Note 35 — XIX PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS Officers.

These Samaurai, or officer class—there were three classes in Japan: (1) the nobles, descendants of rulers of provinces; (2) the officer class; (3) the common people—for generation after generation lived very uncertain lives; they were liable to be killed at any moment once they left their homes. In addition, they were used to killing, having the right to do so at pleasure. If they unsheathed their swords, they could not replace them until they had killed some one. Possessing this power, it is little wonder that a strong sense of dignity was acquired with it.