Product Description

A study of Samurai history and culture. It features a detailed section on arms and armour, including the evolution and construction of samurai armour, the Japanese bow, the Samurai sword and polearms -plus the technology and deployment of explosives and gunpowder weapons. Strategy and tactics are explained, with details of command structures, the raising of armies, campaign life, the role of the castle, the characteristics of Japanese battles and the rituals and other consequences of battle. A catalogue of every major battle and siege from 940 to 1638 is followed by specific case studies examining such subjects as personal combat and guerrilla warfare. Further sections cover religion and the Samurai, Bushido and Harakiri, and a special section presents material on the heraldry used by the samurai.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #549427 in Books
• Published on: 2000-03-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

From the Author
The most comprehensive encyclopaedia of samurai life and war
In this book I provide comprehensive data about the samurai. Some of the information you have seen before - inevitable in a work like this, but nearly all the illustrations are new, and you wil also find lots of new research on armour, weapons and campaigns, including a full list of samurai and heraldry and a huge gazeteer of battles with maps.

About the Author
Dr Stephen Turnbull has made himself the world's expert on the Samurai, using his years of diligent research to publish a whole series of bestselling Samurai histories. He is widely employed as a consultant authority on Japanese history and religion.

Customer Reviews

An excellant in-depth look at the world of the Samurai
This book has a wealth of well researched and useful information. Chapters on family names and heraldry, battles and tactics and all of the technologies used by the Samurai are well researched if a little brief occasionally. Provided it is used as a reference book rather than as a step into a new world for the reader the book has nearly every facet of information or at least enough to start an investigation in to the lives of the Samurai families and their art. An excellant and well presented information book with subsections describing in depth the changing systems of warfare and attitude. The book should be used as a 'addition' to information already gained elsewhere. A concise and sometimes brief explanation of many of the details of Samurai life. Not for beginners!

Good content, but be warned!
I have an interest in the Samurai but bought this book expecting something a little different. The book is quite technical and historical and will give pure fact about Samurai. In one way this is good and if you require a good many pages listing battles that have been fought, and the things that they wore etc. then the book scores highly. If you're looking for a book to read from start to end then this book may not be the one for you.

Superb textbook for novice readers to academic .
I found the Samurai source book to be a very informative read to say the least!I have some knowledge of the sengoku jidai period{through martial arts studies and I have a couple of history\archaeology degrees},however S.Turbull gives more than the feudal aspects within the source book{and much I did not know!}.He delves into Japans early samurai and includes the aspects of the religious\political intrigue\traditions within Japan throughout this fine book.I strongly would advise anyone interested in millitary history\Samurai warfare to buy this source book.A fine addition to any library that manages to keep you reading page after page.All material within the book has been researched by S.Turnbull over some years and includes clan mons\history\battles\historical incidents all within an easily accessed text.I honestly cannot recommend this book highly enough in so short a review.Best book I have read for some time!!!