The word “Samurai” originally meant “a man of service.” They were like guards to high-class people. Samurai were required to learn martial arts and military science. They had faith in “Bushido,” the samurai code of chivalry, which dictated that they should obey their master and even sacrifice their life for their master. After the civil war began, samurai came to mean “warrior with a katana,” whether they had a master or not.

Especially, samurai were ashamed of meanness, cowardice, and servility. Under any circumstance, they did their duty without showing their feelings and controlled themselves.

In the Meiji Era, when Japan tried to modernize the country, the old-fashioned samurai system was abolished by the sword prohibition law to remove their prestige and their attitude of killing someone if needed. Their katana, the pride of the samurai, couldn’t be worn anymore. They found jobs in other fields like public service or the military.

In the Edo period (17th and 18th centuries), it was a peaceful age, so samurai didn’t have to fight and worked like public clerks in the modern age. But they weren’t paid in money but in rice. Samurai accounted for 7 percent of the total population.

It is said that their annual income was about forty thousand US dollars on average, if adjusted to the present day.

They had the top part of their head shaved so that their head wouldn’t be sweaty and stuffy when wearing a helmet. This custom remained even after the peaceful Edo period began.

One of the well-known teachings for samurai in the book ‘Hagakure’ is: 武士道とは死ぬことと見つけたり. This means a samurai must always be ready for his death. If so, he won’t be distressed at all, whatever may happen.

These are the seven virtues for samurai to uphold: Justice, Courage, Mercy, Courtesy, Honesty, Honor, and Loyalty. 「義」「勇」「仁」「礼」「誠」「名誉」「忠義

Buddhism, Shinto, and Confucianism influenced the spirit of the samurai. From Buddhism, they learned the importance of accepting fate and death. From Shinto, loyalty to the master and ancestors. From Confucianism, mercy, politeness, and honesty.

Ninjas worked like spies. They performed their undercover duties under the orders of their master. They never wore a katana, and instead used other weapons like shuriken, star-shaped throwing knives.

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