Samurai

[Rickster]

So being a fudgepacker is somehow virtuous...

Well, it depends on the scoial norm of the era and environment...

[jubaji]

So anyway, been on something of a samurai drama marathon here. Hojo Tokimune was a good one, now watching one about Tokugawa Ieyasu. Next up: Takeda Shingen, Musashi, or Shinsengumi. Not sure which yet.

[jubaji]

So, turns out it was Chushingura next. Onto Shinsengumi now. Good stuff!!!

[kingoftheforest]

Takeda Shingen, wasn't he the leader of the Red Devils during the battle of Sekigahara ?

[jubaji]

Takeda Shingen, wasn't he the leader of the Red Devils during the battle of Sekigahara ?

Oh no, he died long before Sekigahara.

[kingoftheforest]

Oh no, he died long before Sekigahara.

Yep sorry I was thinking of Ii Naomasa who lead them. He was a retainer of Tokogawa.

[jubaji]

Yeah, Takeda died in 1573 and his heir lost an ill-considered clash with Oda Nobunaga after which the clan's domain was dissolved 20 years or so before Sekigahara. Although Ieyasu did borrow heavily from Takeda's administrative system when he finally unified the country after Sekigahara and the Osaka Summer and Winter campaigns. Definately one of the most interesting figures in Japanese history.

[kingoftheforest]

Plus he had this bad ass helmet with the demon on it.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/samurai-5.jpg

[jubaji]

Gotta have a cool helmet. At some of the museums around Kyoto you can see an interesting variety. Some of them look like they'd be a little hard to actually wear though.

[kingoftheforest]

Hey if they were worried about being pale when they died and offending the warrior who killed them, hence they would put on makeup to not look pale, I think having an uncomfortable but pimp ass headpiece fits in there.

[jubaji]

Yeah, but I'm not sure that was all that common a practice in reality.

[kingoftheforest]

It's mentioned quit a few times in the Hagakure.

[Tant01]

A head is just a head but a head with a helmet is a trophy. The wealthy or powerful generals had to have incense burners in their helmets too so they would smell nice!

[kingoftheforest]

A head is just a head but a head with a helmet is a trophy. The wealthy or powerful generals had to have incense burners in their helmets too so they would smell nice!

What a bunch of hot heads.

[jubaji]

It's mentioned quit a few times in the Hagakure.

Right, which is a book of ideals. I can't recall off the top of my head having seen it in any first-hand accounts of Samurai having done so. I reckon some did, but I'd bet it was more of an ideal than a practice.