Editing Samurai (section)

== Fictional Treatments ==

Like other "real world" things, the samurai has had a rich fictional history grow up around it in modern times that is only marginally connected to the historical realities of feudal Japan.  Like the [[knight|knight-errant]] of Medieval romances or the [[gunslinger]] of American westerns, the fictional samurai of the ''jidai-geki'' period drama is often a ronin or "wave man," an old derogatory term for a masterless samurai, who wanders the Earth bringing peace and order to a chaotic world by cutting down evil in a series of sword-battles as sensational as they are unrealistic.  Bonus points if he gets tragically shot down by a wuss with a [[firearm]], tearfully marking the end of an era as he heroically perishes while saving the day.  Sure, it might not be 100% historically accurate, but do you really give a shit?  Or do you want to see a badass hero solo an army with his super-sword skills?