What was the Bushido Code?

The Bushido Code, a complex set of principles, was more than just a chivalric code for samurai.

Samurai in Armour, hand-coloured albumen silver print by Kusakabe Kimbei, c. 1870s–90s; in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles./Brittanica

The samurai first rose to power in Japan during the 12th century, known as the Kamakura Period (1180–1333). Japan entered its feudal period, with many local lords becoming diaymo over different areas. Over the next several hundred years, different clans ruled…