you don't get it do you? The sword represented a way of life for thousands of years, a way of courage and bravery and skill. It is a symbol of a true warrior, being able to become a master of close melee combat. It represented a true challenge of man hood , top physical conditioning and basically a way of life.
The technological changes of weaponry and gunpowder signified an easy way of living in large part. Adapt and take the easy way out , after thousands of years of sword combat and different morale set of beliefs this gunpowder looked to change all that. And guess what? Real warriors don't want to hide behind a gun, its not much of a challenge to pull a trigger and it doesn't represent much challenge. In a nutshell thats what giving up the sword signifies, a change, and well samurai where happy, because respected as warriors and living the life they were accustomed to, and I frankly, don't blame them.
I know I'm not very clear this explanation, but I'm gonna sit here and argue my point for an hour , not knowing who's even gonna bother to look at this. Take it or leave it, this is my 3 minute ramble.
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Yalmuk
11 years ago
Problem with your theory is that all samurais used guns immediately when they become available to Japanese. Not to mention that Katana was never a primary weapon in war, and it become important only in 1800's when samurais started to write poetry and stories about their "warrior class" bravery...
Katana was a back up weapon if enemy got too close.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9A_g6AjqMw
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Kawada_Kira
10 years ago
See, this is what happens when people rely on Hollywood to teach them history. Why don't you read some actual books about the samurai? Or hell, even play the Shogun Total War games, which are more historically accurate than this film was (I mean I love the film but I just see it as a film, as fiction, not as my teacher). In reality, the samurai started using guns as early as the mid-1500s during the Sengoku period after the Portuguese introduced them to Japan. And in the rebellion that this movie is actually based on, the Boshin War of 1868-69, the samurai used guns.
Sig under construction
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rjbld
10 years ago
Ahah the portuguese were badasses :) and I'm portuguese. Unfortunately, we brought guns and also gaming cards (introducing beting and gaming) to the Japanese culture.
Well we had good intentions, as we were merchants trying to conquer markets around the world.
I'm reading currently the 3 books about Myamoto Musashi, a great samurai on the 1600's. It still is a novell with some fantasy but I get the same emotions and fasciantion from their way of life, as seeing this movie. Maybe they weren't as different as told in this stories. I trully like their way of living in persuing perfection on everything they do, we don't get that nowadays, just laziness all aroud.
Just my 2 thoutghts on the matter, hope no one gets offended :)
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