What religious did knights and samurai practice?

Answer 1

Both the samurai and knights had ways of practicing religion to become the warrior they had to be. However the two styles are very different. Most samurai practised Buddhism as this was Japan main religion. To the samurai religion was a way of life. It was because of their religion that they were such sufficient warriors. Samurai prayed in Zen gardens or other peaceful places and tried to achieve spiritual connection between themselves, their god and the land. It became a very big part of who the samurai were. They learnt how to focus their minds in battle and act without thinking. They learnt to defend themselves and attack the enemy with hardly any effort. It enlighted their minds and through connect with the land they would also learn self-discipline. This was a must for a samurai as they had to undergo a series of gruelling test which they fast for long periods of time and walk bare foot through the cold snow. It was because of religion that the samurai were so effective, without the spiritual connect, one could not become a samurai. Unlike the samurai, religion was not as important and was practised for different reasons. Most of Medieval Europe practised catholic religion. While it wasn't as important to the knights as the samurai it was used even more often. The knights would pray before getting up, before breakfast, evening prayers, dinner time prayers and finally bed time prayers. Knights would also have to go through somewhat of a church assembly before becoming a knight. They had to swear to serve their Lords and Gods. While it seems religion was important to knights it was used more so that the lords could become more powerful, it had little to do with worshiping religion because they were passionate about it of believed in it. The highest of the Lords used this to make their armies worship them. Unlike the samurai who practiced it to be at peace with themselves and their god, the knights only used it because their Lords told them to. The Lords told their people that if they disobeyed God then they would die a painful death in hell. They then made up laws and said to the people that these rules were made up by God, therefor meaning that everyone had to obey by them. The samurai used it to guide them in times of struggle and pain and to make them one with their mind and body. The knights on the other hand used it more for selfish gain. Or though most knights did this some did it for simular ways like the samurai.

Answer 2

Knights in medieval Europe often practiced Christianity, while samurai in feudal Japan adhered to Buddhism and Shintoism. Some samurai also followed Zen Buddhism for its focus on discipline and self-control. Both groups viewed their religious beliefs as integral to their code of honor and moral behavior in battle.