Inventing the Samurai
MIT OpenCourseWare traces the Japanese warrior class from its origins around 200 CE through the establishment of a warrior-dominated state by 1600, then follows how later eras reimagined the samurai figure. The course covers the rise of the imperial court, Japan's contacts with the broader world, and the political and social shifts that let warriors displace court aristocrats as rulers. It also examines how modern Japan and popular culture refashioned the samurai into a national symbol. Materials include readings, lectures, and a research project, with a note that the project component requires working with Japanese-language sources. Taught in English. As with other MIT OpenCourseWare offerings, the course is free to audit, with no certificate attached. It suits anyone wanting a grounded, source-based history of the samurai rather than the popular myth.