30/08/2026
Samurai were a Japanese warrior class that dominated Japan’s government from the 1100s to the 1800s.
The samurai emerged as elite mercenary warriors during the 900s and 1000s, partly because of power struggles among Japan’s elite. The word samurai means “one who serves” and the samurai served local lords known as Daimyos.
Samurai became famous for their skills in archery, horseback riding, and swordsmanship.
By the 12th century, the imperial court had grown weaker. Samurai took advantage of conflicts over power and succession and eventually gained political control themselves. For centuries, Japan was ruled through military governments supported by the samurai .
The ideal samurai was calm and disciplined and followed a code of conduct later known as “bushido”. It valued bravery, honor, and loyalty above life itself. But real samurai did not always live up to this ideal. In battle, they often used whatever tactics were necessary to survive and win.
Over the centuries, the samurai also developed their own culture and art and became a privileged class above farmers, craftsmen, and merchants.
Despite their importance, samurai made up only around 5 to 10 percent of Japan’s population.
When Japan’s long period of civil wars ended in the 1600s, life changed dramatically for the samurai. With fewer battles to fight, many became government officials and administrators instead.
They still enjoyed a privileged position, but their influence slowly declined.
In 1871, Japan abolished its feudal system, and the samurai began losing their special status. By 1876, the samurai class had effectively been abolished.
This photo has been hand painted after it was taken.
Sources:
Cartwright, Mark. “Samurai.” World History Encyclopedia, July 5, 2019.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Samurai.” Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Plitnik, George R. “Samurai.” EBSCO Research, 2016.
Wilson, Matthew. “‘Fabled Knights of Old’: The True Story of Japan’s Mysterious Samurai.” BBC Culture, February 11, 2026.
