JAPN 212: Samurai Spirit
This course explores the four periods of the samurai tradition to survey changing roles and philosophy behind its existence. The survey will analyze contemporary images/stereotypes of the samurai. The course employs ancient war tales, historical documents and paintings, maps, articles, literary works, different genres of samurai films, and videos to fully examine one of the most popular Japanese cultural icons.
My Experience:
Exploring the different perspectives on Japanese history taught me the different cultural implications and figures used in media and the modern industry. Through the study of different historical figures and cultural impacts of the samurai, I gained an understanding of modern cultural influences in literature and media. Through the explanation of this important cultural figure, I gained knowledge of the cultural lineage of certain values that have preserved into the modern era, such as that of sacrifice, honor, and respect for one's social positions and complying with the social hierarchy. In this course, assignments were typically essays in which we explored different aspects of samurai and the impacts that certain events left on the samurai along with the rest of Japan. These essays were often preceded by a form of media that explored or reflected an image of samurai in the early modern-modern world; course materials were often books, articles, or other written works from the samurai era. This course helped form my basis of Japanese history and culture, as understanding the modern image of the samurai requires an exploration of Japan's history as early as the Warring States period through the modern-day. The historic backdrop of this class not only provides a clear marker of the exact knowledge I gained from the class but also gives me a tool to synthesize any new knowledge I gain from this point forward. In my language classes, should I study a particular piece of literature from or about the samurai era, I will be able to connect that work with my historical knowledge to further deepen my understanding of both subject matters.