Final answer:
The purpose of the samurai was to serve as military protectors and enforcers of peace during Japan's feudal period, and they were also instrumental in developing key aspects of Japanese culture. Over time, their role expanded to include bureaucratic functions, but the class was eventually dissolved in favor of a modern, conscripted army.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the samurai, which refers to a class of military servants in Japan, was manifold. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), they rose to prominence as soldiers who helped enforce the peace and protect people's property. Not only did they engage in military duties, but samurai were also patrons and practitioners of the arts, developing many forms now considered quintessentially Japanese, such as No theater, the tea ceremony, haiku poetry, and martial arts like archery and swordsmanship. Their role evolved over time, and by the Sengoku period (1467–1573), samurai were the foot soldiers of vast armies engaged in frequent conflicts. With the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, samurai found roles as bureaucrats, and during the Meiji Restoration they were repositioned within society, as their formal class was abolished to make way for a modern army.
The bushido code, or 'way of the warrior', was the ethical code of conduct for the samurai, emphasizing loyalty to one's master, often to the point of death. Despite popular belief, this code was only formalized in the late 19th century as a means to instill loyalty among the Japanese populace. The samurai were expected to follow their master's wishes and to commit seppuku, also known as ritualif they failed in their duties.