All About the Samurai

Samurai Attack a Japanese Village

Images from a samurai attack on a Japanese village. These vivid and detailed pictures of samurai in action were created sometime between 1750 and 1850.

Images of the Samurai, Japan's Warriors

Images of samurai warriors and their armor, as well as some modern-day samurai imitators.

Samurai Women of Japan

Upper-class women of feudal Japan learned how to use weapons to defend themselves and their homes. Some went much further, though, becoming great warriors in their own right.

Profile of the Samurai

Describes the history and culture of the samurai, medieval Japan's special warrior class.

Images of Samurai Women

Although technically the term "samurai" applies only to males, some Japanese women became skilled warriors, and carried the two swords of the samurai. See pictures of some famous female samurai, from the 12th century to the 20th century.

What is Seppuku?

What is seppuku? Why did samurai commit seppuku (also called harakiri)? How did they perform this ritual suicide in feudal Japan? Find answers to these questions here.