Samurai Kneeling Before Daimyo, 1877
Entitled: "Samurai or retainer kneeling before government official or daimyo." The samurai, members of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan, began as provincial warriors before rising to power in the 12th century with the beginning of the country's first military dictatorship, known as the shogunate. As servants of the daimyos, or great lords, the samurai backed up the authority of the shogun and gave him power over the mikado (emperor). The samurai would dominate Japanese government and society until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to the abolition of the feudal system. Despite being deprived of their traditional privileges, many of the samurai would enter the elite ranks of politics and industry in modern Japan. The traditional samurai code of honor, discipline and morality known as bushido (the way of the warrior) was revived and made the basic code of conduct for much of Japanese society. The daimyo were the powerful feudal lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings. Photograph published by Stillfried & Andersen, 1877. Albumen, hand-colored with watercolor.
Size: 3171px × 4500px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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