of myth.
