# Jobs of samurai in Japan **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2000, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jobs-of-samurai-in-japan/25804 "2000-07-17T05:30:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2000, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jobs-of-samurai-in-japan/25804/1 "2000-07-17T05:30:14Z")
From what I’ve read, I gather that the samurai caste in fuedal Japan was primarily a warrior caste, with the principal duties of ruling, fighting wars, and enforcing laws. I looked [at this article](http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/9/0,5716,66939+1+65252,00.html) which answered my question about whether samurai took up other occupations besides warrior/ruler. But it didn’t answer my other question: Were there certain occupations that only samurai could fill? Does anyone know? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jobs-of-samurai-in-japan/25804/2 "2000-07-18T03:18:15Z")
It’s not that no one knows. It’s that even a simple answer would be an essay. ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jobs-of-samurai-in-japan/25804/3 "2000-07-18T05:57:04Z")
I will assume that you are interested in the era of Tokugawa period (1603-1867). Let me recommend something: Go Rin No Sho (A book of five rings) by Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645). It’s on the web at: [http://www.samurai.com/5rings/](http://www.samurai.com/5rings/) Musashi is known in Japan as Niten and the Sword Saint. His writings, art and philosophy, in addition to being extremely interesting (to me anyway), provide a flavor of Japan at the beginning of the seventeenth century and what a Samurai might be doing. “People in this world look at things mistakenly, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void. It is bewilderment…” “With your spirit open and unconstricted, look at things from a high point of view.” “Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.” “Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.” “You win battles by knowing the enemy’s timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.” - Miyamoto Musashi ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jobs-of-samurai-in-japan/25804/4 "2000-07-18T06:29:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wevets \* > \*\*From what I’ve read, I gather that the samurai caste in fuedal Japan was primarily a warrior caste, with the principal duties of ruling, fighting wars, and enforcing laws. I looked [at this article](http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/9/0,5716,66939+1+65252,00.html) which answered my question about whether samurai took up other occupations besides warrior/ruler. But it didn’t answer my other question: Were there certain occupations that only samurai could fill? Does anyone know? > > Thanks! \*\* This is a very tough one to answer since they didn’t have “occupations” in Fuedal Japan like we do in our modern society. A samurai was not paid for his services because such things were the province of merchants who weren’t even considered fully human. Samurai did many things other than rule, enforce the laws, and make war. There were those who wrote poetry, painted, and even practiced medicine. I’m sure if you checked your local library you’d be able to find more information then I can provide off the top of my head. A hatamo was the advisor to the local Daimyo. To the best of my knoweldge you had to be a samurai in order to fulfill that role. marc ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jobs-of-samurai-in-japan/25804/5 "2000-07-18T06:41:30Z")
Good answer, Gibson-sama. Seppuku will not be necessary. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jobs-of-samurai-in-japan/25804/6 "2000-07-18T20:36:35Z")
Many thanks for the references, tc, and for the help, MGibson. I’ll look into Musashi; it sounds like exactly the sort of thing I’m looking for. > [@](#): > > A samurai was not paid for his services because such things were the province of merchants who weren’t even considered fully human. Nobody tell my employer about this… it might give him ideas 😉