They dominated Japanese history for the better part of a thousand years. And although the samurai--the elite military class of Japan, which originated in the late 8th Century--were transformed into primarily political and cultural entities by events in the 19th Century, their exploits on the battlefield, their Zen philosophy and stoicism that inspired great bravery, even their beautifully crafted accoutrements of war continue to excite and exert outside influence in Japan and beyond. Learn more about the Japanese Samurai in this article, made available by The World & I Online.