they were like knights. code of honor: Chivalry. code of hone for samurai: Bushido.
They both used the feudal system. The feudal system is a kind of culture in which the knights (in Japan, Samurai) owned most of the land and were responsible to the King (in Japan, Emperor), and basically ruled over the peasants.
The differences in feudal Japan to feudal Europe are very noticeable.1. Culture & BeliefsFeudal JapanIn feudal times Japan's major religion was Buddhism and Confucianism, they believed in honour and loyalty. This can be seen in the samurai, the knights of Japan in the feudal ages. Samurai were willing to die for their nation and commit seppuku (ritual suicide) to keep their honour rather than be killed or captured by their enemy.Feudal EuropeThe religion in Feudal Europe was Christianity. In feudal times Europe was very superstitious and the land was governed by the church. The church's laws were mainly based on their views of The Bible. People who showed any signs of witchcraft were sent to be executed. Things like black cats were seen as bad luck. All these things were around during feudal times in Europe.2. WarfareFeudal JapanFeudal Japan's warfare was different to Europe's because it was greatly influenced by their beliefs. As mentioned before Samurai's would commit seppuku (ritual suicide) to keep their honour. Their swords such as the katanas were different to the knight's sword. A samurai's armour would also be different; samurai would wear masks in an attempt to scare their foe. They would have less metl covering them than a knight would as well. Feudal Japan also had castles, at the beginning though they were made of wood and later became stone because of fire.Feudal EuropeIn Feudal times Europe had knights in shining armour. These knights would not suicide in the face of defeat but they would pray at least three times a day to God. They were meant to be good Christians and helpers to the needy. Unlike the Samurai they wore a lot of armour, the feudal 'tank'. A normal foot soldier stood no chance to a knight. Feudal Europe also had castles similar to Japan's.But both feudal Japan & Europe shared similarities as well. Their hierarchy was quite similar, both divided into two groups: Nobles & Peasants.
Europe and Japan were both feudal societies. Feudal systems contain hierarchies. The hierarchies in Japan and Europe were similar: king/emperor on the top, nobles next, then knights/samurai, then merchants and craftsmen, and lastly, peasants and serfs.
feudal Japanese warior
Samurai, but actually knights were European Samurai.
Samurai
They have a system of government that is almost exactly the same. JPN EURO Emperor - God Shogun - King Daimyo - Nobles Samurai - Knights Peasants - Serfs
One key difference between feudal Europe and feudal Japan lies in their social hierarchies and roles within the class structure. In Europe, the feudal system was characterized by a rigid class structure with kings, nobles, knights, and peasants, while in Japan, the system was more focused on the samurai warrior class, who held significant power and loyalty to their daimyo (feudal lords). Additionally, the cultural and religious influences, such as the prominence of Christianity in Europe versus Shinto and Buddhism in Japan, shaped their respective societies and governance.
A Samurai is a feudal rank in Japan. You had to be born Sumurai in order to be one.
During the feudal periods in Europe, military leaders were primarily knights, who were mounted warriors serving lords and participating in chivalric warfare. In Japan, the samurai were the equivalent military leaders, serving daimyos and embodying a code of honor known as bushido. Both groups played crucial roles in their respective societies, shaping the political and social landscapes through their military prowess. While knights were prominent in medieval Europe, samurai were central to Japan's feudal system.
Samurai/ Ninjas
Knights existed primarily in medieval Europe from the 9th to the 15th centuries, playing a significant role in feudal society and warfare. Samurai were prominent in Japan from the late 12th century until the 19th century, serving as warrior nobility during the feudal period. Both groups were characterized by their codes of honor—chivalry for knights and bushido for samurai—reflecting their cultural values and martial traditions.