Library's review
The samurai were the miliar elite of old Japan, and the daimyo were the elite of the samurai. Samurai Warlords documents and describes the life of this group in rich detail for the first time.
These were the samurai who succeeded first as warriors and went on to found petty kingdoms of their own,
Stephen Turnbull enjoys a justified reputation as one of the West's most illuminating writers on Japanese history. Unlike his previous books on the samurai, this work examines separately and in depth each of the roles which the daimyo was required to play: warrior, commander-in-chief, founder of a dynasty, keeper of the peace and patron of the arts. To be a daimyo was to lead a demanding life, and after his death a warlord took on a new role as spiritual family guardian, to be honoured and, if necessary, bloodily revenged.
The popular theory of modern Japanese industrial success is that it is based on loyalty to company and to country, inherited from the loyalty once given to the daimyo. This revealing book shows in dramatic fashion the precise nature of this fierce loyalty-the tradition of self-sacrifice in deference to the needs of the group and identification with a leader that is so relevant to modern Japan.
Stephen Turnbull writes entirely from Japanese sources. The colour potographs are all his own and the black and white illustrations provide fine historical detail. As in his acclaimed Samurai Warriors, a unique grasp of medieval Japan has been translated into colourful reality in James Field's detailed and exciting colour plates.
Anyone interested in the history of Japan by a Western writer should be familiar with the works of Cambridge educated Stephen Turnbull. Having read four of his books on Japanese history I can testify to the clarity and detail he puts into his writing. This book is no exception. The book is about the daimyo, the elite of the samurai who in turn were the elite of the military. So what Turnbull does is give a detailed account of the creme de la creme of the samurai class. Although the book can be a bit tedious for the novice Japanese historian it is complimented by wonderful illustrations, colorful plates by James Field and photographs of exquisite beauty. There is much to see in this book if the details of the military structure get too complicated. It helps to have a basic understanding of the historical periods dicussed, but not essential as Turnbull makes the information easy to understand. He covers two periods, the Sengoku Period(think feudal Japan) and the Edo Period which was the three centuries of peace that followed. The foundation was created for the daimyo during the age of war and carried over into the folowing period that was by contrast almost marked by the total absence of war. The code of conduct and honour of a samuarai, or bushido, is discussed as well as the various relationships to all parts of society. Turnball makes a correlation to the present and shows how allegiance to a group, in this case modern industry, and a leader are part of self- sacrifice for the good of the country. The plates, drawings, photographs and woodcuts are fascinating and spellbinding material for students of Japnese history. While teaching a class I used some of the plates to compliment the subject and found that students were totally captivated by the often graphic nature of the violent war scenes. One plate in particular was inspired by the fabulous film by Kurosawa entitled Ran, where the defeated warlords family commits suicide in a blazing castle. This is an excellent source book for anyone interested in the hisory of Japan, samurai or more specifically, the daimyo. Recommended for teachers and students alike, this book is worth seeking out if this subject interests you, there are few if any better authorites in this field. -Enrique Torres
Nearly every book I own on samurai is written by Mr. Turnbull and this one does not disappoint! It is a beautiful hard back that looks at all the different aspects of a daimyo's life. From calling men to arms, to arts, and even their private lives. The pictures are great, the drawings are lovely and many of the photographs are in color. The only negative I have isn't with in the book itself but it was described as a book about all the indivual warlords from the Sengoku and Edo periods. I thought I was getting a book with a ton of biographies. But still the book will become a valuble resource and join the ranks of all my other favorite Samurai books. -Heather Dixon
As far as I have been able to discern, Dr. Turnbull is the leading expert on Medieval Japan and Japanese military history in general. I have read at least six of his books and am always impressed with his meticulous research and readable style. His generous use of illustrations and remarkably accurate historical paintings by James Field (full and double page) are a hallmark of his works as well. A page without an illustration is rare in his books.
Samurai Warlords examines the history and impact of the samurai class in the social and political history of Japan through the lens of their leaders. The contents include very detailed studies of sex and the samurai, loyalty, death and obedience, the duty of vengeance, peacekeeping, general warrior culture, and five appendices of statistics and biography.
Binding and text are excellent.
Contents
Introduction
Daimyo-othe samurai elite
Focus of loyalty
Commander-in-chief
The cultured warlord
The keeper of the peace
Sex and the samurai
Death and the daimyo
The duty of vengeance
Appendix I The 1559 Hojo Register
Appendix II The 1575 Uesugi Register
Appendix III Takeda Shingen
Appendix IV Hashiba Hideyoshi
Appendix V The li 'Red Devils'
Bibliography
Index
These were the samurai who succeeded first as warriors and went on to found petty kingdoms of their own,
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defended with armes of samurai who owed allegiance to them alone. From these original warlords grew great dynasties of daimyo, who enjoyed a symbiotic existence with the central government of the Shogun until all were swept away in the upheavals of the 1850s which gave birth to modern Japan.Stephen Turnbull enjoys a justified reputation as one of the West's most illuminating writers on Japanese history. Unlike his previous books on the samurai, this work examines separately and in depth each of the roles which the daimyo was required to play: warrior, commander-in-chief, founder of a dynasty, keeper of the peace and patron of the arts. To be a daimyo was to lead a demanding life, and after his death a warlord took on a new role as spiritual family guardian, to be honoured and, if necessary, bloodily revenged.
The popular theory of modern Japanese industrial success is that it is based on loyalty to company and to country, inherited from the loyalty once given to the daimyo. This revealing book shows in dramatic fashion the precise nature of this fierce loyalty-the tradition of self-sacrifice in deference to the needs of the group and identification with a leader that is so relevant to modern Japan.
Stephen Turnbull writes entirely from Japanese sources. The colour potographs are all his own and the black and white illustrations provide fine historical detail. As in his acclaimed Samurai Warriors, a unique grasp of medieval Japan has been translated into colourful reality in James Field's detailed and exciting colour plates.
Anyone interested in the history of Japan by a Western writer should be familiar with the works of Cambridge educated Stephen Turnbull. Having read four of his books on Japanese history I can testify to the clarity and detail he puts into his writing. This book is no exception. The book is about the daimyo, the elite of the samurai who in turn were the elite of the military. So what Turnbull does is give a detailed account of the creme de la creme of the samurai class. Although the book can be a bit tedious for the novice Japanese historian it is complimented by wonderful illustrations, colorful plates by James Field and photographs of exquisite beauty. There is much to see in this book if the details of the military structure get too complicated. It helps to have a basic understanding of the historical periods dicussed, but not essential as Turnbull makes the information easy to understand. He covers two periods, the Sengoku Period(think feudal Japan) and the Edo Period which was the three centuries of peace that followed. The foundation was created for the daimyo during the age of war and carried over into the folowing period that was by contrast almost marked by the total absence of war. The code of conduct and honour of a samuarai, or bushido, is discussed as well as the various relationships to all parts of society. Turnball makes a correlation to the present and shows how allegiance to a group, in this case modern industry, and a leader are part of self- sacrifice for the good of the country. The plates, drawings, photographs and woodcuts are fascinating and spellbinding material for students of Japnese history. While teaching a class I used some of the plates to compliment the subject and found that students were totally captivated by the often graphic nature of the violent war scenes. One plate in particular was inspired by the fabulous film by Kurosawa entitled Ran, where the defeated warlords family commits suicide in a blazing castle. This is an excellent source book for anyone interested in the hisory of Japan, samurai or more specifically, the daimyo. Recommended for teachers and students alike, this book is worth seeking out if this subject interests you, there are few if any better authorites in this field. -Enrique Torres
Nearly every book I own on samurai is written by Mr. Turnbull and this one does not disappoint! It is a beautiful hard back that looks at all the different aspects of a daimyo's life. From calling men to arms, to arts, and even their private lives. The pictures are great, the drawings are lovely and many of the photographs are in color. The only negative I have isn't with in the book itself but it was described as a book about all the indivual warlords from the Sengoku and Edo periods. I thought I was getting a book with a ton of biographies. But still the book will become a valuble resource and join the ranks of all my other favorite Samurai books. -Heather Dixon
As far as I have been able to discern, Dr. Turnbull is the leading expert on Medieval Japan and Japanese military history in general. I have read at least six of his books and am always impressed with his meticulous research and readable style. His generous use of illustrations and remarkably accurate historical paintings by James Field (full and double page) are a hallmark of his works as well. A page without an illustration is rare in his books.
Samurai Warlords examines the history and impact of the samurai class in the social and political history of Japan through the lens of their leaders. The contents include very detailed studies of sex and the samurai, loyalty, death and obedience, the duty of vengeance, peacekeeping, general warrior culture, and five appendices of statistics and biography.
Binding and text are excellent.
Contents
Introduction
Daimyo-othe samurai elite
Focus of loyalty
Commander-in-chief
The cultured warlord
The keeper of the peace
Sex and the samurai
Death and the daimyo
The duty of vengeance
Appendix I The 1559 Hojo Register
Appendix II The 1575 Uesugi Register
Appendix III Takeda Shingen
Appendix IV Hashiba Hideyoshi
Appendix V The li 'Red Devils'
Bibliography
Index
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ISBN
713723297
Publication
Blandford Press