Kids Web Japan

Q. What were samurai?

A.

The first samurai appeared in the 9th century and were originally the people who guarded the high-ranking members of the imperial court. The name “samurai” comes from the verb saburau, meaning “to serve someone”. Later, as the power of the aristocracy faded, and society came to be dominated by warriors, the people who fought and led battles came to be called samurai. During the Sengoku-jidai, or Warring States Period, which lasted from the late 15th century until the establishment of the Edo Shogunate in 1603, anyone could become a samurai through their service on the battlefield, regardless of their birth. During the Edo Period, however, a rigid social system was created, separating people into farmers, traders, etc. Under this system, the samurai were the highest class, and ruled Japan.

With the start of the Edo Period, it was no longer necessary for samurai to fight on the battlefield, but their philosophy, known today as Bushido, was still passed down through each generation. The particular rules and guidelines were interpreted differently by each person, but the general principles were “devote your life to carrying out your own actions and fulfilling your responsibilities”, “serve your lord, even to the extent of sacrificing your life”, and “be prepared to give up your own life in the event of failure”. This last principle included the act of seppuku, in which a samurai would atone for a serious failure by cutting their abdomen open and literally throwing their life away.

The samurai era ended in 1868 with the Meiji Restoration. The old status system dividing people into farmers, craftsmen, traders, etc., was abolished and replaced with a system of just nobles and commoners. While some of the samurai were elevated to noble status, most now needed to earn their living. While they had lost their status as samurai, most of them still adhered to their traditional spirit and values.

Regarding this spirit, Nitobe Inazo published a book in English in the United States called "Bushido: The Soul of Japan" in 1900. A Japanese version was also published in Japan. From this book, the philosophy became known as Bushido.