Samurai Warriors

Definition

Samurai warriors were the military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan. They followed a strict code of conduct known as Bushido, which emphasized honor, loyalty, and martial arts skills.

Analogy

Think of samurai warriors like the knights in shining armor from European history. Just as knights had their chivalry, samurais had their bushido. Both were expected to uphold certain values and serve their lords faithfully.

Related terms

Bushido: This is the code of moral principles that samurais were required to observe. It's similar to the concept of chivalry in Western culture.

Daimyo: These were powerful feudal lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from vast hereditary land holdings.

Shogun: A shogun was a military dictator in Japan during much of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. In this position, they were one step below the emperor but held actual power.