Samurai (侍) were members of the warrior class who served as retainers to lords in Japan prior to the Meiji era. Samurai existed from the late 12th century until their abolition in the late 1870s …

Oct 8, 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 …

Mar 21, 2024 · The age of the samurai was over. The legacy of the samurai, however, remains culturally significant throughout Japan, and has also achieved iconic status in the West, not …

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.

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 …

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 …

However, what a samurai was and what samurai symbolize have changed dramatically across the course of Japanese history. During the spring 2025 semester, students in Assistant Professor …

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 …