Retirement
While many samurai hope to die serving their lord, at least publically, many eventually reach the end of their service.
Retirement for a samurai generally means joining a monestary for a life of simple living and contemplation for the remainder of their days. This can be any temple: Shinsiest, Fortunist, Ancestral, or Elemental. While many Clans and Families have tendancies towards one type of temple or another, it is always considered the choice of the individual retiring samurai. They alone know which path is most likely to lead them to enlightenment.
A samurai can ask to retire at any time in their service. This can be an act of protest against their lord, less extreme then Seppukku, but still an inditement of their lord's acts or orders. Alternatively, this can be a result of great shame or failure. A samuria can also be forced to retire.
Forty years old is generally the youngest age most samurai will consider retiring, unless the above extenuating circumstances force the issue earlier. It is more common for bushi/warriors to retire at this age. It is very hard to fight physically when you are over forty years old, because your body is your greatest enemy. It pretty much takes an iron will, and extreme dedication, to fight after forty years old. People who can do it may not be as physically strong, but mentally, they are gods amongst mean, and just super cool.
If one's duty is less dependant on physical performance, samurai often serve long past this age. Military officers and commanders benefit from experience, and bushi who transitioned to command often stay active. Courtiers will also remain active. Some find any duty to stay in the class, to maintain the comforts of the samurai lifestyle. The expectation is one will retire when they can no longer effectively serve their lord or clan, and therefore chosing to stay to avoid life in a monestary is looked down on, but generally only slightly.
Retirement for a samurai generally means joining a monestary for a life of simple living and contemplation for the remainder of their days. This can be any temple: Shinsiest, Fortunist, Ancestral, or Elemental. While many Clans and Families have tendancies towards one type of temple or another, it is always considered the choice of the individual retiring samurai. They alone know which path is most likely to lead them to enlightenment.
A samurai can ask to retire at any time in their service. This can be an act of protest against their lord, less extreme then Seppukku, but still an inditement of their lord's acts or orders. Alternatively, this can be a result of great shame or failure. A samuria can also be forced to retire.
Forty years old is generally the youngest age most samurai will consider retiring, unless the above extenuating circumstances force the issue earlier. It is more common for bushi/warriors to retire at this age. It is very hard to fight physically when you are over forty years old, because your body is your greatest enemy. It pretty much takes an iron will, and extreme dedication, to fight after forty years old. People who can do it may not be as physically strong, but mentally, they are gods amongst mean, and just super cool.
If one's duty is less dependant on physical performance, samurai often serve long past this age. Military officers and commanders benefit from experience, and bushi who transitioned to command often stay active. Courtiers will also remain active. Some find any duty to stay in the class, to maintain the comforts of the samurai lifestyle. The expectation is one will retire when they can no longer effectively serve their lord or clan, and therefore chosing to stay to avoid life in a monestary is looked down on, but generally only slightly.
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