The Evolution of the Samurai

At Let's Dive into Japanese History, there was an interesting post about the evolution of the samurai from their earliest roots, to becoming the elite warrior caste. 

 An excerpt is below. The full post may be read here.

 

What is a Samurai and what is a Bushi?

I wrote this a while back regarding Yasuke, but it applies to anyone—including the Japanese—who was not a samurai by birth but achieved the status through service to a lord. The meaning of “samurai” evolved significantly over the centuries; by the Meiji period, the term meant something very different than it did during the Heian period, 1,000 years earlier. By the Sengoku period, being a samurai was largely hereditary—you were born into the class. While there were exceptions, such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, these instances were incredibly rare.

Due to the shifting nature of the words bushi and samurai, a “grey zone” has developed in our understanding, especially in recent years. Modern cultural shifts and pop culture heavily influence these perceptions. Yasuke’s appointment as a samurai (or hatamoto) fits perfectly into this grey zone of how we perceive the rank. Furthermore, people often fail to consider how historical events were received in their own time. They may not realize that a modern word or term has evolved into something slightly different from its original meaning. The Japanese language, in particular, has changed drastically, even over the last 100 years.

The Etymology of the Warrior

To understand this, we must look at the etymology of samurai and bushi. The character 武 (bu) in the word 武士 (bushi) refers to a person who fights with a weapon, while the character 士 (shi) means a man or gentleman. Together, bushi literally refers to a “warrior.”

On the other hand, the word 侍 (samurai)—which was also used to refer to men who made their living through military force—is derived from the word saburau, meaning “to wait upon” or “to serve” a person of high rank. It is thought to have originated from the prefix moru, meaning “to watch over” or “to guard.” As the etymology suggests, a samurai was a member of the warrior class who specifically served the nobility, such as the aristocracy or the Imperial Family.

In other words, samurai were a higher class of warrior than ronin, ashigaru, or general bushi who lacked a specific master. While ronin are often portrayed in myth as “poor, masterless samurai,” the term simply meant a samurai who was not currently in the service of a lord.

The Rise of the Bushi

The origins of the bushi can be traced back to the Nara period under Emperor Shomu. The Imperial Court sent administrators to local landholders to control taxes and consolidate imperial influence in regional areas. By the Heian period, these local landowners held significant power. However, conflicts frequently broke out as they competed for land, trade routes, and wealth.

To manage these conflicts, local lords began recruiting and arming farmers with bows and swords. After receiving basic training, these men were expected to protect their lord’s lands. The lord could call these farmers to battle at any time, and they were duty-bound to obey. This is the origin of the bushi, which is quite distinct from the origins of the samurai.

The Evolution of Service

As mentioned, the kanji for “samurai” means “to serve.” From the mid-Heian period onward, samurai served the Imperial Court and the nobility, providing personal protection or being dispatched to the provinces to quell rebellions.

However, the term samurai did not originally refer only to warriors. As seen in the word 侍女 (jijo—lady-in-waiting), the character for samurai simply meant “servant.” This included government officials who served closely with the nobility, acting as cooks, assistants, and caretakers.

Over time, this definition shifted. The most significant change occurred during the Sengoku period, when the “samurai” became a complex class system with multiple ranks. If a farmer showed exceptional courage in battle, he could be promoted to the lowest rank of samurai. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is the most famous example of this; he rose from a simple sandal-bearer for Oda Nobunaga to become the de facto ruler of Japan, though such a meteoric rise was exceptionally rare.

By the start of the Edo period, the term samurai was used broadly for warriors of hatamoto rank or higher—those who had direct access to the Shogun.

Why the Confusion Today?

Why is it that despite these crucial historical differences, the terms are used interchangeably today? The reason lies in the Edo period (1603–1868). During this long era of peace, most samurai transitioned from being battlefield warriors to serving as administrators and public servants for the Shogunate and various feudal lords. As a result, the boundary between bushi (the warrior) and samurai (the servant/official) became blurred, leading to the interchangeable usage we see in modern times.