Cover
S A M U R A I
IFC, maybe some cool artwork
A
B R I E F
H I S T O R Y
Not going to get too caught up in font selections right now, get a
rough organization and grid down, then start commiting to fonts
instead of a copyright page,
maybe some info about me,
what this project was about and
what I learned?
TOC?
history-of-the-samurai-warrior
samurai-training
bushido-code-7-virtues
(if you do a TOC, definiately have page numbers,
traditionally, odd number go on left)
S A M U R A I
A
B R I E F
H I S T O R Y
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I’m going to take advantage of
no-budget, and probably do full
spread section pages with some
really cool japanese patterns,
dragons or whatever.
2
HISTORY
OF THE SA MUR AI WARRIOR
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Samurais or also called as “Bushi”, is a military class
member of the Japanese warriors. Some weapons that
samurais use are bows, arrows, spears, guns and the
most famous weapon which includes in their tradition
image is the sword.
These samurai warrior’s lives are ruled by these codes
of ethics called “bushido”, which means, the way of the
warrior. Every samurai warrior must have the loyalty to
their master or what they call “daimyo”.
A famous facet that these Japanese samurais follow
with the ethics is the tradition of suicide after being
defeated, which is called “seppuku”. In this ritual, they
are subjected to cut their stomach or abdomen with
their own sword.
There are some short history of the Japanese warrior
which includes the Heian period (794-1185) where in
powerful daimyos started to hire these samurai warriors,
Kamakura period (1192-1333), Muromachi period ( 13331573), Azuchi-momoyama period(1573-1603) and Edo
period(1603-1868).
The history of a samurai sword started at about 240 –
280 A.D when Himeko, the queen of Japan, got a gift
from china which is two double edged tsuguri swords.
Around third and fourth centuries, they had known that
the art of molding steel into a sword. It was introduced
from china to Japan, while “chokuto” swords were
introduced in the fifth century.
The style of hardening of steel was shown in Japan
at the sixth century. In the eight century, which is the
beginning of the Heian period, the style of fighting
was changed and these warriors started fighting in
horseback. Because of the change, the tradition of the
straight swords was also changed by curved and longer
sword which is called “tachi”.
Aside from chokuto and tachi, some famous swords
was also introduced which includes kogarasumru (a
short sword with 2 sharp edges) and kenukigatatachi.
However, there are also curve swords known as
Japanese swords which are called the “nipponto” or
“nihonto”.
During the Heian period, different methods and styles
were introduced from china which was improved by
Japan to adopt them in Japanese culture.
It is also in Heian period that smiting swords in Japan
was introduced for the reason that, the core stayed soft
and the surface remain rough. A folded steel samurai
sword which comes under the Tachi class was also
manufactured in this period. It is also in this period that
signature in the sword’s blade was placed in it, and it
was first done by Namihira Yukimasa.
When minamoto yoritomo defeated tiara clan, the
kamakura period started. It is in this period that samurai
warrior class has taken the power. More and more
advanced swords were made in all points which also
include the aesthetic swords. There are a lot of changes
in the sword’s blade in terms of its width. The blade’s
shape was also changed which is in ikubi type that
means bull nape. 2 mongol invasions in 1274 and 1218
took place when kamakura period ended. New weapons
and technologies were introduced that had proven that
tachi swords still has its weak points.
Text is just about right - not too thin but plenty of room
for artwork. A full page for art; this could be a full page
graphic, or distributed throughout the text like a magazine.
Now is a good time to start scrubbing your text - remove
double paragraph returns (^p^p), double spaces, fix
dashes. Use find and replace. Don’t be afraid of large body
copy, sometimes it works well. I created a paragraph style
for body text.
5
Don’t feel trapped - I reworded this title to fit my
theme of “one big word with subtitle”
TRAINING
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THE ANCIENT TR AINING OF THE SA MUR AI WARRIOR
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some sweet graphic or illustration
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Samurai training is a tradition for the kids in Japan. Most
kids are sent to these trainings as young as 5 years old
to learn a lot of things about samurai. By having arduous
training sessions, trainees must have the knowledge in
perfecting the “art of war” by his or her training master
or also called as “daimyo”.
For a trainee to have a great knowledge about samurai,
you may also train for samurai mental training. For you
to be unflappable in a battle, you must be mentally
trained to have the effect of fearlessness face on
a battlefield. Training of samurai things, you must
remember to build up your character, intelligence and
dialects.
What does a samurai really do? A samurai is known
to be an all time warrior. However, what is the most
objective that differ samurais from other warriors?
Others think that wearing armor and having a sword is
enough to be a warrior. Actually, this thought is wrong.
As a samurai, it is identified that he or she is well
trained and highly skilled warrior. Samurai’s lives are
commanded by “bushido” which is a strict warrior code,
which focuses with honor. Even if it takes his or her life,
a samurai must serve his or her “daimyo” or master, with
pure loyalty well in fact, “samurai” means “those who
serve”.
With those low-class families, sons and daughters are
sent to village schools for basic education. However
they learn their samurai training with their older brother,
uncles or fathers. While for those child of rich families,
they are sent to those high class academies and taught
with literature, the arts and military skills. A child which
trains to be a samurai can protect himself or herself from
the surrounding dangers, family enemies conflicts, and
robbers. Knowledge about samurai can give advantage
in his or her workplace, which builds a solid moral and
ethical approach to life that brings them to guarded
and lively existence in the world. Samurai trainings can
also provide an exercise which can diminish stress both
physically and mentally.
Most people are attracted with those eye-catching
samurai swords. However, using these swords has a
proper way in swinging it. It may be hazardous but, it
can be a life saver. If you want to use a samurai sword
and planning to buy one, you must put in mind that
you have to check if the samurai sword is properly
manufactured with its purpose having a sharp blade.
A samurai sword has two popular styles: the Kantana
which is the longest sword and the Wakizashi, which is
the shortest.
There are repetition movements that samurai warriors
use, and it is called “kata”. They do these movements
slowly at first, to make sure that it is perfectly done. It is
done faster afterwards to improve his or her speed and
accuracy. The swinging of the sword at an imaginary
enemy can also help your training. This method is called
“suburi”. There are a lot of training you have to undergo
in order for you to be a good samurai warrior. You just
need to be patient, have a lot of discipline and especially
impose hard work
9
Again, reworded the title
BUSHIDO
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A CODE OF 7 VIRTUES
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In Japan, the samurais were a class of military men who
were believed to be fearless and highly skilled warriors.
These warriors had a code that they were grounded on.
This was the Bushido (Boó-shee-doh’) code. Bushido is
actually a combination of words. Bushi meaning ‘warrior’
and Do meaning ‘way’ which when combined meant,
“the way of the warrior”.
It was developed in Japan during the 9th and the 12
centuries but was believed to have reached the 16th
century. It was a complex concept but one way of
understanding the code is that it is a way of maintaining
peace with the use of strength
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Influences of the
Bushido Code:
maybe some cool graphic that spans both pages
The bushido code was an unwritten Japanese code that
was influenced by several Asian religions. These religions
were the teachings of Zen Buddhism, Shintoism, and
Confucianism.
Zen Buddhism is the one responsible in teaching
the samurai about submission without complain or
unavoidable necessity. Because of their genuine
respect for life and death, they maintained this stoic
temperament.
Shintoism also influenced the Bushido code. It was
considered to be a religion of the heart that pervades
the life of the Japanese by a natural and real spiritual
force. One of the fundamental virtues of Shinto ethics
is purity bringing the samurais a sense of belonging
through knowing one’s self, ones weaknesses and
strengths.
The major influential factor was Confucianism.
Confucianism’s major contribution to the Bushido code
was the “filial piety” which necessitates that one must
fulfill their duties with honor even to the point of death
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Option 1 - put all 7 virtues on one spread. Get your text down to see what you are working with, don’t make assumptions. Notice how the Japanese translations range from 2 letters to 6? Notice how the
descriptions range from 2 lines to 4? Find your extremes, then design to accomodate.
THE SEVEN
VIRTUES of
BUSHIDO
CODE
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RECTITUDE
(GI)
COURAGE
(YU)
BENEVOLENCE
(JIN)
RESPECT
(REI)
HONESTY
(MAKOTO)
HONOR
(MEIYO)
LOYALTY
(CHUGI)
means conforming to the regulations
of principles by adhering to what is
righteous and morally right.
is the eminence of psyche and strength
of mind that makes a human face
obscurity, and peril
is a desire to do well to others that is
confounded by an act of kindness by
being charitable
is considered as a manifestation of a
personal quality or ability that is wielded
by honor, admiration and a high regard
is the quality or fact of being truthful
through an act or condition
a sense of loyalty and honesty or having
integrity in ones beliefs and actions
is the adherence to a sovereign,
government, allegiance to the laws of the
country, being faithful in commitments or
obligations to a person or a cause
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Option 2 - showcase each virtue on a single page using my own illustrations.
Some sort of logo or illustration depicting “rectitude”
RECTITUDE
(GI)
THE SEVEN VIRTUES of BUSHIDO CODE
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means conforming to the regulations
of principles by adhering to what is
righteous and morally right.
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Some sort of logo or illustration depicting “Courage”
18
Some sort of logo or illustration depicting “Benevolence”
COURAGE
(YU)
BENEVOLENCE
(JIN)
is the eminence of psyche and
strength of mind that makes a human
face obscurity, and peril
is a desire to do well to others that is
confounded by an act of kindness by
being charitable
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Some sort of logo or illustration depicting “Respect”
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Some sort of logo or illustration depicting “Honesty”
RESPECT
(REI)
HONESTY
(MAKOTO)
is considered as a manifestation of
a personal quality or ability that is
wielded by honor, admiration and a
high regard
is the quality or fact of being truthful
through an act or condition
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Some sort of logo or illustration depicting “Honor”
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Some sort of logo or illustration depicting “Loyalty”
HONOR
(MEIYO)
LOYALTY
(CHUGI)
a sense of loyalty and honesty or
having integrity in ones beliefs and
actions
is the adherence to a sovereign,
government, allegiance to the laws
of the country, being faithful in
commitments or obligations to a
person or a cause
23
Back Cover.