Ochimusha-gari

The Samurai-Hunters

Ochimusha-gari 落ち武者狩りwas a practice in which peasants or warrior monks would hunt down and kill ochimusha, (literally fallen warriors) defeated fugitive enemy generals and fleeing samurai, stripping them of their armour, weapons, valuables and other equipment to sell for money, while seeking rewards for their heads. This practice was also part of the village self-defence system, put into play when the local ruling powers were defeated in battle, to curry favour with the incoming rulers.