About the book: 1981 / The work is devoted to one of the current oriental problems - the history of the emergence, formation, flourishing and decay of the military class of Japan - samurai. The problem is studied on two levels - as an ethnographic and as a socio-political one. The author examines the social structure, ethical and religious views of the samurai, the traditions of educating samurai youth, their military and physical training, and describes weapons and clothing. In conclusion, the author talks about the decomposition of the class, its abolition and the preservation of remnants of the samurai ideology in modern Japan.