Foundations
What samurai were, Bushido, and myth vs reality.
Guides
What is a samurai? Definition, class, and timeline
Samurai were retainers in Japan’s warrior aristocracy—not every swordsman in a film. How they differ from bushi and daimyo, and what ended the class in 1868. (8 min read)
Bushido explained: the samurai code, virtues, and myths
What Bushido (武士道) means, which virtues writers listed, when the phrase spread, and how it differs from medieval battlefield habit—not a single ancient rulebook. (17 min read)
Samurai vs ninja: differences, history, and pop culture myths
Samurai were legal warrior retainers; ninja (shinobi) were covert operatives in specific regions and stories—not two equal classes in Edo law. (16 min read)
Samurai vs knight: armor, weapons, chivalry, and history compared
Compare Japanese samurai and European knights by era, armor, weapons, feudal ties, and ethics—without a fake “who would win” tournament. (16 min read)
Samurai myth vs reality: honor, swords, ninja, and Hollywood
Fact-check popular samurai myths—always honorable?, katana cutting steel?, samurai vs ninja, seppuku daily, and what films get wrong for beginners. (27 min read)