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Ronin
is a class that existed in feudal Japan (which, however, does not prevent one from placing something similar in a fantasy setting with a European setting). Ronin in a strict historical context were once serving samurai who were left without a superior feudal lord and became free warriors, and in some historical periods - expelled or left voluntarily, but nevertheless enjoying the samurai rights to carry a pair of swords, cut off the heads of commoners, and wear special pants - hakama. Ronin in the broad sense is like a noble warrior, a samurai, a knight or something like that, but life has turned out that way that he is free and gets around as best he can. The distinctive features of the ronin are his poverty (up to the inability to buy himself a normal sword), his willingness to rent out his ability to fight to those who pay and survive at any cost, and the incomprehensibility of his status: it seems that formally he is a noble and serviceable warrior, but de facto no, that's why he doesn't get respect.
In Europe, something similar happened en masse only once, at the beginning of the crusade against the Cathars, when the previous owners of fiefs were driven from their lands in order to install new ones in their place. Such exiled knights were called w: faydits.
In modern Japan, a “ronin” can jokingly be called a guy who graduated from high school and tried to enter a university, but failed the exams and is now hanging around idle.
and is preparing to try again next year. See, for example, the anime and manga Love Hina, Chobits, etc. It’s difficult to say anything about samurai origin: according to the post-war constitution, inheritance of titles is prohibited to everyone except members of the imperial house.
Ronin
Ronin, written in the characters for "swimming" and "man" (浪人, literally "man floating on the will of the waves"), is a déclassé warrior of feudal Japan during the late Muromachi (1138–1573) and Tokugawa (1603–1868) periods. A ronin was a samurai warrior in feudal Japan without a master or lord, known as a daimyo.
The term was coined during the Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1185) periods and was originally applied to serfs who fled or abandoned their lord's land. To feed themselves, they often became robbers and brigands. Over time, the word passed up the social hierarchy to the outcast samurai. These samurai were considered criminals and vagabonds, men cast out from their clans or renounced by their lords. The term is quite derogatory; its Russian equivalent could be bum, vagabond, wanderer, wanderer. Those who chose the life of a ronin usually lived in poverty and shame.
Firearms are unacceptable for a samurai
Illustration: Unknown Japanese Edo period (1603–1868) artist / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
As you know, firearms were invented by cowardly gaijins who do not know the path of honor. A real samurai is disgusted by such things. He fights the enemy face to face and only with swords. And if the enemy shoots at him, the samurai will accept death with courage. Well, or fight off a bullet in flight with a katana. At least in the movies.
In reality, the samurai not only did not despise firearms, but also adopted them almost immediately after the Europeans brought them to Japan. The Portuguese wheel castle, called Tanegashima: The Arrival of Europe in Japan by the Japanese in 1543, changed warfare in Japan.
Military detachments began to be formed from arquebusiers and pikemen. The Japanese were so keen on firearms that by the end of the 16th century they had acquired a corps of arquebusiers larger than that of any European country.
Photo: Daderot/Mueller Museum/Wikimedia Commons
Mostly firearms - both hand pistols, rifles, and cannons - were purchased by The Making of Modern Japan in the Netherlands. And among the samurai, owning some cool imported gun was not considered shameful, but, on the contrary, honorable and status-bearing.
The Path to Becoming a Ronin
What's the alternative to becoming a ronin? After all, it was not the samurai's fault if his master died suddenly, was deposed as daimyo, or was killed in battle. In the first two cases, as a rule, the samurai continued to serve the new daimyo, usually a close relative of his original lord.
However, if this was not possible, or if he felt too strong a personal devotion to his late lord to transfer his devotion, the samurai was expected to commit ritual suicide or seppuku. Likewise, if his master was defeated or killed in battle, the samurai had to kill himself, according to the samurai code of bushido. This is how the samurai retained his honor. This served society's need to avoid revenge killings, as well as to remove "freelance" warriors from circulation.
The samurai became a ronin:
- When their owners died.
- When their masters lost their privileges or power.
- When they lost the favor or protection of their master and were cast out.
In the 20th century, the word was used to refer to adventurers and nationalists who actively promoted Japanese interests and expansionism on the Asian continent: they were called Chinese ronin or Asian ronin.
Currently, the term is used for unemployed office workers or high school graduates who have failed university entrance exams and are waiting for their next chance to enter a college or university.
Ukiyo-e prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicting the famous Ronin Miyamoto Musashi
A skilled samurai will stop a katana with a clap of his palms
Still from the film “Ninja Assassin”
Sometimes the military skills of samurai in films and anime are shown in a completely implausible way. So, sometimes experienced bushi manage to stop the blow of an enemy’s katana by holding it between two palms. It looks very cool, but completely unrealistic.
In general, in different schools of fencing - both Japanese and European - there were techniques that made it possible to take a sword from an opponent. But before grabbing a weapon by the blade, it is highly advisable to put on bracers and thick gloves. The blade is not touched with bare hands - you can only grab the handle or the opponent’s hands.
It is simply impossible to stop the blow of the blade with a clap of your palms - you will simply be mutilated or your limbs will be completely cut off.
Social status
The social status of the ronin was very low. According to Bushido (Warrior Code), a samurai was required to commit seppuku (also harakiri, "belly cutting", a form of ritual suicide) after losing his master. Anyone who chose not to abide by the code was "on his own" and had to suffer great disgrace, which contributed to the negative public image that the ronin maintained until the end of the Tokugawa period.
During the Sengoku period from 1467 to 1600, a samurai could easily find a new master if his master was killed in battle. In those chaotic times, every daimyo needed experienced soldiers, and the ronin were not long without a master. However, once Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who ruled from 1585 to 1598, began to pacify the country, and the Tokugawa shoguns brought unity and peace to Japan, the need for additional warriors was no longer necessary. As order was restored in Japan, there were fewer and fewer jobs available for such men.
During the early feudal periods, including the Kamakura, Muromachi, and Azumi-Momoyama periods, the government allowed samurai, including ronin, to change occupations. This meant that a ronin could choose to occupy a lower class occupation, including merchants, farmers, fishermen, and peasants . Moreover, representatives of lower social strata could become samurai.
During the Edo period, with the rigid class system and laws of the shogunate, this was no longer possible. Those masterless samurai who decided to break the tradition of seppuku and continued to live became notorious. They still carried two samurai swords unless they had to sell them when times got tough. As members of the samurai class in a strict feudal hierarchy, they could not legally begin new careers as farmers, artisans, or merchants— and most of them despised such work.
Without lands of their own or regular income, penniless ronin sought work the best way they knew - by hiring themselves out as mercenaries or bodyguards (用心棒, yojimbo), or by engaging in plunder and rebellion.
They also joined those who raised the battle flag and needed additional fighters to increase their armies. In short, they were a source of social and military instability. For example, when the Tokugawa shogunate decided to attack and destroy the Toyotomi forces in Osaka in 1615, it is believed that up to 100,000 ronin joined the Toyotomi. Although the same number joined the Tokugawa forces
Storm's Fury
The source of information in this section is fiction
in the Warcraft universe.
Several weeks after defeating the Lich King, Rhonin, along with many other inhabitants of Azeroth, fell under the effects of the Emerald Nightmare and could not awaken until a group of defenders defeated Xavius. He later attended Malfurion and Tyrande's wedding ceremony along with his entire family. At his suggestion, the magicians created many beautiful rainbows in the sky, which commemorated the ten thousand years of their friends' relationship. Like Korialstrasz, who later appeared with Alexstrasza, Rhonin would not want to miss this event.
Story
After the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), many samurai became ronin. In the subsequent years of peace there was less need to maintain expensive standing armies. Thus, many surviving ronin turned to farming or became city dwellers. Others, such as the famous mercenary Yamada Nagamasa, sought adventure abroad.
The confiscation of fiefs during the reign of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, led to a particularly large increase in ronin. Most of them lived in extreme poverty. According to Shogun Iemitsa's calculations, their number was close to five hundred thousand. Lacking the status or power of mercenary samurai, ronin often had a bad reputation and were idle slackers.
Many turned to a life of crime, working or even running gangs that ran brothels and illegal gambling dens. Some even shocked local business owners with classic rackets. This behavior helped reinforce the image of ronin as dangerous and rootless criminals.
Initially, the shogunate considered them dangerous and expelled them from cities or restricted the neighborhoods where they could live. They were also forbidden to serve their new masters. Left destitute, the unfortunates were forced to join the Keian Rebellion (慶安事件, Keian jiken), a coup d'etat by angry ronin against the Tokugawa shogunate in 1651.
This forced the shogunate to reconsider its policies. They relaxed restrictions on daimyo's property, which led to fewer land confiscations, and also allowed ronin to enter the service of new masters.
War of the Ancients
The source of information in this section is fiction
in the Warcraft universe.
When Vereesa was preparing for the birth of twins, Krasus again turned to Ronin for help. However, they came across a crack in the time stream and, together with the orc Broxigar, fell into the past. They found themselves on Azeroth during the War of the Ancients, which took place ten thousand years ago. This was the first invasion of the Burning Legion.
During his adventures in the past, Rhonin met many legendary creatures, including Cenarius, Malorne, and Aviana. He became friends with night elf heroes, including Illidan Stormrage, his brother Malfurion, Tyrande Whisperwind, Maiev Shadowsong, her brother Jarod, and Shandris Feathermoon. Rhonin became Illidan's mentor and tried to help him correct the mistakes he had made. When Illidan left the ranks of the defenders of Azeroth, Rhonin became the commander of the lunar guards. In gratitude for his courage, Nozdormu's Aspect of Time allowed the mage to return home at the very moment when Vereesa noticed his absence, so that he would not miss the birth of his twins. Nozdormu also promised that the bronze dragons would become loyal friends to his children.
Honor without a master
Ronins are a favorite subject of romantic literature. Their lives were exceptional, especially during the stability of the Edo period. One of the major exceptions to the ronin's terrible reputation is the true story of the 47 ronin who decided to stay alive as ronin to avenge the unjust death of their master.
Since this was an illegal vendetta, they were ordered to commit suicide. They obediently committed seppuku as required by the bushido code and were buried at Sengakuji Temple near the Shinagawa train station in Tokyo, about two miles from Nakasendo where their lord was buried. Their actions, although technically illegal, are presented as the epitome of loyalty and service to their master.
Famous Ronins
During feudal Japan, there were several prominent ronin, listed below:
Sakamoto Ryoma
Sakamoto Ryoma was a Japanese political and public figure of the Edo period, an important figure in the movement against the Tokugawa shogunate. One of Japan's national heroes. Real name: Sakamoto Naonari. Nickname: Saidani Umetaro. Worshiped as a Shinto deity at a Tokyo shrine
Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi was a great swordsman and ronin who was never defeated in his 60 sword fights. Miyamoto was also the author of The Book of Five Rings. Gorin - but that's it. The Way of Strategy" which details the original philosophy and technique of kenjutsu.
Yamada Nagamasa
Yamada Nagamasa became a ronin after the Battle of Sekigahara. He was a Japanese adventurer who gained significant influence in the kingdom of Ayutthaya in the early 17th century and became an advisor to the King of Siam, governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, which is located on the Malay Peninsula in modern-day Southern Thailand.
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Samurai swords were forged from thousands of layers of steel
Photo: Wolcott, Katherine / The University of Vermont / Wikimedia Commons
Many people believe that real katanas are forged by a master gunsmith over several years. During this time, the blacksmith folds the steel billet many times, giving the sword incredible strength and sharpness.
This is, of course, a fallacy. Blanks made of tamahagane, Japanese steel, also called “diamond”, are indeed made by repeatedly folding and then flattening the metal.
But the Japanese made layered steel, which is considered one of the advantages of the katana, not because of its unique properties, but because they did not have a more effective way to clean the ferrous sand from impurities and better distribute Study of Microstructures on Cross Section of JAPANESE SWORD in carbon metal. This method of iron processing is not a great secret of Japanese craftsmen, but a completely ordinary technique that was used all over the world.
Thousands of times steel has not been folded. Bending the workpiece more than 20 times is a waste of time, as this causes Japanse Swordmaking Process to cause excessive carbon diffusion in the material. The process of bending the steel, called sita kitae, was repeated only 8–16 times.
And when the Japanese began to import metal from Europe, they generally stopped wasting energy on sita kitae, because European steel was cheaper and much better in quality.
And katanas have not been forged for years. On average, it took How long does it take to forge a katana?, WHY DID IT TAKE BLADESMITHS SO LONG TO MAKE A KATANA? from three weeks to several months.
