The Samurai Tradition of Taking Heads
Vložit
- čas přidán 20. 08. 2019
- Throughout the history of Japan's Samurai, we can see a constant tradition of collecting and displaying defeated enemy heads. This Shogunate Extra video seeks to dive deeper into that history, as we learn of its origins and evolution.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources Used:
"Samurai Battles" By Michael Sharp
"Samurai: The Way of the Warrior" by Stephen Turnbull
"The Samurai Warrior" by Ben Hubbard
"War in Japan: 1467 - 1615" by Stephen Turnbull
Two Excellent web sources:
/ samurai-head-viewing-c...
delanceyplace.com/view-archiv...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music from:
"Bryce" by Toru Takemistu
Artwork:
Classical art, which in most cases can be considered public domain.
Art from Osprey Publications.
Other modern artist renditions, if you see your work in this video please contact me so that I can give you proper credit!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Media:
Facebook: / theshogunateyoutube
Twitter: / shogunatethe
#Samurai #Japan #History
![Classes, Ranks, and Titles of Feudal Japan [Kamakura and Muromachi Periods]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0bbe7tGF6fo/mqdefault.jpg)
Additional information...
1. Before showing to the warlord, all the heads were cleaned, put on makeup by samurai wives.
2. Most samurais
burned incense into their helmets. If they fall down and beheaded, keeping good fragrance was a manner.
3. There was a fortune-telling by checking the heads' eyes.
Yuck. It's a pretty primitive and disgusting practice, when you think about it.
"Damn, so no head?"
-random ashigaru at the night attack
“It’s your turn to give head…”
-random oda ashigaru
So no head? Aight imma head out
Or in the case of some Samurai, "Aight I got my head, I'ma head out."
This really interests me. Here in England, the display of heads was similarly ritual, but there was a higher emphasis on shaming the decapitated figure. It's fascinating that the Japanese did this in such a gentlemanly fashion.
according to what was told but then again samurai were often depicted as much better versions of themselves in historical records. head taking was also used to assert dominance.
kind killer still a killer... they taking head so they can bring prove...
Simon de Montfort kinda noticed the shaming part
BrewCity you my friend know your stuff
Are you high? Your high right?
"no Jin, we don't do that!"
"Hell yes we do, uncle"
Jin sakai, you have no honour
Where were you when honor died?
@@chancndga4334 and you are a slave to it
@@jcnom6606 oof😂😂
That quote is from where?
A Chosogabe retainer is said to have taken 100+ heads in his life. Since no one bothers to take an Ashigaru’s head, (only kabuto-kubi=helmet head is rewarded), he must have killed prolly a few hundred in his life. Wow.
Head hunting has been pretty standard fare in most Warrior cultures at some point in their history. Never knew this about the Japanese.
Haha their Kabuki stories are filled with these gruesome ceremonies.
This reminds me on my favourite quote of the Hagakure „always make sure your helmet is proper polished, because it‘ll accompany your head to the enemy camp“. (Loosly quoted).
No wonder in ghost of tsushima, they never stop talking about “mount their heads”, “demands a head”, head this head that.
Was just thinking about that
I don't know why (the ghost of Tsushima spoilers)
did lord Shimura get mad at him for taking Mongol heads when they took his Castle.
@@Acegaming0588 jin took his enemy head without fighting him as a samurai, so it a dishonourble act
@이의열 chill it just a game
I really enjoy stuff like this. I like learning about different cultures and heritage. Without people like you we wont have these stories in the near future. Thanks
Another good video! Some historians argue that the Japanese religion was head taking? The comment on them making their appearance more appealing for their enemy when the head was taken? That was taken from a book written during the Edo period on the way a samurai was to conduct himself. In the book it states to burn incense in their helmet to make it pleasing have ruse or make up on them to make their appearance more appealing. Also you were correct that the head taking ceremony took too long, there was a time they started taking noses and mustaches as trophies to take to their Lord
I think I read a book in my college days that had a list of expressions the severed head made and what the meaning of it was like some expressions would mean a bad omen so the Samurai would not take the head. These expressions ranged from one eye being closed to a look of terror upon death.
All of your videos are excellent. I have watches almost all 3 chapters of your series on the civil war and have learned so much. Thank you.
7:18 that horse is having the time of his life
I honestly clicked this misreading as "Talking Heads"
I did too haha!
Same here!
Same ffs
Me too
I also think samurai make a head a talking puppet.
Wonderful videos. Excellent artwork, music, and research!
Kind of late to your channel my man, but I’m very glad I stumbled upon it. This is fantastic information.
"The heads. You're looking at the heads. Sometimes he goes too far. ...He's the first one to admit it!"
wow, so samurai just gained a lot more respect then i originally had. freakin' metal
Verry interesting video, thanks for great content and presentation, just subscribed to your channel 👍
Keep grinding brother your channel is growing
very interesting! never thought to find this in my recommendations while searching for reviews for way of the samurai games!
i'll check your channel. this looks interesting! i like history telling!
Very interesting information. I'm curious, how did the relatives or friend of the beheaded person saw this act? Were they angry, shame, or accept the fate of the beheaded person?. Did vengeance a common thing in samurai culture?
It was always accepted. Certainly feelings could be tense behind the scenes but publicly friends and family would save face and act accordingly. Although seeking revenge was certainly common.
Sometime, after the head presentation ceremony, the soldier who slayed and took the head of the opponent was required to write a formal letter of apology and have the head return to the family. The family in turn was expected to accept the head and letter with good grace.
Vengeance is common in Asia in general. But samurais made it a fine art. During the warring period, heads were kept as trophies. It is only returned to the family as a favor to somebody known to the victor, or after payment of ransom money. They are always mindful of vengeance that the punishment for crimes especially disloyalty, although rarely imposed because of complicated family and social ties, might include death sentence to the whole family including the wife, concubines and children. Samurais ordered to commit seppuku can appoint a second (usually a close friend) whose duty is to cut off the head before the pain of self-disembowelment becomes unbearable. The second will also deliver the head back to the family of the deceased after it was examined (usually to confirm identity) and released.
@signoguns - This gesture was an act of respect reserved only for a slain opponent who fought well and honorably or an opponent who was a high-ranking/well-known warrior. Further and more importantly it was done to demonstrate the honor and enhance the reputation of the victorious warrior. Sorry if these concepts are beyond your grasp.
@signoguns - Was it brutal? Yes, but in what context are you coming from? As someone who lives in a different nation, in a different era, in a culture that have different sets of values, beliefs and practices? Oh I understand your opinion but it seems you forgot that it is just that: an opinion. Hope you can understand that.
Came here for the potential of give me head jokes. Stayed for the knowledge. I'm proud of all of you.
Bundori (by Laura Rowland) was a medieval murder mystery set in Japan and my first introduction to the formalized practice of “head trophies” by the samurai. Thanks for adding more context.
Must have been an easy mystery to solve: "It was the guy holding the head!"
The shogun will demand a head!
It does not have to be yours.
_parrying intensifies_
DASHA!
give him head then
You're awesome! This is just an image that even Japanese people have never seen.
Amazing content.
I’m gonna binge watch your channel! Just wanted to give you a heads up.
this is amazing i watch your samurai videos so helpful thank you.
These videos are awesome! How about some episodes on the stories of different Samurai
That is definitely something I plan on doing! The only thing is that I don't want to cover a famous samurai until they have made their way through my main Sengoku Jidai series, so I'm just waiting a little bit before I start making those types of videos.
I think that would classify under classical samurai literature from the Edo period right up until now... 47 Ronin wasnt a real event.
@@imperialtutor8687 I beg to differ. It is a historical event that took place in 1701. Of course it has since become legendary what with the movie. However, to this day, the story remains popular in Japan, and each year on December 14, Sengakuji Temple, where Asano Naganori and the rōnin are buried, holds a festival commemorating the event. The clothes and arms they wore are still preserved in the temple to this day, along with the drum and whistle; their armor was all home-made, as they had not wanted to arouse suspicion by purchasing any.
@@12jygga Fine I regress but i am quite sure that the event didnt happen as depicted in literature.Its a bit like the warring states period in China...lots of myths and legends mixed in with facts.
This is so fascinating
Yes, good! More about the hierarchy of the Samurai society!
Veri good work!
This is a great tradition!
I was trying to find sources on how long the Japanese would take heads after the period of the samurai, but I couldn't find any except from this video.Very appreciated
This channel is so cool
Awesome vídeo
Great and interesting
Love this🤘Feudal japan was savages back then🥷💀
- What are those things in your wall?
- Eh, some former enemies
I enjoyed this.
Very interesting!
I love how the Samurai embraced the honor system. Even heard story's of samurai dropping his sword and the other samurai picking it up and throwing it back to him. Awesome stuff
When someone's word was good as gold. Nowadays we just have guys in great shape with technology doing their killing for them. There is no honor is blasting a group of Taliban fighters with helicopter mini gun.
Samurai were as grimy, deceitful and treacherous as they come.
Don't believe that crap that portray samurais as gentle warriors or embraced honor and respect. Western publications or in the media portray as these.
@@gearzone2611 there is no such thing as a gentle warrior
Really cool 😎
What is the name of the song you used in this video?
where can one find these illustrations as they are fantastic
Everyone goes on about how the Norse liked to clean themselves and comb their beards and so on. No one talks about how samurai made sure they were pretty and smelled good on the off chance they got killed and decapitated and their head had to be shown to someone's lord.
Can someone please tell me the title and author of the woodblock print shown from 1:41, I have one exactly like that and I wish to find out what it is.
i subscribed, i want to more about shinsengumi
Whole new meaning with the phrase now
Reminds me of the Aztecs.....
Nice Imagawa burn :D
Great video. Finally subscribed. Perhaps that means you have taken my head? 💆♂️
The time when head taking is a fashion.. and the Samurai who present it is a celeb..
I wonder... How many soldiers were killed while in the process of taking a head of an opponent during a battle?
Sengoku Jidai era, Trophy Head and Getting Reward by Capturing Enemy General Head.
In Island of Borneo, the Dayaks aka Indigenous and native Borneo's people also pratice Head Taking. One of them was Iban people, they are one of the famous Headhunters in Borneo. Head Taking offen done went Bride parents demanded there enemies head as trophies and proved to the groom was an suitable man. Eventually, this practice made it's way during WWII went Iban people lead by Australian troops in special operations against the Japanese and they cuts many of the Japanese army head. The Iban was also sent to Malay Peninsula to fight against Communist insurgency in 1948 and done very well jobs with slaughtering the Communist and decapitated there head as trophies. This pratice continued until 1970s after end of fighting against Communist insurgency in Sabah and Sarawak
I heard that the samurai would examine the severed head on a display if it was dead corpse or beheaded during battle.
Genial.
Head taking doesn't seem barbaric if you consider the body is empty once the spirit has departed and in the days of the Samurai, trophies were probably necessary to prove both prowess and loyalty and to collect rewards possibly.
The taking of heads during battle is common in many cultures around the world,
including the Celts, who loved nothing more than collecting the heads of their slain
enemies, although it was only regarded as an "achievement" if the head was attained
during a one-on-one 'duel', often between two warriors of a certain reputation and rank,
and in some cases, as a settlement of scores, settling some conflict, avoiding a full
scale war where many more people would die, hence the victorious warrior would be
entitled to collecting the head "trophy" - the exact same system would hold sway in
the very Eastern culture of medieval Japan, they would fight in one-on-one battles,
and the victorious samurai would take the head as a symbolic gesture.
If for instance, in the immediate aftermath of a large engagement of opposing forces,
a scavenger looking on from a distance, scoured the battlefield after military hostilities,
the hiding hyenas could potentially, find a fallen knight or samurai, perhaps wedged in
an embankment, and then cut-off the head of the already dead warrior, he could then
theoretically proceed to the "Daiymo" or the feudal Lord of his territory, present the head
of a warrior, in some rare case, it could be the the head of a famous warrior, claiming to
have slain the famous warrior in battle, but the Daiymo, together with his generals and
Lieutenants would just ridicule such claims, knowing that the spirit of Bushido, the
culture & customs of their code has been cheated, the Daiymo orders the vulture, who
had scavenged the head, trying to claim some recognition, to a ceremonial beheading
of his own, little did the vulture know, the head showing, would be his own, such is the
business of collecting heads, in medieval times, you had to earn it.
I've heard that they all had their head long and put in a knot for the reason so you could easily carry a head if taken
Great video. BUT still misses what I have been searching for..Can they present Female warrior's heads? I have heard in voices from past that a head that cannot be told if its a warrior or a female to be "bad" heads. what of the enemy had female soldiers and samurai? can I gain renown by taking and presenting their heads?
You tell us there story like they were so kind and there were no bad people
1:21 i cant find that painting
need link
What'd they do with them heddz after payment?
Brutal times
Did they only take one head per battle or did they carry them around while fighting, somehow?
SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!!
That''s one way to get a head in life
Ha 😂😂
I wonder who took Sanada Yukimura's head. That would be so awesome.
Japanese history are brutal and beauty
To be fair, without photography, how else would you know you got the right man but take the head?
Can you imagine living in those days ?
Is there a term for head taking? If I'm honest, it just sounds like the opportunity for a good band name.
"There can be only one." 😂
I also saw this as 'talking heads' and was incredulous for a secod as I imagined samurai, unwilling to die, struggling to talk as their heads rolled.
Ancient Rome did this too - though it was often like English tradition, to disfigure and dishonor the dead person as a failure
So you need to get a head to get ahead in feudal Japan...
Badumthiss
So when they would take a head during battle, where did they put it?
headhunters, but with fabulous fabrics.
💀
Toei says Fate version of Shimazu Toyohisa?
'Oh no........ MY SWORD!'
Ohhh I thought it said talking heads and I was like whaaaaaaaaat
Sounds like 2013, 2014, 2015, till this day Mexico.
I remember when one day I went to school, when suddenly I saw a decapitated head on top of a parked taxi the police were just arriving, it was a disgusting image I will never forget that I was only 15. I avoided seeing the newspapers because there was no censorship and they had images of mutilated people I'm 20 now and still avoiding the newspaper.
Kirisute Gomen!
With all the fighting going on at that time, most Samurais must have known there was a very good chance they'd lose their head one day. Pretty disturbing.
I've scrolled through this video so many times thinking it said "talking beads"
It's funny how a method meant to show battlefield prowess, respect, & devotion became a means of fast-tracking the corporate ladder, to the point where it actually hampered productivity.
This is the same voice as star wars theory!!!
I had a dream once of a samurai warrior. In my dream he was fighting against a Chinese warrior with a black warrior suit a big man about 7 ft tall thick and huge. He grab his wife and cut her head. Then his son and decapitated him. Then he pick up the man with one arm from the forehead as he drop him on the floor and spit on him. Young hero drag himself to shrine and such was his pain that he committed seppuku.
Some people might think that it stains the samurai reputation of honor, but I think it just makes them more badass
honor.. just mean they are killer with a code.. still a killer... hence why they send it all out the country when they united the country...and ended them after entry modern age...
The whole Samurai Honor thing is just Tokugawa era invention. Most Samurais before that were just professional Thugs.
The honor code or ‘Bushido’ were a thing but it was different to how we understand. It was more like general *guides* than rules. Some had rules of kindness before honor, mercy before honor, loyalty before mercy and honor before all. Each clan and retainer had different guides. In times of peace, mercy and do not torment woman and children became more pushed on. The list of bushido we know now is the a general list of codes from different clans together. A lot had honor and loyalty.
Samurai JackOff thanks buddy good to know that makes sense though since the samurai were servants of the master so they kind of go along with whatever their master said.
How To Get Ahead in Japan by Nottakai Myheado
What happens to a samurais sword once killed, I understand some of these swords have been passed down family's for generations. does this mean that the sword is returned to the family or that they simply didn't die in battle?
War trophy
Sounds like it was pretty brutal to get ahead in life...
So was it true that they would take the head of their fallen leader to make sure it didn't get taken by the enemy? Or is that all story?
head is a prove of death... some people will try to hide that their leader is death until they can change to their kin....
Did they ever preserve the heads? Or just get rid of them after the ceremony?
Sometimes they were preserved for various reasons. There have been records of certain important heads being lacquered in gold.
@@TheShogunate Do any of them exist today? Also was there a samurai who was noted to have taken the most heads?
@@richhartnell6233 No because they still rotted away underneath the gold I think.
Everyone should read
"The Knights of Bushido"
Scary how you can make someone do gruesome things in exchange for money.