What were the rules of conduct for samurai, and what were they expected to master?

Samurai Rules of Conduct:

• Loyalty: A samurai was expected to be loyal to their lord.
• Bravery: They needed to be brave and valiant.
• Martial Arts: Samurai had to master military arts.
• Discernment: Possessing only brute force was considered unworthy of the samurai title.
• Intellectual Pursuit: They were expected to engage in scientific pursuits, and a warrior was obliged to have a humble tea ceremony and humble art collection.

Samurai considered labor to be an unworthy occupation and looked down upon artisans, merchants, and peasants, who formed the majority of the Japanese population.