What were the requirements to become a samurai?

The rigorous training of a samurai warrior began in childhood. Samurai school was a unique combination of physical training, Chinese studies, poetry and spiritual discipline. The young warriors studied Kendo ("the Way of the Sword"), the moral code of the samurai, and Zen Buddhism.
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Who were allowed to become samurai?

The term samurai was originally used to denote Japan's aristocratic warriors (bushi), but it came to apply to all the members of the country's warrior class who rose to power in the 12th century and dominated the Japanese government until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
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How hard was it to become a samurai?

It was extremely difficult, if not impossible, to become a samurai if one is not born in a samurai family. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was an exception. Samurai were named by taking a kanji character from their father's name and mixing with another kanji character. Samurais changed their names after reaching adulthood.
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What are 5 characteristics a samurai should have?

Bushido mentions the eight virtues of a Samurai being: Morality, courage, compassion, politeness, honesty/sincerity, respect, loyalty, character plus self-cControl.
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What skills did samurai need?

Samurai also learnt martial arts, of which there were 18 in the Edo period, but the most prized samurai skills were always horsemanship, archery and, then swordsmanship.
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Did female samurai exist?

“Onna-Bugeisha”, literally meaning “woman warrior”, these samurai women were trained in martial arts and strategy, and fought alongside the samurai to defend their homes, families and honour.
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How old did you have to be to become a samurai?

If you were born in a samurai family, you became samurai when you were around 13 years old. Once you become samurai, you were sent to the battlefield, if you did not have any face cover, the opponents could easily recognize you as an unskilled warrior.
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What are the 7 codes of the samurai?

The code itself stresses eight ideals or virtues, which samurai are supposed to follow until the day they die: Benevolence, Courage, Respect, Sincerity, Righteousness, Honor, Self-Control and Loyalty. By following them, a samurai could fulfill his duties to his lord and to Japanese society as a whole.
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What are the 7 principles of the samurai?

These are the seven principles:
  • Courage.
  • Integrity.
  • Benevolence.
  • Respect.
  • Honesty.
  • Honor.
  • Loyalty.
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What are the 3 codes of behavior for the samurai?

Basic tenants of the strict samurai code of conduct — known as “bushido”, or the way of the samurai — included loyalty, devotion to duty, rising early, having impeccable manners, maintaining a clean and modest demeanor, having skills in practical matters such as administration, showing courage in warfare, having ...
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Could a peasant become a samurai?

This system wasn't rigidly enforced until the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate- up to that point, many peasants, artisans, and merchants could take up arms, distinguish themselves in battle, and become samurai (see the case of Toyotomi Hideyoshi).
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What mental training did samurai?

Mental Preparation

Samurai were instructed to live as though they expected to die in the next minute, thus ensuring that their present behavior left no room for regret. Samurai were encouraged to meditate frequently on these principals, preparing themselves for the rigors of service and war.
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Are there real samurai left?

The samurai warriors do not exist today. However, the cultural legacy of the samurai exists today. The descendants of the samurai families also exist today. It is illegal to carry swords and arms in Japan.
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Were Samurais allowed to get married?

Most samurai married women from a samurai family, but lower-ranked samurai were permitted to marry commoners. In these marriages a dowry was brought by the woman and was used to start the couple's new life together. A samurai could have a mistress, but her background was strictly reviewed by higher-ranked samurai.
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Were there any white samurai?

Anjin Miura or William Anjin was the first and possibly only white man to ever be knighted a Samurai.
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Can a foreigner become a samurai?

The legend lives on. When Nobunaga bestowed the rank of samurai on Yasuke the idea of a non-Japanese samurai was something unheard of. Later, other foreigners would also obtain the title. As the first foreign-born samurai, Yasuke fought important battles alongside Oda Nobunaga.
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What was samurai code?

The Samurai Code

Bushido was the code of conduct for Japan's warrior classes from perhaps as early as the eighth century through modern times. The word "bushido" comes from the Japanese roots "bushi" meaning "warrior," and "do" meaning "path" or "way." It translates literally to "way of the warrior."
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What is the code that samurai lived by called?

Bushidō, (Japanese: “Way of the Warrior”) the code of conduct of the samurai, or bushi (warrior), class of premodern Japan.
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Is the Bushido code real?

Popular culture presents bushido as a concrete moral code so intertwined with Japan's hallowed samurai class that the two appear inseparable. But in reality the term bushido did not exist until the twentieth century. In fact, Nitobe, one of the first scholars to embrace bushido, thought he created the term in 1900.
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Did Samurais have mercy?

Jin – Mercy or Benevolence

This is to ensure that the warrior fought for the right reason and belief; it is also to guarantee that if there was no need to kill, the samurai would have mercy.
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What martial art did the samurai use?

The Samurai developed their combat tactics through wrestling, hitting, swordsmanship, archery, riding, and knot tying. Their comprehensive fighting system would have encompassed Akido, Judo, Kendo, Iado, and Karate, among others.
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What religion did samurai follow?

Various forms of Buddhism played a major role in the life of the samurai, and we find this influence throughout several pieces on display. Buddhism arrived in Japan during the sixth century and quickly became a powerful force for the ruling class.
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How were samurais wiped out?

In 1588, Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi passed the Katanagari (sword hunt), which made it illegal for anyone except samurai to carry swords. Losing their weapons angered many samurai, and some used their now-illegal swords to rise up in armed rebellion.
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Can you become a samurai today?

Being like a samurai in the modern age isn't easy, but with discipline and a strong sense of duty, you can start living according to Samurai virtues and developing your talents to use them for good.
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