Knights and Samurai;Chivalry and Bushido

People often say that Knights of the medieval ages were similiar to the Samurai.Why?Because both follow a strict code of conduct and honor,both in battle and in every day life.However,this is very untrue.There are many misconceptions about bushido,especially in the case of Samurai.Well,bushido wasn't even invented until the late Edo Period.It was invented by a ronin in order for Samurai to have some meaing rather than be magistrates or political people for the shogunate,so they have something to look forward to because strictly speaking,Samurai were warriors,and throughout the Tokugawa shogunate,there was barely war.Bushido was about honor,and valor,even respecting your enemies.

The Shogunate placed many laws in order to stop ronins from killing people.Bushido was one that the shogunate adopted from the ronin writer in order to keep samurai in line.In the case of knights and chivalry,many knights betrayed their lords and brought their heads to the enemies.In that,even the samurai of the Azuchi Muromachi Period heavily betrayed their lords,in the case of Akechi Mitsuhide and Oda Nobunaga.More so often,especially directed to Hollywood blockbusters such as Excalibur and the Last Samurai,they fantasize the meaning of chivalry and bushido,which is untrue.

Samurai were meant to serve,many did not during the Edo Period,even under the influence of bushido.Knights,in the case,were obsessed with fighting with valor and honor,that they did not do it in some cases,and many just threw it all away alltogether.Samuria and knights do not have many similiarities,they have many differences.Samurai would live for survival,and would cause ritual seppoku(suicide)because they were defeated,and this was not part of bushido.Knights,however,would be killed by others in most cases because they caused treason or were ashamed of defeat.