
Bushido: The Way of Samurai
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The Japanese samurai were not ruthless beasts. Rather, they contributed to Japanese culture, promoting arts such as Buddhism, calligraphy, painting, tea ceremony, and flower arrangement. They valued their internal qualities as much as their martial arts. They followed a code of conduct known as "Bushido" to preserve their honor.

Samurai: The Japanese Warrior
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In Japanese, samurai literally means "the one who serves." From the 12th century, they were a hereditary military nobility with high prestige and privileges. They were employed by the feudal landowners. They valued virtue as much as martial arts. A samurai who lost his honor might choose to commit suicide.