An Overview of the Samurai

Given their noble role in most Hollywood movies,archers. Ironically, the Imperial court did not
you might be surprised to find the discussion ofregard them highly regardless of what you see in
the Samurai is a somewhat controversial area,movies. In fact, they were seen more as
particularly as to how the Samurai actuallybarbarians than as the cultured Samurai now
acted.An Overview of the SamuraiOne of theportrayed. As Emperor Kammu's power declined,
most interesting periods in the past of Japan hasthis group of warriors was disbanded, but soon
to be the feudal period. Out of this era cameafter new clans of warriors took their place.In the
many different aspects of the Japanese culturestory of the Samurai, this can be said to be the
that are still thought of today and one of thoseera when the samurai really developed. Here, in
aspects are the Samurai. Discovering just whatthe late Heian period, the warriors began to adopt
role the Samurai actually played is an interestingtraditional Japanese styled weapons and armor.
study into the minds and manners of ancientThey also came up with the foundations of their
Japanese warriors.The story of the Samuraifamous ethical code known as Bushido. At this
begins with the early shogun warriors, who werepoint, the clan warriors were known as Saburai,
trained fighters during the Heian period in Japan.or armed retainers, and often accompanied people
These warriors, amassed by the emperoras needed to protect against thieves and other
Kammu in the late eighth to early ninth centuries,criminals. After the 1100's, Samurai were
were a group of men that were clan warriorsexpected to not only be excellent fighters, but
from the powerful regional clans in Japan. Theyalso to be cultured and educated.
were skilled in combat while mounted and as