Samurai armor like this represents the shogunato warrior and government that they served. The shogunato began ruling Japan in 1192, and with them, the samurai warrior elite became more relevant. The three main shogunatos were the Kamakura, the Ashikaga or Muromachi and finally the renowned and peaceful Edo era (previous name for Tokyo), during which the Tokugawa clan held power. They positioned the samurai as strategic figures, as they were warriors dedicated to serving and defending their master, the daimyo, and maintaining order and safety within their territory.
Though they were trained for battle, the samurai remained at the daimyo’s service during times of both war and peace. The samurai warrior’s training itself was an artform. It included learning martial arts, bow and arrow on horseback and sword handling from a very young age. This was complemented with strict training in philosophy, literature and calligraphy. It was important to reach a balance reached between these subjects, as physical and mental strength had to be in harmony.