Samurai vs Knight: The Differences

Being eminent parts in the history, the Japanese and European feudal times have many similarities yet retain their distinct characteristics. ‘The one who serves’ and an ‘honorary titled knighthood warrior for the service of a country’; the great medieval fighters thought to be strikingly similar contain certain distinguishing traits. One gets to know these differences by taking a trip down the medieval memory lane. Both of them being well educated and mannered they have different origins, appearances, and code of conducts and like so interesting and striking differences featured as follows.

Appearances

Much of the importance to a warrior is his weapons and armors. The armors of knights and samurai were elaborate, precise yet they were easily distinguishable having specifications from their origins. Samurai’s armors were made of leather and were of red color mostly adorned with different designs of silk laced cords. Being light these were appropriate for mobility and free quick movement on the battlefield. Shoulder sleeves and lightly armored sleeves were designed keeping in mind this requirement. Samurais also wore helmets with horns. The most famous feature of the helmet was its Darth Vader–like neck guard. In addition to being featured with ornaments and attachable pieces, they include a mustachioed, demonic mengu mask that both protected the face and frightened the enemy. An extra leather cap was also worn by them for extra protection. Although the samurai armor went through significant changes over time, its overall look always remained fairly consistent to the untrained eye. Though it didn’t give full protection and coverage to the body yet it was so well-made and effective that the US Army actually based the first modern flak jackets on samurai armor. Compared to that, the armors of Knights were also an eminent and expensive part of their warfare. That steel and metal link armors were quite fitted that didn’t hinder them during their battles. They completely covered their bodies with steel and metal chains for proper protection. Knight’s steel plate armor contained chainmail on the armpits that enabled free arm movements. This finely articulated armor’s weight spread evenly throughout their bodies. Oh, and with these elaborate armor characteristics, one would be easily able to differentiate a samurai from a Knight who btw looked fiercer as compared to Knight.

Weaponry

The weapons were a prime and honored possession of warriors. Both the combatants were quite skilled and had deadliest weapons for combats. The variety of weapons used by Samurai included the Katana, the Wakizashi, the Tanto, the bow etc. The katana was the best weapon of a samurai, the soul of the samurai warrior. They could only rely on Katana for complete warrior ship. The Wakizashi was an honorable weapon of samurais. The tanto was a small knife also used for rituals of suicides. Longbow required special skills that each samurai possessed. Spear was also a likable weapon for a samurai.   On the contrary, the Knight's weapons were quite elaborate. Some of the weapons were more effective while fighting on horses while others were more appropriate for hand to hand combats. Lance was a long wooden log with metal tip and hand guards, making it easy for the knights to attack from the horse. Swords were primarily important and deadlier weapon as compared to Lance. Knights had one handed or two handed swords with shields. Longbow and Mace were also few of the less deadly yet eminent weapons of the Medieval history servicemen

Education, Training, and Religion

Samurai and Knights were both extraordinarily talented and well-educated fighters. Their training started from childhood and they were ample and skilled in their combats. The choice of being a knight was not descended from the choice of their ancestors as compared to samurai, as having a samurai father was a must for a child to be a samurai warrior. Knights were a man of noble birth and had military ranks while samurai didn't entertain any such military power yet they were considered to be an epitome of power, valor, and honor. Samurai plays “Kendo” while Knight plays “Joust”. Samurais tend to use weapon range tactics, while Knights directly charged their enemies. Samurais were mostly of Zen Buddhist religions few of them had Shintoism, Daoism, Confucianism, while knights were mostly Catholic and Christians but generally they believed whatever their Kings believed in. Their religions taught them never to fear death and follow discipline and never disobey the lords.

Code of Conduct

Both had certain rules they had to follow and were made to live by them throughout their lives. They swear on this code of conduct in the oath taken by them at the time they are granted their warriorship. Samurai used to live by an ethnic code of conduct named as Bushido that was a way of the warrior. Self-discipline, loyalty and respectful ethical behavior were some of the major qualities you need to do under a bushido. Knights were known for their gentlemanly conduct based on a code of ethics called chivalry. Chivalry was based on the ideal characteristics of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, bravery, and felicity in the moves. They promised no twisted deeds and complete knighthood, help to ladies and never to fight without reasons. Both of the soldiers were extremely efficient, brave, loyal and outstanding in their respective combats extending protection to their lords.

Origin and Basis

Samurais were the combatants of pre-modern Japan while Knights belonged to European Medieval ages. The 17th-century feudalism was the time when a distinguished political system took hold of the Europe who became loyal to lords by the promising nobility to the lands. A knight was a prominent feature of the Europe feudalism during the middle ages. Japanese samurai also contained feudalism characteristics, they contained basic social outline and were great warriors of Japanese origins. They rose around the 20th century in Japan. Hence, 17th century Europe and 20th century Japan were both successful social empires, contained many similarities yet many differences at the same time as elaborately discussed in the form of differences among their fighters.