The Samurai Capture a King Okinawa 1609

by Turnbull, Stephen; Hook, Richard; Spedaliere, Donato

• ISBN13: 9781846034428
• ISBN10: 1846034426
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-17
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

The raid by samurai of the Shimazu clan of Satsuma on the independent kingdom of Ryumacr;kyumacr; (modern Okinawa) in 1609 is one of the most extraordinary episodes in samurai history, and the culmination of centuries of rivalry between the two powers. Needing to curry favour following their defeat at Sekigahara in 1600, the Shimazu planned an audacious operation intended to capture the islands and the king of Ryumacr;kyumacr; on behalf of the new Shogun. Assembling a Urge and modern army, the Shimazu daimyo began by seizing the islands that lay between Satsuma and Okinawa, then launched an amphibious landing to secure a beachhead. A rapid advance overland, disguised by a feint against the harbour of Naha, led to a complete victory that saw the king of Ryumacr;kyumacr; taken hostage and the Shimazu clan's aims achieved. This is a fascinating, yet little-known raid that brought independent Ryumacr;kyumacr; under the dominion of Japan, and solidified the Shimazu clan's status in the region. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Stephen Turnbull took his first degree at Cambridge University, and received a PhD from Leeds University for his work on Japanese religious history. He has travelled extensively in Europe and the Far East and also runs a well-used picture library. His work has been recognised by the awarding of the Canon Prize of the British Association for Japanese Studies and a Japan Festival Literary Award. He currently divides his time between lecturing in Japanese Religion at the University of Leeds and writing. The author lives in Leeds, England.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Origins	p. 6
Ryūkyū and Okinawa	p. 6
Rivalry for Ryūkyū	p. 7
The Shimazu Daimyo	p. 10
Initial Strategy	p. 14
Sources for the Raid	p. 14
Army Leadership	p. 15
Army Organisation and Troop Numbers	p. 17
Arms and Armour	p. 21
The Plan	p. 28
The Shimazu Strategy	p. 28
Defensive Preparations	p. 28
The Raid	p. 30
The Battle for the Amami Islands	p. 30
The Battle for Northern Okinawa	p. 32
The Advance Overland	p. 39
The Advance by Sea	p. 40
The Fall of Shuri Castle	p. 44
A King's Ransom	p. 52
Analysis	p. 55
The Scapegoat	p. 56
The Peaceful Kingdom	p. 56
Conclusion	p. 59
Glossary	p. 60
Further Reading	p. 62
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