The term Samurai originally meant "those who serve in close attendance to nobility", and was written in the Chinese character (or kanji) that had the same meaning. In Japanese, it was originally pronounced in the pre-Heian period as saburapi and later to saburai, then samurai in the Edo period. In Japanese literature, there is an early reference to samurai in the Kokinshu (古今集, early 10th century): Attendant to your nobility Ask for your master's umbrella The dews 'neath the trees of M ...

See also:

Samurai, Samurai - Myth and reality, Samurai - History, Samurai - Origin of Samurai, Samurai - Kamakura Bakufu and the Rise of Samurai, Samurai - Ashikaga Shogunate and the Feudal Period, Samurai - Oda Toyotomi and Tokugawa, Samurai - Tokugawa Shogunate, Samurai - Samurai decline during the Meiji Restoration, Samurai - Post Meiji Restoration, Samurai - Culture, Samurai - Education, Samurai - Shūdō, Samurai - Lifestyles, Samurai - Samurai Names, Samurai - Marriage, Samurai - Succession, Samurai - Philosophy, Samurai - Weapons, Samurai - Etymology of samurai and related words, Samurai - Samurai in popular culture

Read more here: » Samurai: Encyclopedia II - Samurai - Etymology of samurai and related words

Excalibur - Caledfwlch. In Welsh legend, Arthur's sword is known as Caledfwlch. In Culhwch and Olwen, it is one of Arthur's most valuable possessions. It is used in that romance by Arthur's warrior Llenlleawg the Irishman to kill the Irish king Diwrnach while stealing his magical cauldron. Caledfwlch is thought to derive from the legendary Irish weapon Caladbolg, the lightning sword of Fergus mac Roich. Caladbolg was also known for its incredible power, and it was carried ...

See also:

Excalibur, Excalibur - Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone, Excalibur - History, Excalibur - Caledfwlch, Excalibur - Caliburn to Excalibur, Excalibur - Attributes

Read more here: » Excalibur: Encyclopedia II - Excalibur - History

Beowulf is the hero of the Anglo-Saxon poem titled after him (see Beowulf). Beowulf was the son of Ecgþeow, a banished warrior of the apparently Swedish Wægmundings. His father had slain Heaðolaf, a man from another clan named the Wulfings (according to Scandinavian sources, they were the ruling dynasty of the Geatish petty kingdom of Östergötland). Apparently, due to the fact that the victim was from a prominent family, the weregild was set too high, and so Ecgþeow was banished and had to seek refuge among the Danes. The Danish king Hroðgar generously paid ...

Read more here: » Beowulf hero: Encyclopedia - Beowulf hero

Melody of Oblivion - Bocca Serenade. (ボッカ・セレナーデ) The main character, a teenager proficient with the bow who becomes a Warrior of Melos (voiced by Houko Kuwashima). Melody of Oblivion - Sayoko Tsukinomori. (月之森小夜子 Tsukinomori Sayoko) A girl who travels with Bocca to seek her love.she left her home in search of kurofune. Melody of Oblivion - Kurofune Ballad. (黒船・バラード Kurofune Baraado): The first Warrior of Melos to appear, and Bocca's inspiration. See also:

Melody of Oblivion, Melody of Oblivion - Information, Melody of Oblivion - Characters, Melody of Oblivion - Bocca Serenade, Melody of Oblivion - Sayoko Tsukinomori, Melody of Oblivion - Kurofune Ballad, Melody of Oblivion - Toune Requiem, Melody of Oblivion - Coco Ninna-Nanna, Melody of Oblivion - The Melody of Oblivion, Melody of Oblivion - Monsters, Melody of Oblivion - Horu, Melody of Oblivion - Little Red-Haired Girl, Melody of Oblivion - Tamakorogashi

Read more here: » Melody of Oblivion: Encyclopedia II - Melody of Oblivion - Characters

The European Huns are often thought to have been a western extension of the Xiongnu (Xiōngnú), (匈奴) n., a group of nomad tribes from north-eastern China and Central Asia. These people achieved military superiority over their rivals (most of them highly cultured and civilized) by their state of readiness for combat, amazing mobility, and weapons like the Hun bow. Attila was born around 406. Nothing certain is known about his childhood; the suppositi ...

See also:

Attila the Hun, Attila the Hun - Background and beginnings, Attila the Hun - Shared kingship, Attila the Hun - Sole ruler, Attila the Hun - Attila in the west, Attila the Hun - Invasion of Italy and death, Attila the Hun - Appearance character and name, Attila the Hun - Notes

Read more here: » Attila the Hun: Encyclopedia II - Attila the Hun - Background and beginnings

The original game did not have anything resembling a class system; however, in many later games, the characters are assigned to classes, even if it is not possible to create new characters. List of character classes - Dragon Quest 2. Fighter: The first hero. Paladin: The second hero. Mage: The third heroine. List of character classes - Dragon Quest 3. Hero (勇者) (the game's main protagonist) Fighter (戦士) Magic ...

See also:

List of character classes, List of character classes - Dungeons & Dragons including Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, List of character classes - Chainmail and Original D&D Men & Magic Volume I Monsters & Treasure Volume II and The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures Volume III, List of character classes - Classic Dungeons & Dragons The Basic Expert Companion Master and Immortals Dungeons & Dragons Rules & The Rules Cyclopedia - a compilation of the Basic through Immortals Rulebooks, List of character classes - First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, List of character classes - Second Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, List of character classes - Third Edition Dungeons & Dragons including 3.5 Edition, List of character classes - Eberron Campaign Setting, List of character classes - Heroes of Horror, List of character classes - Alternity, List of character classes - Player's Handbook Professions, List of character classes - Legendary Adventure, List of character classes - The Legendary Rules for All Players, List of character classes - Ultima, List of character classes - Ultima I - II, List of character classes - Ultima III, List of character classes - Ultima IV - IX, List of character classes - Wizardry, List of character classes - 1 through 5, List of character classes - 6 7, List of character classes - 8, List of character classes - Dragon Quest, List of character classes - Dragon Quest 2, List of character classes - Dragon Quest 3, List of character classes - Dragon Quest 6, List of character classes - Dragon Quest 7, List of character classes - Final Fantasy, List of character classes - Final Fantasy I, List of character classes - Final Fantasy IV, List of character classes - Final Fantasy V, List of character classes - Final Fantasy Tactics, List of character classes - Other, List of character classes - Fire Emblem, List of character classes - Deadlands, List of character classes - Deadlands: The Weird West, List of character classes - Deadlands: Hell on Earth, List of character classes - Other games

Read more here: » List of character classes: Encyclopedia II - List of character classes - Dragon Quest

Chan's clowning may have helped extend the life of the kung fu wave. For all that, he had become a star towards the end of the boom, and would soon help move the colony towards a new type of action. In the 1980s, he and many colleagues would forge a slicker, more spectacular Hong Kong pop cinema that would successfully compete with the post-Star Wars summer blockbusters from America. Hong ...

See also:

Hong Kong action cinema, Hong Kong action cinema - The kung fu wave, Hong Kong action cinema - Bruce Lee, Hong Kong action cinema - The Post Bruce Lee Void, Hong Kong action cinema - Jackie Chan and the kung fu comedy, Hong Kong action cinema - Reinventing Action Cinema, Hong Kong action cinema - Jackie Chan and the modern kung fu film, Hong Kong action cinema - Tsui Hark and Cinema City, Hong Kong action cinema - John Woo and the gangster film, Hong Kong action cinema - The wire fu wave, Hong Kong action cinema - Influence in the West, Hong Kong action cinema - Exit of many Leading Figures

Read more here: » Hong Kong action cinema: Encyclopedia II - Hong Kong action cinema - Reinventing Action Cinema

Swami Ranganathananda of the Ramakrishna Mission says that when a soul is uplifted, a worthwhile conversion takes place that takes the soul vertically upward - from bad to good. This conversion benefits both the individual and society. Organised religion has two sides to it: One is dogmatic, narrow, given to fanaticism, that insists on rituals, rules, regulations, disciplines. The other side, the spiritual, elevates and feeds the soul and accepts goodness in all religions. Rituals and prayers are merely means to rein in our senses to bring out our sattvic gunas.

(See also:   , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: »  : Inspiring Tales of True Conversion  

Fusion Dragon Ball - Fusion Dance. The Fusion Dance is a precise set of poses and movements that allows two individuals to join together. It is likely practised by the creators, the Metamorans, who taught Goku. Both individuals must be roughly the same size, and have the same current power level at the time of fusion. If any mistakes are done during the Fusion Dance (off-speed, off-angles, twitching, blinking...etc, in other words the pair must be mirror images), it will either not work right (making a defective fused ...

See also:

Fusion Dragon Ball, Fusion Dragon Ball - Forms of Fusion, Fusion Dragon Ball - Fusion Dance, Fusion Dragon Ball - Potara Earring Fusion, Fusion Dragon Ball - Yuugou, Fusion Dragon Ball - Absorption, Fusion Dragon Ball - Imaginary Fusions

Read more here: » Fusion Dragon Ball: Encyclopedia II - Fusion Dragon Ball - Forms of Fusion

Son Gokū, the protagonist, is an extremely powerful but somewhat naïve martial artist. After a visit from his previously unknown brother Raditz, he discovers that he belongs to an alien race called Saiya-jin or Saiyan and that his kind once sent him to Earth to destroy it. When he refuses to reassume this task, Raditz challenges him to a lethal battle in which Gokū sacrifices himself to beat his brother (with the prospect of resurrection by the Dragon Balls). This, however, is the trigger for events of even greater magnitude to happen, making Gokū and his friends the foremost defenders of Ear ...

See also:

Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Z - Plot Summary, Dragon Ball Z - DBZ and anime fandom, Dragon Ball Z - Censorship Issues, Dragon Ball Z - Creative Changes, Dragon Ball Z - Post 9/11, Dragon Ball Z - Uncut Version, Dragon Ball Z - Filler, Dragon Ball Z - Sagas, Dragon Ball Z - Toei Animation's Sagas, Dragon Ball Z - FUNimation's Sagas, Dragon Ball Z - Movies TV Specials & Other, Dragon Ball Z - Movies, Dragon Ball Z - TV Specials, Dragon Ball Z - Other, Dragon Ball Z - Openings & Endings, Dragon Ball Z - Opening Themes, Dragon Ball Z - Ending Themes, Dragon Ball Z - Themes in the Series, Dragon Ball Z - Cast List, Dragon Ball Z - Video Games, Dragon Ball Z - Games released in Japan America Oceania and Europe, Dragon Ball Z - Games only released in Japan, Dragon Ball Z - Games only released in America and Oceania

Read more here: » Dragon Ball Z: Encyclopedia II - Dragon Ball Z - Plot Summary

Carlson was born in San Francisco, California. He is the son of Richard W. Carlson, who was president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from 1992 to 1997. His stepmother is Patricia Carlson, heiress to the Swanson frozen-food fortune. He is commonly mistaken to be a close relative of fellow journalist Margaret Carlson. Tucker Carlson - Education. Carlson completed private secondary education at St. George's School, Newport, Rhode Island. He then attended Trinity College in Connecticut for ...

See also:

Tucker Carlson, Tucker Carlson - Biography, Tucker Carlson - Education, Tucker Carlson - Journalism career, Tucker Carlson - Political views, Tucker Carlson - Partisan ambivalence, Tucker Carlson - Critic of Norquist, Tucker Carlson - Libertarian views, Tucker Carlson - Defending destruction of Rainbow Warrior, Tucker Carlson - Critic of Canada, Tucker Carlson - Confrontation with Jon Stewart, Tucker Carlson - From CNN to PBS to MSNBC, Tucker Carlson - Personal life

Read more here: » Tucker Carlson: Encyclopedia II - Tucker Carlson - Biography

An ancient royal family of Karnataka, who ruled from their capital of Banavasi, later branched into Goa, Hanagal and Chandavar.The Kadamb, is one of 96 Maratha clans whose oldest known area of residence may be in present-day Goa. The dynasty was founded by Mayura Sharma in circa 345 AD. Ancestors were said to have migrated from the foothills of the Himalayas. Subjected to some sort of humiliation at the court of the Pallavas, the young Brahmin renounced his hereditary priestly vocation and took to the life of a fierce warrior and batt ...

Read more here: » Kadamba: Encyclopedia - Kadamba

In anthropology, phallicism refers to the ritual adoration of the human penis, or the phallus. Elements of phallicism have been found in many cultures, including Ancient Greece, certain Hindu sects in India and in Sumeria. Phallus - Shaivism. The lingam or Linga (Sanskrit: Gender as in purusha-linga : Phallus) by some etymologists, is still used in Shaivism as a symbol for the worship of the Hindu God Shiva. The use of this symbol as an object of worship is a timeless tradition in India; mainst ...

See also:

Phallus, Phallus - In physical anatomy, Phallus - In art, Phallus - Phallic symbols in religion, Phallus - Shaivism, Phallus - Ancient Greece, Phallus - Ancient Scandinavia, Phallus - Ancient Rome, Phallus - In psychoanalysis, Phallus - Sociopolitical usages, Phallus - Objects considered to be phallic symbols

Read more here: » Phallus: Encyclopedia II - Phallus - Phallic symbols in religion

Sea shanties (singular "shanty", also spelled "chantey"; derived from the French word "chanter", 'to sing') were shipboard working songs. Predominantly an American, Canadian and British phenomenon (some Continental countries frowned on singing at sea), shanties flourished from at least the fifteenth century through the days of steam ships in the first half of the 20th century. Most surviving shanties date from the nin ...

Including:

• Sea shanty - Categories
• Sea shanty - The shantyman
• Sea shanty - Performance of shanties
• Sea shanty - Literary references to sea shanties
• Sea shanty - Samples

Read more here: » Sea shanty: Encyclopedia - Sea shanty

Bernini's "David" (1623-24) is a revolutionary statement in the history of art, and is among the first truly baroque statues. Under the patronage of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, young Bernini rapidly rose to prominence as a sculptor; Scipione's villa, now Galleria Borghese, chronicles his secular sculptures, with a series of masterpieces including, and leading up to his David, completed by him and his studio, when Bernini was merely 25 years old. The muscular warrior coils in his original plinth [1]. Bernini's David is poised to ...

Read more here: » David Bernini: Encyclopedia - David Bernini

Until the age of fourteen, the education of children was in the hands of their parents, but supervised by the authorities of their calpulli. Periodically they attended their local temples, to test their progress. Part of their education was a collection of sayings, called huehuetlatolli ("The sayings of the old"), that represented the Aztecs' ideals. It included speeches and sayings for every occasion, the words to salute the birth of children, and to say farewell at death. Fathers admonished their daughters to be very c ...

See also:

Aztec, Aztec - Terminology, Aztec - Legends and traditions, Aztec - Rise of the Aztecs, Aztec - The Empire, Aztec - Aztec society, Aztec - Class structure, Aztec - Slavery, Aztec - Recreation, Aztec - Tenochtitlan, Aztec - Education, Aztec - Diet, Aztec - Human sacrifice, Aztec - Poetry, Aztec - Downfall, Aztec - Sources

Read more here: » Aztec: Encyclopedia II - Aztec - Education

List of character classes - Final Fantasy I. Fighter/Warrior 戦士 Black Belt/Monk モンク White Mage 白魔術士 Black Mage 黒魔術士 Red Mage 赤魔術士 Thief シーフ Knight ナイト Master マスターモンク White Wizard 白魔導士 Black Wizard 黒魔導士 Red Wizard 赤魔導士 Ninja 忍者 List of character classes - Final Fantasy IV. Dar ...

See also:

List of character classes, List of character classes - Dungeons & Dragons including Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, List of character classes - Chainmail and Original D&D Men & Magic Volume I Monsters & Treasure Volume II and The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures Volume III, List of character classes - Classic Dungeons & Dragons The Basic Expert Companion Master and Immortals Dungeons & Dragons Rules & The Rules Cyclopedia - a compilation of the Basic through Immortals Rulebooks, List of character classes - First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, List of character classes - Second Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, List of character classes - Third Edition Dungeons & Dragons including 3.5 Edition, List of character classes - Eberron Campaign Setting, List of character classes - Heroes of Horror, List of character classes - Alternity, List of character classes - Player's Handbook Professions, List of character classes - Legendary Adventure, List of character classes - The Legendary Rules for All Players, List of character classes - Ultima, List of character classes - Ultima I - II, List of character classes - Ultima III, List of character classes - Ultima IV - IX, List of character classes - Wizardry, List of character classes - 1 through 5, List of character classes - 6 7, List of character classes - 8, List of character classes - Dragon Quest, List of character classes - Dragon Quest 2, List of character classes - Dragon Quest 3, List of character classes - Dragon Quest 6, List of character classes - Dragon Quest 7, List of character classes - Final Fantasy, List of character classes - Final Fantasy I, List of character classes - Final Fantasy IV, List of character classes - Final Fantasy V, List of character classes - Final Fantasy Tactics, List of character classes - Other, List of character classes - Fire Emblem, List of character classes - Deadlands, List of character classes - Deadlands: The Weird West, List of character classes - Deadlands: Hell on Earth, List of character classes - Other games

Read more here: » List of character classes: Encyclopedia II - List of character classes - Final Fantasy

M2 machine gun - AN/M2 M3 and XM296/M296. The M2 machine gun was heavily used as a remote fired fixed weapon, primarily in aircraft, but also in other applications. For this a variant of the M2 was developed (sometimes seen under the designation AN/M2, but it is important to note that there were .30 and .50 caliber weapons with this designation), with the ability to fire from a solenoid trigger. For aircraft mounting some were also fitted with substantially lighter barrels, permitted by the cooling ...

See also:

M2 machine gun, M2 machine gun - History, M2 machine gun - Design, M2 machine gun - Variants and Derivatives, M2 machine gun - AN/M2 M3 and XM296/M296, M2 machine gun - XM213/M213 XM218 GAU-15/A GAU-16/A and GAU-18/A, M2 machine gun - GAU-21/A and M3P, M2 machine gun - M2E50 or M2 E-50, M2 machine gun - International Usage, M2 machine gun - In Fiction

Read more here: » M2 machine gun: Encyclopedia II - M2 machine gun - Variants and Derivatives

A total of 1,355 Victoria Crosses have been awarded since 1856. Originally, the Victoria Cross could only be awarded to surviving recipients (not available posthumously) and could not be awarded to Indian or African troops (although it could be awarded to their European officers). In 1905 it was made available to be awarded posthumously. Not until the 20th century was it made available to all troops in the service of the Crown (the first Indian sold ...

See also:

Victoria Cross, Victoria Cross - Historical background, Victoria Cross - Awards, Victoria Cross - Victoria Cross after 2000, Victoria Cross - Forfeited VCs, Victoria Cross - Theft of the VC, Victoria Cross - Official collections, Victoria Cross - Unofficial collections, Victoria Cross - Photo Gallery

Read more here: » Victoria Cross: Encyclopedia II - Victoria Cross - Awards

A-10s were initially an unwelcome addition to the arsenal in the eyes of Air Force brass. The Air Force prized the high-flying, high-performance F-15 and F-16 jets, and were determined to leave the dirty work of close air support to Army helicopters. Military planners in the 1980s intended the A-10s to fly low, slow missions to counter divisions of Soviet tanks stationed in Eastern Europe. The planes proved their mettle in the Persian Gulf War in 1991, destroying more than 1,000 tanks, 2,000 military vehicles and 1,200 artillery pieces. Five A-10s were shot down during the war (a number of those by Z ...

See also:

A-10 Thunderbolt II, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Description, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Operational service, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Specifications A-10 Thunderbolt II, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Dimensions, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Powerplant, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Weights, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Take-off weights, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Performance, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Combat radii, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Armament, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Television films and video games, A-10 Thunderbolt II - Related content

Read more here: » A-10 Thunderbolt II: Encyclopedia II - A-10 Thunderbolt II - Operational service

Battle cry - Intimidating. The Rebel yell, a call taken up by troops fighting on the side of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. The Vikings screamed and imitated animal sounds during battle to intimidate their enemies. One of their cries was "Ahoy!". Of course, this has since become a peaceful greeting used by sailors of many nations, but at the time it was considered to be extremely warlike. Many Native Americans used animal sounds to frighten and communicate. Some Native American ethnic groups are f ...

See also:

Battle cry, Battle cry - Examples of battle cries, Battle cry - Intimidating, Battle cry - Religious, Battle cry - Miscellaneous, Battle cry - Fictional and virtual

Read more here: » Battle cry: Encyclopedia II - Battle cry - Examples of battle cries

Through art and religion, the influence of Greco-Buddhism on the cultural make-up of East Asian countries, especially China, Korea and Japan, may have extended further into the intellectual area. At the same time as Greco-Buddhist art and Mahayana schools of thought such as Dhyana were transmitted to East Asia, central concepts of Hellenic culture such as virtue, excellence or quality may have been adopted by the cultures of Korea and Japan after a long diffusion among the Hellenized cities of Ce ...

See also:

Greco-Buddhism, Greco-Buddhism - Historical outline, Greco-Buddhism - Religious interactions, Greco-Buddhism - Alexander the Great in Bactria and India 331-325, Greco-Buddhism - The Mauryan empire 322–183 BCE, Greco-Buddhism - The Greek presence in Bactria 325 to 125 BCE, Greco-Buddhism - The Indo-Greek kingdom and Buddhism 180 BCE –10 CE, Greco-Buddhism - The Kushan empire 1st–3rd century CE, Greco-Buddhism - Artistic influences, Greco-Buddhism - The anthropomorphic representation of the Buddha, Greco-Buddhism - A Hellenized Buddhist pantheon, Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the rise of the Mahayana, Greco-Buddhism - Conceptual influences, Greco-Buddhism - Gandharan proselytism, Greco-Buddhism - Intellectual influences in Asia, Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the West, Greco-Buddhism - Exchanges, Greco-Buddhism - Religious influences, Greco-Buddhism - Notes

Read more here: » Greco-Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Greco-Buddhism - Intellectual influences in Asia