Samurai The quintessential samurai was a mounted archer. The samurai (侍) were members of the elite warrior class in pre-industrial Japan, who served as retainers to the feudal lords. They …

Dec 29, 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 …

Jul 5, 2019 · 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 · As servants of the daimyos, or great lords, the samurai backed up the authority of the shogun and gave him power over the mikado (emperor). The samurai would dominate …

Jul 11, 2025 · The samurai warrior caste dominated Japan from the Kamakura to the Edo period. Over those centuries, they developed in ways that shaped Japanese history.

Whatever happened to the samurai? The samurai were a preeminent class defending Japan for centuries. But as the Tokugawa shogunate ushered in an era of stability, the need for them …

Mar 21, 2024 · The word “samurai” itself can be translated as “one who serves,” and these warriors served their masters — the feudal landholders, or daimyo, who ruled much of Japan …

May 25, 2025 · The samurai were more than warriors—they were the soul of feudal Japan, embodying a balance of ferocity and refinement. Their code shaped centuries of thought, their …

A traveler's introduction to the samurai, the Japanese warriors and member of the military class of feudal Japan.

Jan 28, 2025 · The samurai, a class of highly skilled warriors, played a pivotal role in shaping Japan’s history and culture. From their emergence during the early feudal period to their …