Changes

The defining characteristic of a ronin is that he was a former [[samurai]] separated from service to a [[daimyo]]. The [[kanji]] that spell out the term "ronin" are literally translated as "wave person," as if he were set adrift to be tossed upon the waves of life. Sometimes, the term "ronin" is translated as "masterless samurai".  There are quite a few ''[[chambara]]''/''[[jidaigeki]]'' films featuring ronin as main characters, including the very famous film [[Seven Samurai]] (''Shichinin no Samurai'') in which some [[Sengoku Period]] farmers hire ronin to protect their farms from bandits. In most of the films, the ronin characters are amazingly skilled swordsmen. They are sometimes completely villainous, lecherous, and greedy; more often, these film ronin are noble heroes who stand up for oppressed farmers and townspeople. The reality for most ronin was usually quite different than that portrayed in most films.     

The defining characteristic of a ronin is that he was a former [[samurai]] separated from service to a [[daimyo]]. The [[kanji]] that spell out the term "ronin" are literally translated as "wave person," as if he were set adrift to be tossed upon the waves of life. Sometimes, the term "ronin" is translated as "masterless samurai".  There are quite a few ''[[chambara]]''/''[[jidaigeki]]'' films featuring ronin as main characters, including the very famous film [[Seven Samurai]] (''Shichinin no Samurai'') in which some [[Sengoku Period]] farmers hire ronin to protect their farms from bandits. In most of the films, the ronin characters are amazingly skilled swordsmen. They are sometimes completely villainous, lecherous, and greedy; more often, these film ronin are noble heroes who stand up for oppressed farmers and townspeople. The reality for most ronin was usually quite different than that portrayed in most films.     

Strictly speaking, the term "[[samurai]]" means "servant" and designates a ''bushi'' (a warrior member of the ''buke'' class) who was a daimyo or retainer; samurai received a set stipend, given out in terms of ''[[koku]]'' (measurements of rice). Those samurai who were the [[shogun|Shogun's]] direct retainers were known as ''[[hatamoto]]'' (bannermen). So strictly speaking, the term "ronin" refers to ''bushi'' who were not samurai retainers.  However, many people throughout the ages have used the term "samurai" as a generic term indicating any ''bushi''.   

Strictly speaking, the term "[[samurai]]" means "servant" and designates a ''bushi'' (a warrior member of the ''buke'' class) who was a daimyo or retainer; samurai received a set stipend, given out in terms of ''[[koku]]'' (measurements of rice). Those samurai who were the [[shogun|shogun's]] direct retainers were known as ''[[hatamoto]]'' (bannermen). So strictly speaking, the term "ronin" refers to ''bushi'' who were not samurai retainers.  However, many people throughout the ages have used the term "samurai" as a generic term indicating any ''bushi''.   

Ronin were allowed to continue to bear a family name and wear the distinctive two swords that they wore when they were clan samurai. However, they effectively existed outside of the official class structure (samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants) that existed from the late Sengoku period through the [[Edo period]]. Most ronin lived in poverty without fixed incomes.

Ronin were allowed to continue to bear a family name and wear the distinctive two swords that they wore when they were clan samurai. However, they effectively existed outside of the official class structure (samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants) that existed from the late Sengoku period through the [[Edo period]]. Most ronin lived in poverty without fixed incomes.