Early Japan was a land filed with internal strife and warfare. Samurai tells the story of the courageous and highly disciplined fighting men of the time, showing how they developed from the primitive fighters of the seventh century into an invincible military cast with a fearsome reputation. It starts by looking at the samurai's place in Japanese history where they were involved in power struggles between the Emperors and the military leaders (shoguns). Detailed commentary depicts the famous figures and samurai that led Japan during these volatile times. It also explores how the samurai were used in foreign invasions, such as in the Koresan War, and how they tried to adapt to ties of peace by practicing martial arts and taking their services abroad.

The book then describes the structure and systems within the samurai armies-their ranks, loyalty systems (bushido), and training. It examines the daily lives of samurai, showing the casltles and mansions where they lived, as well as the meals they ate when in battle.

The development and changes in samurai armor and costume during different periods of history are detailed in Chapter 4, containing specifics of exactly what was worn on the battlefiesd andhow it was made.

Althought the samurai is mainly known for his use of the sword, he actually employed a wide variety of arms including crossbows, daggers, and spears. Chapters 5 and 6 outline the weapons favored by the samurai. The book concludes with descritptions of fighting tactics and procedures that faithfully convey the sights and sounds of combat. The battlefield was a bloody and viiolent place, where acts such as ritual suicide (hara-kiri) and the taking of the enemies' heads as trophies were not uncommon and this is vivdly illlustrated with historic artwork.

Samurai provides a fascinating insights into the ways of the ancient warriors who lead the military in Japan from the seventh to the nineteenth centuries. The book also contains four see-through vellum sections that build up to show the many protective layers that constitiuted the samurai's impressive armor.

Stephen Turnbull is recognized as the leading authority outside Japan on the samurai and early Japanese military history. He first visited Japan in 1970, and since then he has received worldwide recognition for his expertise. He has a PhD from Leeds University in the United Kingdom, and is now an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of East Asian Studies at Leeds. Among his previous works are books on the Japanese invasion of Korea and studies of siege weapons of the Far East. When not writing, he runs a picture library called Japan Archive and tends his Japanese-style garden.

A comprehensive gide to the infamous Japanese warrior, the samurai, featuring vivid descriptions of the battlefield, fighting tactics, and rituals, such as taking heads as trophies and hara-kiri.

Details the specific armor and weapons used by samurai at different periods in history, including the samurai sword.

Contains four see-through vellum sections, where each page builds up to show the different levels of armor worn by the samurai.

Contents

Preface and acknowledgments
Introduction The world before the samurai
Chapter 1 The samurai in early Japanese history
Chapter 2 The age of the samurai
Chapter 3 Samurai organization and daily life
Chapter 4 Samurai armor and costume
Chapter 5 Edged weapons
Chapter 6 Missile weapons
Chapter 7 Battlefield tactics
Appendix Time chart
Bibliography
Glossary
Index

I bought this specifically for my class which was studying Japan. ( )