Japanese Samurai Information
From their humble beginnings as court administrators, samurai became an elite warrior caste in feudal Japan. Adept warriors, samurai were also expected engage in artistic pursuits and follow strict codes of honor and loyalty.
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History
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In the seventh century, Japanese samurai were court administrators and later imperial guards. By the 12th century, samurai had established a powerful military presence. With samurai backing, feudal lords became the ruling class in Japan. During the 17th century, Japan entered a period of peace, and many samurai were relegated to bureaucratic jobs within the government.
Traditions
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Though samurai were a warrior class, they had strict codes of honor and ritualism rooted in Buddhism and later Confucianism. Samurai honor included the principle of "death before dishonor" and ritual suicide, or seppuku, was considered an honorable death. Trained in many aspects of warfare, samurai were expert swordsmen, bowmen and equestrians.
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Appearance
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Samurai traditionally wore kimonos topped with elaborate armor for ceremony. The hallmark of the samurai was his well-crafted sword, which was elaborately designed for both warfare and symbolism.
Influence
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In the late 1800s, feudalism was abolished in Japan, effectively ending the reign of the samurai. The samurai code of bushido, the way of the warrior, became the country's ruling code of honor.
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References
- Photo Credit samurai image by Felipe Passolas from Fotolia.com
