The Samurai otherwise known as the bushi, were warriors of Japan that were a major part of Japan’s history. Their beliefs and practices heavily influenced Japan to this day. The samurai were extremely powerful, and highly skilled warriors and are still greatly valued. Although they were very respected warriors, they did not start off that way.
The Samurai were created as a result of the feudal system. The feudal system was introduced into Japan in 12th century. This system had a pyramid of social classes, and had powerful families, warlords, and land owners above peasants and merchants. The Samurai were originally created to protect the powerful landowner’s riches. Many of these warriors were just swords for hire, but they eventually turned
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The Samurai had an honor code called bushido, which is also known as “the way of the warrior.” They evolved their entire worlds around this code, and their lives were shaped by it. The rules that came with this honor code include the kinds of weapons they were allowed to use during battle, how they treat their enemies, and that they were supposed
Snedden 2 to spare women and children form violence. The Samurai also believed in Shintoism, which made them very spiritual warriors, “Shinto gave the samurai something to fight for and
Confucianism established many of the rules in which they lived their lives,” (What Were the
Beliefs of the Samurai?). They also strongly followed the philosophy of Confucianism.
Confucianism, which taught them how to lead an ethical life. The Samurai Warriors were also heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism, which taught them spirituality and kept them in a moral path. Karma was especially important to the Samurai because it taught them how good and bad deeds will influence one’s future with either rewards or punishments. The Noble Eightfold Path was the Samurai Warrior’s rule book, and it showed them spiritual enlightenment.
These once powerful warriors eventually did come to an end. The Samurai class