SamuraiSamantha Suarez

Japanese FeudalismThe shogun (like the king) ruled the country through the daimyo (like the nobles) who were the heads of the samurai (like the knights). Society was organized under a rigid class system with no social mobility

ShogunAny of a line of hereditery military dictators who relegated the emperors to a position of purely theatrical supremecy military from 794 AD a chaif militery commander

DaimyoA hereditary feudal nobalman of japan

SamuraiThe japanese warior caste that provided the administrative and fighting aristocracy from the 11th to the 19th centuries

Code of Bushido The concept of Bushido was first developed in the Kamakura period (12th Century) at the rise of the Shogunates (regional politico-military feudal lords). Bushido, literally the way of the warrior (Samurai), was a code of ethics of the warrior that would be analogous to the code of chivalry of the knights during the European feudal period. Bushido was based on the Japanese national tradition and religious heritage: largely Shinto and Buddhism.

Samurai weaponsKatana- is japanese for backsword it has a length greater than 60 cm and has a long grip for two hands Kama- was a sickle used for farming they used these after there weapons were taken by the military they often attached a chain at the end for longer reach this was then called akusarigama bo- was a a staff nuntte- was a fishing tool and was placed at the end of the bo naginata- was a reaping sword tonfa- was origanaly a bean and rice grinder Yari- spear Jo- short staff Bokken- wooden sword

Samurai womenBetween the 12th and 19th centuries, many women of the samurai class learned how to handle the sword and the naginata primarily to defend themselves and their homes. In the event that their castle was overrun by enemy warriors, the women were expected to fight to the end and die with honor, weapons in hand.Some young women were such skilled fighters that they rode out to war beside the men, rather than sitting at home and waiting for war to come to them.

Samurai hairThe Top knot is really just a bun on top of there head

The end of samuraiWith public support, the Meiji Emperor did away with the samurai, reduced the power of the daimyo, and moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo.The new government created a conscripted army in 1873; many of the officers were drawn from the ranks of former samurai.In 1877, angry ex-samurai revolted against the Meiji in the Satsuma Rebellion; they lost the Battle of Shiroyama, and the era of the samurai was over.