WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -samurai, member of the Japanese warrior caste. The term samurai was originally used to denote the aristocratic warriors (bushi), but it came to apply to all the members of the warrior class that rose to power in the 12th century and dominated the Japanese government until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

Detailed explanation-2: -The samurai class, “shimin, ‘’ formed Japan’s top elite, and were the only caste granted the privilege of wearing two swords and having two names-a family and a first name. The shoguns and daimyo lords were members of the shimin caste.

Detailed explanation-3: -As servants of the daimyos, or great lords, the samurai backed up the authority of the shogun and gave him power over the mikado (emperor). The samurai would dominate Japanese government and society until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to the abolition of the feudal system.

Detailed explanation-4: -Samurai () were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in the 1870s during the Meiji era. They were the well-paid retainers of the daimyo, the great feudal landholders. They had high prestige and special privileges.

Detailed explanation-5: -Samurai were the noble [warrior] class in Japan and fifth on the Tokugawa class hierarchy. The samurai constituted about 10% of the population and functioned as soldiers in the employment of a lord in a master-warrior feudal relationship.