Samurai (侍) or bushi (武士, [bɯ.ɕi]) were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were most prominent as aristocratic warriors during the country's feudal period from the 12th century to early 17th century, and thereafter as a top class in the social hierarchy of the Edo period until their abolishment in the 1870s during the Meiji era. [1]

Jan 7, 2025 · Samurai, member of the Japanese warrior caste. The term samurai was originally used to denote the aristocratic warriors, but it came to apply to all the members of the warrior class that rose to power in the 12th century and dominated the Japanese government until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

Jul 5, 2019 · The samurai (also bushi) were a class of warriors that arose in the 10th century in Japan and which performed military service until the 19th century. Elite and highly-trained soldiers adept at using both the bow and sword, the samurai were an essential component of Japanese armies in the medieval period.

Oct 28, 2009 · The samurai, who abided by a code of honor and discipline known as bushido, were provincial warriors in feudal Japan before rising to power in the 12th century.

Here are five little-known facts about the fearsome samurai, from their somewhat terrifying social privileges to their first and only colony in the United States. The high prestige and special social privileges enjoyed by the samurai are amply demonstrated in the tradition of kiri-sute gomen, roughly translated as “permission to slay.”

Jan 31, 2023 · Japan’s history is known for its fascinating warrior class known as the samurai. The samurai are often depicted as stoic, skilled swordsmen who lived by a strict code of honor. Their legacy has left a significant impact on Japanese culture and history, making it a must-see topic for those interested in Japan.

Jul 15, 2024 · The samurai were a class of highly skilled warriors in feudal Japan, known for their martial prowess, strict code of honor, and significant cultural influence. Emerging in the late Heian period (794-1185), they rose to power during the Kamakura (1185-1333) and Muromachi (1336-1573) periods, eventually becoming the ruling military class.

Jul 24, 2019 · Samurai were a class of highly skilled warriors that arose in Japan after the Taika reforms of A.D. 646, which included land redistribution and heavy new taxes meant to support …

In modern pop culture, we frequently hear about samurai as warriors. But what were they? As a powerful social group, the Samurai replaced the aristocracy in medieval Japan between 1185 and 1603 CE. In the Middle Ages, Japan was characterized by a feudal system. Their emergence was a product of socio-economic and political upheavals.

The samurai (or bushi) were Japanese warriors who were members of the important military class before Japanese society changed in 1868. The samurai were also considered to be a type of hereditary nobility.