A rnin ()[1] was a samurai with no lord or master during the feudal period (11851868

) of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or
after the loss of his master's favor or privilege.[2]
In modern Japanese usage, the term also describes a salaryman who is "between em
ployers" or a secondary school graduate who has not yet been admitted to univers
ity.[3][4]
Etymology
The word rnin literally means "wave man". That, however, is an idiomatic expressi
on that means "vagrant" or "wandering man", someone who is without a home. The t
erm originated in the Nara and Heian periods, when it referred to a serf who had
fled or deserted his master's land. It then came to be used for a samurai who h
ad no master. (Hence, the term "wave man" illustrating one who is socially adrif
t.)
The Chinese term/ Kanji "" means a "drifter" or a "wanderer", ie "he who drifts/wa
nders". The verb form in Chinese is "" meaning to drift or to wander.
Status
According to the Bushido Shoshinshu (the Code of the Samurai), a samurai was sup
posed to commit seppuku (also "hara kiri" ritual suicide) upon the loss of his m
aster. One who chose not to honor the code was "on his own" and was meant to suf
fer great shame. The undesirability of rnin status was mainly a discrimination im
posed by other samurai and by daimyo, the feudal lords.
Like other samurai, rnin wore their two swords. Rnin used a variety of other weapo
ns as well. Some rnin usually those who lacked money would carry a b (staff around
5 to 6 ft) or j (smaller staff or walking stick around 3 to 5 ft) or a yumi (bow
). Most weapons would reflect the ry or martial arts school they came from, if th
ey were students.
During the Edo period, with the shogunate's rigid class system and laws, the num
ber of rnin greatly increased. Confiscation of fiefs during the rule of the third
Tokugawa shogun Iemitsu resulted in an especially large increase of rnin. During
previous ages, samurai were able to move between masters and even between occup
ations. They would also marry between classes. However, during the Edo period, s
amurai were restricted, and were above all forbidden to become employed by anoth
er master without their previous master's permission.
Because the former samurai could not legally take up a new trade, or because of
pride were loath to do so, many rnin looked for other ways to make a living with
their swords. Those rnin who desired steady, legal employment became mercenaries
that guarded trade caravans, or bodyguards for wealthy merchants. Many other rnin
became criminals, operating as bandits and highwaymen, or joining organized cri
me in towns and cities. Rnin were known to operate, or serve as hired muscle for
gangs that ran gambling rings, brothels, protection rackets, and other similar a
ctivities. Many were petty thieves and muggers. The criminal segment gave the rni
n of the Edo period a persistent reputation of disgrace, with the image of thugs
, bullies, cutthroats, and wandering vagrants.