Open Course Space

Inventing the Samurai

Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States21H.154
Free, no sign-up neededFall 2022English
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This course explores the historical origins of the Japanese warrior class as well as its reinvention throughout the archipelago’s history, with a special focus on the pre-modern era (200–1600 CE). It highlights key historical contexts including the rise of the imperial court, interactions with the broader world, and the establishment of a warrior-dominated state. It also considers the modern imaginations and uses of the warrior figure.

Description from MIT OpenCourseWare.

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