Samurai

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/samurai

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the period of dominance?Approximately 12th century to 1868 (over 700 years)
2. What is the key philosophical code?Bushido ('the way of the warrior'), emphasizing loyalty, honor, and discipline
3. What were Samurai and why were they important in Japan?Samurai were brave warriors who protected their lands and became the main military leaders. They grew powerful when the emperor’s power weakened and helped keep peace in their regions.
4. How did Samurai follow the code called Bushido?Bushido was the "way of the warrior" that taught loyalty, courage, and honor. Samurai had to be brave, loyal to their lord, and could even choose seppuku to avoid shame.

Seppuku: Ritual suicide by disembowelment, practiced by Samurai to preserve honor.
Shogun: The military dictator of Japan, typically a powerful Samurai.
Bunbu Ryodo: The principle of mastering both martial arts and scholarly pursuits.
Meiji Restoration: A period of rapid modernization and political change in Japan starting in 1868.