The Aesthetics of Samurai Warriors

The bushi, the feudal caste of Japanese warriors, and their battles were glorified by artists of the time, portrayed on scrolls, screens and other media in a typically Japanese style. The Samurai Art exhibition at the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum features many of the bushi's personal objects, from the most basic such as the tachi long sword and armor, to more prosaic objects such as the pouch hanging from the belt to hold small utility items. Each of these artifacts, however, was crafted with great care aimed at expressing the most sublime beauty, pursuing their packaging down to the particular details. It is no surprise that these seemingly humble objects were among the most cherished possessions of this ancient warrior caste.