The fortunate
Like China, Japan's Tokugawa government developed a strong bureaucracy. As a result, some seventeen thousand samurai joined the shogun's civil service, taking positions such as a tax collector or law enforcement official. Furthermore, Tokugawa Ieyasu promoted the arts, and encouraged samurai to use their abundant leisure time to take part in them. Thus, most non-Ronin samurai became poets, writers, artists, scholars, and instructors in the martial arts. One former samurai and swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, wrote a text titled "Go Rin No Sho", or "The Book of Five Rings". In it, he discusses the importance of education and philosophy to martial strategy. For example, in the first of five volumes, he writes: "First, as is often said, a samurai must have both literary and martial skills: to be versed in the two is his duty" (Musashi 6).
The ideas within the work, as well as its author, are representative of the scholarly role taken up by many samurai in the Edo Period.
Still, others became merchants, the most detested class in Edo society. But why were merchants held in contempt? And why would samurai give up their status to become them?
The ideas within the work, as well as its author, are representative of the scholarly role taken up by many samurai in the Edo Period.
Still, others became merchants, the most detested class in Edo society. But why were merchants held in contempt? And why would samurai give up their status to become them?