The samurai stands for masculinity, honour and justice and emulates the ideals held by Japanese culture.
The samurai follow the ‘way of the warrior’ or ‘Bushido’ which is a strict set of rules for their conduct.
The Bushido was based on Zen Buddhist principles including Rectitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Trust, Honour and Loyalty until death, as well as self-discipline, frugality, self-sacrifice and nobility.
A samurai was expected to always conduct himself with honour, and treat each day as if it were his last. He was always prepared for death, and kept his affairs in order so as not to burden his family. Because of the fleeting, delicate nature of the samurai’s life he was often associated with the cherry blossom.
Tattoos depicting the samurai are often complex and intricate, and usually are meant to depict or illustrate one of the key Bushido principles. The samurai were great warriors that protected the shoguns and warlords that ruled Japan prior to the Meiji Emperor being restored in the 19th century.
Most of the samurai were warrior, but some were artists and philosophers. Every samurai was expected to marry and have children to assure that the line of samurai would continue.
The sword of the samurai is as popular as the warrior himself.
It was a long, slender, curved sword that was sharp on one edge and was called the katana. The samurai wore armour of leather or iron that was covered with lacquer.
Any tattoo depicting a samurai is essentially trying to impart the qualities of a warrior: honour, loyalty and duty, as well as the basic principles of living well each and every day, since it may be your last on this earth.
