Their name means “one who serves,” and the samurai were the most skilled elite group of combatants the world has ever seen. Their legendary prowess inspired some of Japan’s finest films and literature: years of training, discipline, and self-sacrifice, combined with advanced weaponry and unprecedented tactical acumen, created a force unmatched over centuries of history. This remarkable illustrated volume reveals the essence, truth, and wisdom of these unique warriors. Meet the most renowned of them, see their weapons, explore their military strategies, and even follow their daily lives. Above all, this sublime work illuminates the samurai’s unwavering Bushido philosophy—the strict code of honor that required absolute loyalty to their master above all else, and ritual suicide in preference to dying a dishonorable death.