Samurai warriors were known for their weapons and armor, which they used for battle but did not always wear. Their most important weapon was the bow, but the sword was seen as a samurai's soul and losing it meant losing honor. Samurai armor consisted of many small metal plates sewn together for protection, including a large metal helmet shaped like a bowl. When not in battle, samurai would wear formal trousers and jackets decorated with their family crest.

1. SWORDS, ARMOR AND BOWS, OH MY By Cari N. & Owen F.

2. INTRODUCTION When most people think of a samurai, they think of a warrior. Samurai warriors were also scholars. The thing that makes people think of samurai as warriors is their weapons and armour. But they do not wear their armour all the time but they almost always had their sword with them .

3. A SAMURAI AND HIS SWORD A samurai’s sword is his soul-Tokugawa Ieyasu The sword was so important that if a samurai lost his sword he lost his honor. A samurai slept with his sword under his pillow while on campaign. Though a samurai’s most important weapon was a bow the sword was the deadliest. Only after a samurai was completely out of arrows would he draw a sword.

4. SAMURAI BOWS Bows were called Yumi Bows were nearly as tall as the samurai wielding it. Made from wood, bamboo, and rawhide bindings The bow string was made of plant fibers and coated in wax. Arrows were made of bamboo.

5. SAMURAI ARMOUR Samurai armour was very individual and unique. Made of many little plates of armor instead of one sheet of metal. For protection on the head they would have a large metal helmet that looked like a large metal bowl. For protection on the head they would have a large metal helmet that looked like a large metal bowl.

6. A SAMURAI WITHOUT ARMOUR During formal occasions at the daimyo’s palace, the samurai would wear a combination of wide hakama (trousers) and usually a formal jacket. This combination is a formal form of the kamishimo. The two parts of the kamishimo were the same color and print and had the samurai’s mon on the breast and the back .

7. CONCLUSION All of these things were very important to samurai. The sword, the bow, the armour, and the other clothing, was all a part of their life, their lifestyle, and them. The armour was very important for safety and it also showed rank in society. Obviously, these things were all important to samurai and therefore they are important to learn about.