Customer Reviews

Samurai Warriors

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This book tells the tale of the Samurai, and therefore Japan itself, from their beginnings in Ancient times through the Gempei Wars and the Mongol Invasions, all through the Sengoku Jidai Period up to their official destruction in 1877, at the Battle of Ueno on 4 July. It also depicts sohei warrior monks and ninja assasins, as well as the Samurais' lesser compatriots, the ashigaru footmen and the ronin 'men of the waves', Samurai with no lord or cause. The text is detailed enough to provide a thorough introduction but is easy to read for someone who knows little or nothing of the topic. The artwork by James Field is incredible, providing nearly as much detail on the Samurai and their arsenal as the text, and capturing both the beauty and the carnage of their armor and their battles.

A fascinating read from an even more fascinating time period, Samuarai Warriors is an accessible history book for teachers and students alike. This book details various time periods and documents the "knights" of Medieval Japan. It begins with the period known as the Heian Period and the first known use of the term samurai and concludes with the end of the samurai as a seperate class in 1876, when it became forbidden to wear a sword. The urban samurai ceased to exist. The book follows a chronological order, dividing the book into periods of history concluding with the fall of the Tokugawa at the end of the Edo period. There are some interesting side excursions into history such as a section on the Christian Samurai. It tells the story of religious persecution both to Buddahists and Christians and how opposition to this intolerance arose and ultimately Twenty-Six Saints were crucified and became martyrs. It also tells of the banishment and expelling of all missionaries. Another interesting side bar is the discusion of the ronin or masterless samurai who was a renegade of sorts, the stuff of countless legends and even the subject of some films, most noticeably by Kurosawa. The information is a good steping stone for further exploration but typically for the novice it is suffice.This book is authoritative but not overly dry or pedantic as Turnbull teams up again with James Field for some of the best illustrations I've ever seen on the subject. The illustrations are superb and the photographs enhance the subject matter. This is a perfect book to compliment a teachers course on Japanese History or for the interested student of Japan or it's samurai.

This book is visually stunning. It is crammed with full-color artwork that is suitable for framing. The depictions of Samurai in their various armour throughout various periods of Japanese history are outstanding. If you did not know what a Samurai looked like before reading this book you certainly will afterward. The detail is magnificent.

This book provides a detailed and history of Samurai from the early Heian Period all the way through the end the Samurai class. The writing is clear and easy to follow and there are many, many useful diagrams and interesting black and white photos and graphics as well.

I highly recommend this book to anyone beginning to learn about feudal Japan and the Samurai elite. An excellent addition to your library.

Kevin Brett
CEO, Kevin Brett Studios, Inc.
Author: The Way of the Martial Artist: Achieving Success in Martial Arts and in Life!

The Way of the Martial Artist: Achieving Success in Martial Arts and in Life!

Written by the English-speaking world's leading historian of Japanese military and political history, Samurai Warriors is a well-written and masterfully illustrated survey of the Heian to late Edo periods. The author, fluent in Japanese and well-versed with the historical texts, has written several other outstanding books and articles that the novice and specialist will profit from reading. Enjoy!

Turnbull provides a very accessible and clearly written narrative of samurai history, including details about personal arms and armour, as well as political anecdotes. As an intriguing outline, the book serves as a guide for more detailed exploration of other sources by more demanding historians.