Samurai Warrior

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Samurai Warriors
The Samurai were a disciplined and loyal class of warriors that came into existence because of the continuous battles between the Minamoto, Fujiwara, and Taira clans in Japan. Between the ninth and twelfth centuries, the elite fighting men, strong in numbers, became recognized as a separate social group and were referred to as Samurai (knight-retainers) and Bushi (warriors).
These warriors were hired by Daimyo (feudal land owners), were related to the ruling clans, or were Ronin (masterless Samurai). The Samurai gave full devotion to the Daimyo and were used to protect their land and gain more land and power. In return, the Daimyo gave a portion of acquired lands to the warriors.

The Samurai were known for their skillful fighting both on horseback and the ground as well as the two special swords they carried. Originally, they relied on bow and arrows and only used swords for close fighting. In the late 13th century, a fighting style was developed using a helmet and armor with one long sword (daiti-katana) and one short sword (shoto-wakizashi) together. The soldiers followed a strict code of honor, bravery, and loyalty to their ruling lords and their class, and always exhibited great skill with weaponry and discipline as warriors.

In 1867, the Samurai were prohibited from carrying their swords and developed a secretive way of concealing weapons in walking canes. Four years later, fighting was banned and the Samurai class lost their rights as warriors. Although they continued to rebel to regain their privileges, they were unsuccessful against the newly formed national army and eventually disappeared as a class.

Kirigami
Paper has always been an important material for Japanese art. Kirigami is the art of folding and cutting paper into intricate designs, either flat or three-dimensional. Kirigami is related to Origami, an art form that can be traced back to the fourth century. In ancient origami, square and rectangular pieces of paper were folded into images of gods to worship. The ritual developed into an art form with the folding of non-religious images and animals. Kirigami and origami are no longer confined to Japan. Many artists, adults, and children all over the world enjoy folding and cutting paper into complex shapes and designs.
 

Japan