>>1343565
>"Prior to [the Tokugawa era], the samurai were in fact mounted archers who were highly skilled with the bow and arrow, occasionally using other weapons if necessary. For the greater part of their history, the sword was not an important weapon to the samurai."
Into the trash it goes.

>>1343565
Yeah, Nitobe's Bushido is mostly bullshit. But it worked.

>>1343574
>For the greater part of their history, the sword was not an important weapon to the samurai.
I think what it means by this is the sword was primarily a status symbol. It is true that the bow and arrow were used and perfected by the samurai to be used while on horseback. Other weapons were used during the Warring States period in Japan, such as spears. Samurai even used guns when it was introduced to them. Honour was a massive part of every samurai's life, but they weren't stupid. Of course guns were the better weapons, and if it meant winning more wars, then they used them

>>1343676
No, I'm arguing about this fucking bullshit.
>"Prior to [the Tokugawa era], the samurai were in fact mounted archers who were highly skilled with the bow and arrow, occasionally using other weapons if necessary. For the greater part of their history, the sword was not an important weapon to the samurai."
It's not.

They're the warrior class. Full stop. Some owned horses, some didn't, ideally all should be jack of all trades in the fight, but many specialized in one role.

This "Samurai R Ackshully Mounted Archers" bullshit stems from people who think about equating Samurai to European Knights, who were first and foremost Cavalrymen. Samurai were just professional fighting class of all sorts.

>>1343676
Mounted archery was on a rapid decline after the Mongol Invasions. By the Sengoku Jidai, the mounted archer samurai model was more or less finished but here and there and mass armies with blocks were the ongoing model.

Besides, as stated, the distinction between ashigaru and samurai isn't that clean-cut. Many samurai were poor, couldn't afford a horse, had only a handful of armed followers.

Just like "knights", "samurai" is an indication of status, not of wealth.