The Samurai

by Turnbull, Stephen

• ISBN13: 9781472813725
• ISBN10: 1472813723
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2016-08-23
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

The world of the samurai, the legendary, elite warrior cult of old Japan, has for too long been associated solely with military history and has remained a mystery. In this exciting new book, Stephen Turnbull, the world's leading authority on the samurai, goes beyond the battlefield to paint a picture of the samurai as they really were. The world of the samurai warrior is revealed to be one of great richness, with familiar topics such as the cult of suicide, ritualized revenge, and the lore of the samurai sword, seen in the context of an all-encompassing warrior culture that was expressed through art and poetry as much as through violence.

Author Biography

Stephen Turnbull is recognized as one of the world's foremost military historians of the medieval and early modern periods. He first rose to prominence as a result of his 1977 book, The Samurai: A Military History. He has written over thirty books and focused on less familiar areas of military history, in particular Korea, Eastern Europe, the Baltic states, and the Teutonic Knights. He was also historical advisor for the 2012 movie 47 Ronin.

Table of Contents

Contents TBC, but suggest it includes material taken from WOW Samurai: The World of the Warrior, Samurai and the Sacred, ELI 23 and WAR 7:

Introduction: First Samurai / First challenges and the Period of the Warring States

Chronology

1. The Way of the Samurai
The Samurai
Daily life
Childhood / Box: coming of age
Dress and appearance

2. Bushido – the Way of the Warrior
Training / Box: training the mind
Box: 47 Ronan

3. Arms and Armour / 2pp text box on Katana

4. 'The way of the Samurai is found in death'

5. Samurai in War
Food
Camps
Equipment
Preparing for Combat, Battles and Sieges
Box: Mongol Invasions

6. Strongholds
Evolution of Japanese Castles
The Nagashino Effect
Box: Korea

7. The Last Samurai

Glossary
Index