The samurai were the hereditary military nobility and warrior class of medieval and early-modern Japan.

They emerged in the Heian period as provincial warriors hired by the nobility to protect their estates.

The establishment of the first shogunate in the 12th century marked the beginning of samurai political dominance, which would last for nearly 700 years.

The samurai were bound by an ethical code known as 'bushido,' or 'the way of the warrior,' which emphasized loyalty, honor, and martial skill.

Their primary weapons were the 'daishō,' the pair of a long sword (katana) and a short sword (wakizashi).

In exchange for their military service, a samurai was granted land or a stipend from a feudal lord (daimyo).

A dishonored samurai could be expected to commit ritual suicide, or 'seppuku,' to restore their family's honor.

During the long peace of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the samurai's role shifted from that of a warrior to that of a government administrator.

The Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to the formal abolition of the samurai class as part of Japan's modernization.

The samurai remain a powerful and enduring symbol of Japanese culture and history.