Samurai


 * Samurai** - or mounted troops, were Japanese aristocratic warriors. Samurai were the highest of the four social classes and were the only people permitted to carry swords. The samurai’s sword, also known as the 'soul of the samurai' as not only beautiful but a deadly weapon capable of being both razor sharp and resilient (a rare combination). Although the samurai valued their sword they also heavily relied on their bow. Samurai served their bushi, or their war lord and were completely independent from the figure head, the emperor. These warriors followed Bushido, which stressed honor, discipline and loyalty to their bushi. This highly developed code set up very rigid practices. One of these practices consisted of battles, first samurai would shout out their names and information before sending out champions to fight. Another ritual was seppuku or hara-kiri was a common ritual practiced by Samurai after defeat or being dishonored. This was ritual suicide and was scene as an honorable act. Samurais were the Japanese equivalent to knights and bushido to chivalry. Instead of being paid through land grants samurai received money. The samurai and their war lords dictated a huge chunk of Japanese history.


 * Sources:**
 * http://www.jref.com/glossary/samurai.shtml

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Created by Benjamin Ellison- November 7 Edited by Danielle Fishman on 11/9/08 Edited by Hampton Webb - November 10, 2008 Edited by Max Crawford 11/10/08 Edited by: Dirk Gadsden (November 11, 2008)