Castles of the Samurai: Power and Beauty [Hardcover]

Jennifer Mitchelhill (Author), David Green (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 2004

The Castles of Japan are both technical and aesthetic marvels. They are technical marvels in that they are perfectly suited to their roles of defensive fortresses and administrative centers in time of war. They are aesthetic marvels in that every curve and line reflects an extraordinary sense of beauty. How these castles came about, how they were built, and what their ultimate fate was, all this is depicted in sensitive prose and eye-opening photography.

The book is divided into four parts. The first deals with the question of who built these castles and why, taking a incisive look at Japanese history and the internecine fighting between samurai clans. The second part takes up the castle as a fortress - the importance of its location, its layout, stone walls and moats, towers, gates, shooting holes, and stone drops. The third part considers the beauty of the castle as a symbol, explaining not only the intricate craftsmanship seen in structural detail but also the aesthetics of the samurai class itself.

Whether for people who are interested in castles themselves and wish to compare Japanese castles with others they are familiar with, or for people who would like to know more about this unique example of world architecture, or for those who would like to add to their knowledge of samurai and Japanese culture, Castles of the Samurai provides a delightful visual treat and absorbing reading experience. The book also contains information for tourists who plan to visit the sites of the surviving castles.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The castles of Japan are both technical and aesthetic marvels. They are technical marvels in that they are perfectly suited to their roles of defensive fortresses and administrative centers in time of war. They are aesthetic marvels in that every curve and line reflects an extraordinary sense of beauty. How these castles came about, how they were built, and what their ultimate fate was, all this is depicted in sensitive prose and eye-opening photography.

The great period of castle building in Japan occurred in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, when powerful lords such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu were striving to unite the nation. This was the time of the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, who fought on the losing side in one of the decisive battles of this era. Over a hundred awe-inspiring castles were constructed in a short forty years.

The book gives not only the background to this era, but also details the essential elements of castle construction, such as location, layout, walls, moats, towers, storehouses, gates, shooting holes, and more. Each of these elements is described and illustrated in such a way as to etch them on the mind.

Last is the question of why the samurai of that time took such pains to make their castles things of beauty rather than unadorned, utilitarian strongholds. The answer to this question is found in the fact that the samurai were more than simple fighting men; they were also men of culture who had the power and the resources to express their aesthetic tastes even in the construction of castles.

Written in sharp, clear prose, illustrated with powerful, full-color photographs, CASTLES OF THE SAMURAI is the perfect introduction to one of Japan's greatest architectural achievements. The book also contains a wealth of practical information for tourists who plan to visit the sites of the surviving castles.

About the Author

David Green is a graduate in applied science with master's degrees in business administration and military history. The author of numerous articles on World War II and a keen photographer, his interest in Japanese castles began while he was teaching at a Japanese senior high school. He is married to Jennifer Mitchelhill and lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Jennifer Mitchelhill is a marketing graduate who started her own business in design before commencing further studies in architectural history. While teaching English at a Japanese senior high school she undertook a research project on the rebuilding of Kanazawa castle. This book grew out of her research. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, David Green, and their son, Harvey.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA (January 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770029543
• ISBN-13: 978-4770029546
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,065,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Average "Jo"..., February 8, 2004

By 

Randy Schadel "Kurotatsunoshi" (Norwood, OH/Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Castles of the Samurai: Power and Beauty (Hardcover)

Having bought this book based on the cover and title (with no review or other information posted) I was expecting a coffee table type book with lots of pretty photos and light on the text. It turned out that this book is not your average "jo" (the Japanese suffix used after a castle's name to denote "castle"-Himeji-Jo, Nijo-jo, etc). Happily, while it does have lots of "pretty photos" it also has a solid 42 pages of well written and informative text. The photos are well done, all 50+ full color pages of them. They document all the aspects of the Japanese castle-gates, towers, roofing, gables, outbuildings, doors, stone dropping windows, shooting holes, nail head covers, and of course those impressive sloping stone walls, moats, and keeps with photos of each aspect being grouped for comparison. There are even well done shots of the interiors of various castles, which are somewhat of a rarity. The shots are taken at a nice variety of castles as well, eschewing the easy method of running primarily nothing but shots of the easily accessible castles like Himeji, Osaka, and Matsumoto.
The text is also well done, with informative, well done diagrams, charts, tables, and terminology. While most English language Japanese castle books focus on the military history of the structures, here they are given their signifigance as works of art and architecture as well. Detailed construction methods are given and illustrated. There are brief sections of the history of the castles and their destruction during the Meiji Restoration and World War II. I found the chart listing Castles, Daimyos, Domains, and Income in the Edo Period particularly valuable along with a table classifying existing castles as to date built, remains, type of keep, original buildings, walls, or keeps, and reconstructions using original materials or concrete. The only place the book comes up short is in the discussion of early castles or yamashiro (mountain castles), but of course there aren't any of these left to photograph. Overall a great job and a welcome addition to the sparse English references on Japanese Castles.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Beautiful, June 3, 2009

By 

Ronin - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Castles of the Samurai: Power and Beauty (Hardcover)

I bought this book prior to my 2005 trip to Japan and was able to visit many of these remarkable castles. My only complaint about this book is I think it should be at least twice as long. At 104 pages its pretty lean for this subject. The color photos are beautiful and capture many of the rich details of these magnificent fortresses.

In the back of the book there is a glossary and a series of excellent charts including: Castles, Domains, and Income in the Edo Period (a map & chart); and 45-castles to visit (very useful map & chart).

Himeji castle is truly awesome and requires a full day of exploration. Next door is a very nice garden with an incredible bonsai collection. There is also a nice tea house outside the castle grounds. My personal favorite was Kumamoto in Kyushu, which was built by Kato Kiyomasa of whom I am a big fan. Next to Kumamoto is the Hosokawa mansion, and there are many incredible noodle restaurants.

I would say this book helped me tremendously in locating the castles I wanted to see, knowing what to expect, and understanding a little of the history of each one. I also recommend the Osprey Publishing book, "Japanese Castles, 1540-1640", however this is the finest book on the subject in English that I know, and I highly recommend it.