Samurai

[nayeemfaruqui]

Samurai, the warrior class of feudal Japan. The samurai, also known as bushi (military gentry), were the elite fighters in the feudal armies of Japan. Their strict code, bushido, stressed loyalty, obedience, and a high sense of duty. As a symbol of their rank they wore two swords. The samurai class emerged in the eighth century. For many centuries samurai generally fought on horseback, but by the 19th century they had adopted infantry tactics and fought on foot.

Samurai military power was broken in 1868, when supporters of Emperor Mutsuhito overthrew the shogun and ended feudalism. The samurai class was abolished during 1873–76.