For as long as humans have inhabited this Earth, human blood has been shed and battles have been fought throughout history. Humanity has fought with itself, developing and refining lethal and efficient tactics, strategies and martial skills during and throughout war, all over the world. However, few cultural societies have been so influenced by the practice of a martial arts system as to lay the foundation for cultural reform. A clear example of martial arts-based cultural reform can be seen in the rise and affirmation of the militant class within feudal Japan. Bujutsu and Budo, feudal Japanese martial arts, provided an efficient and lethal martial arts system. These two martial arts, along with various religious influences, established intrinsic values ​​that generated a new way of life for Japan's feudal warriors. The foundations of the Bujutsu and Budo martial arts systems can be traced back to the classical era of Japan, developing and adapting most during and after the Heian period. During the Classical Japan period, there was evident cultural borrowing from stronger, more established nations in Asia, predominantly China. It was during the Heian period that the influence of not only China, but also various other nations reached its peak in Japan. Amid the influx of various cultural influences that began to assimilate during the Heian period, there were two main areas of classical Japanese society that helped establish the arts of Bujutsu and Budo. Some of the heaviest external cultural influences in the Heian period were seen within religion; the others were seen in the rise of the militant class. It was during this time that Japan became inundated with various esoteric disciplines... middle of paper... and the application of many esoteric ideologies and teachings within the world. 'sword schools'. At that time, the Japanese education system was mainly based on secular teachings within a (Buddhist) monastery. Many monasteries of that time had schools that taught reading and writing and schools dedicated to training warriors, known as "sword schools". "Sword schools" were often associated with various esoteric philosophies adopted from external cultural influences, primarily Zen Buddhism and Taoist philosophies regarding martial arts. Works Cited The Martial Arts and the Ways of Japan: Volume 1, Classical Bujutsu by Donn F. DaegerThe Martial Arts and the Ways of Japan: Volume 2, Classical Budo by Donn F. DaegerSoul of a Samurai by Thomas ClearySecrets of the Samurai: A investigation into the martial arts of feudal Japan by Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook