The Age of the Samurai
East Asian Languages & Culture · 3 hrs Seminar/Discussion
Offered: Fall Or Winter
EALC-3721 prerequisites
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Description
"Samurai" often evokes an image of a warrior entranced in the Bushido code, ready to commit harakiri upon command. This course demystifies such an aura surrounding Japan's warrior class by exploring their rise from Heian temple servants to Sengoku warlords and then their fall from Edo Japan's intellectuals and bureaucrats to the realms of the destitute. Sources include samurai autobiographies, their intellectual scholarship, and representations of samurai in contemporary popular culture.
Requisite courses
REL-2721 or EALC-2721 or permission of the instructor [prerequisite(s)].
Restrictions
Students may not hold credit for this course and EALC-4721 | REL-3721 | REL-4721.
Cross-listed
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.