Salaried Samurai in Japan

Definition

The salaried samurai were a class of military nobility in feudal Japan who received a stipend or salary from their daimyo (feudal lord) instead of land. This system was established during the Edo period.

Analogy

Think of the salaried samurai as professional athletes today. They are skilled, trained professionals who get paid by their team owners (daimyos) to perform and protect their interests, just like how athletes play for their teams and represent them.

Related terms

Daimyo: A term used to describe powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan.

Bushido: The code of moral principles which the knights (samurais) were required or instructed to observe; it is analogous to the concept of chivalry in Europe.

Edo Period: A period in Japanese history that lasted from 1603 to 1868, characterized by economic growth, strict social order, isolationist foreign policies, and enjoyment of arts and culture.