Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters

by Christopher M. Clarke

2013

Description

"Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters" is the third set of stories by Christopher M. Clarke aimed at martial artists, history buffs, and those just interested in reading good tales involving courage, honor, strategy, resourcefulness, and the sometimes brutal reality of warfare in the long history of the warrior cultures of East Asia. These include tales of courage in the face of death and tales of treachery; stories of honor and stories of greed; accounts of chivalry and accounts of brutality among warriors; stories of heroic women from ancient times until the present day; tales of kings and the tale of a wastrel who became the most famous martial arts master of his day; the tale of the Mad Monk of medieval Japan and story of the Japanese "Little John." In addition to the book's beautiful full-color front and back cover, "Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters" is packed with hard-to-find illustrations that relate directly to the stories. A must-read for those interested in martial arts or Asian history.… (more)

Library's review

'Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters' is the third set of stories by Christopher M. Clarke aimed at martial artists, history buffs, and those just interested in reading good tales involving courage, honor, strategy, resourcefulness, and the sometimes brutal reality of warfare in the long history of
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the warrior cultures of East Asia. These include tales of courage in the face of death and tales of treachery; stories of honor and stories of greed; accounts of chivalry and accounts of brutality among warriors; stories of heroic women from ancient times until the present day; tales of kings and the tale of a wastrel who became the most famous martial arts master of his day; the tale of the Mad Monk of medieval Japan and story of the Japanese 'Little John.' In addition to the book's beautiful full-color front and back cover, 'Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters' is packed with hard-to-find illustrations that relate directly to the stories. A must-read for those interested in martial arts or Asian history.

Another great collection of stories. This particular volume tells the colorful, but not so honest side of some of the ancestors of martial arts. The illustrations are excellent in this book.

Contents

Introduction
Courage in the face of death-A failed plot; An unexpected turn of fate
Treachery-'If only...'; A father's pity; Hunter and hunted
Honor before greed
Brutes
Two roads to the throne-The supreme ancestor; The reluctant emperor; Zhao Zuangyin and the martial arts
Have a cup of tea!-Bun and Bu; Zanshin; A turnaround
More women warriors-Strong women; The age of war; The age of peace
War of national liberation
Indomitable will-'Treated like a dog'; :Waring brocade to go home'; 'Three trails of bubbles'; Armed with enlightenment; Off with his head!
Warrior monks-the mnks of Mount Hiei; Japan's 'Little John'; Heaven's gift, heaven's censure
A tale of two princes-A prince saved; A prince lost
Coming of age
Taiji's prodigal son-Yang and Taiji weapons; Yang Chengfu's '10 points'
Notes and acknowledgments
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ISBN

9781480297135

Publication

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform Clarke's Canyon Press Huntingtown, MD 20639
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