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Article: Director of `Samurai' Commits Hara-kiri.
- Article from:
- Korea Times (Seoul, Korea)
- Article date:
- March 19, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Hankook Ilbo. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The action of ``Samurai'' is set in 17th century Japan, following the foundation of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1867). Most of the country has been unified through the efforts of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun to found a lasting dynasty. There were three class divisions among noblemen at this time consisting of the shogun, daimyo, and samurai. The relationship between the shogun and the daimyo was that of lord and vassal based on the Japanese modal of feudalism. Officially, the land belonged to the shogun, but he divided it among his lords as a favor. To achieve the rank of daimyo, a warrior had to have substantial landholdings, which he received at the hands of the ...