Warriors of Medieval Japan (General Military) [Hardcover]

Stephen Turnbull (Author), Angus McBride (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: General Military | Publication Date: July 13, 2005

Combines material previously published as Warrior 29: Ashigaru 1467-1649, Warrior 64: Ninja AD 1460-1650, Warrior 70: Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949-1603, with a new section on Samurai, new images, and a new introduction and conclusion. The samurai remain the best known warriors of medieval Japan, but they were by no means the only fighting elite. There were the ashigaru, who were first recruited to swell army numbers but later became a vital part of any samurai force. Trained to protect their monasteries, warrior monks were formidable enemies, mastering a range of martial traditions. Finally, the Ninja catered to an increasing demand for spies, informants and sometimes assassins, developing the arts of armed and unarmed combat and explosives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This lavishly illustrated volume provides a realistic impression of [these warriors'] way of life, which today is heavily mythologised."
BBC Magazine

"A thorough resource book documenting the four groups of distinct warriors in Japanese Medieval society...the fabulous art adds to make this an astonishingly beautiful work."
Popthought.com

"Lavishly illustrated study of the various classes of Japanese warriors...An excellent and instructive study of a crucial century in the devlopment of Japan's military...I warmly commend this book to all who are interested in the samurai tradition and the Japanese military of the 1500s."
Military Trader --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Stephen Turnbull has studied at Cambridge University and Leeds University, and he has won the Canon Prize of the British Association for Japanese Studies and a Japan Festival Literary Award. He is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Leeds.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (July 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841768642
• ISBN-13: 978-1841768649
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #930,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great popular work, March 26, 2006

By 

Joy M. Wetherington - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Warriors of Medieval Japan (General Military) (Hardcover)

The first thing I noticed about this book was its stunning artistic quality: with full-color art illustrations and diagrams, and beautiful layout throughout, it's worth owning just for its image content.

Turnbull is a fantastic popular writer. The book is informative and easily accessible to the general reader, and an invaluable introduction to the samurai, ashigaru, ninja, and warrior monks of Japan's Age of Warring States.

Divided into four parts, each detailing one of the different warrior types that Turnbull discusses, the book gives descriptions of individual duties, the warrior's place in times of peace and war, weaponry, dress, daily life, and anything else applicable through examples of individual battles, people, and documents from the time.

It's a wonderful work, and I'd suggest it to any person interested in military or Japanese history.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History culture and art all in one, February 27, 2006

By 

Jennifer A. Moore (Missouri, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Warriors of Medieval Japan (General Military) (Hardcover)

Great book full of artwork, great information regarding Medieval Japan and is an easy read. Full of wonderful information. Still reading it, but I will continue it is the best book I have seen for understanding the Japanese culture centuries ago.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another must read on Samurai, November 28, 2008

By 

Heather Dixon "Book Samurai" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Warriors of Medieval Japan (General Military) (Hardcover)

This was the first of many books on samurai I picked up. It introduces the reader to 4 different kinds of warrior. Samurai, Ashigaru (foot soilder), warrior monks, and of course ninja. This book unmasks "true ninja" and does away with the smoke and mirrors pop culture has put on them. It comes with dozens of colored pictures and detailed drawing showing armor parts and the gear they carried. If you are ready to get interested in Japanese warriors or just find out more facts this is a must buy.