Warriors of Medieval Japan

by Stephen Turnbull

Overview

Combines material previously published as Warrior 29: Ashigaru 1467-1649, Warrior 64: Ninja AD 1460-1650, Warrior 70: Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949-1603, with a new section on Samurai, new images, and a new introduction and conclusion. Driven by strict codes of honour and bound by deep allegiances of rank, family or religion, the elite warriors of medieval Japan were bold fighters, loyal comrades and deadly enemies, With rare material from Japanese sources and lavish artwork and photography, this book examines the military lives, beliefs and battle experience of four formidable warrior types – samurai, ninja, warrior monk and ashigaru foot soldier – resulting in a highly authoritative account of Japan's warrior elite.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849089937
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	09/20/2011
Series:	General Military
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	31 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Stephen Turnbull, a leading authority on Japanese history, has an MA in Theology and an MA in Military History, in addition to 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 recognized by the awarding of the Canon Prize of the British Association for Japanese Studies and a Japan Festival Literary Award. He is a lecturer in Japanese Religion at the University of Leeds.

Angus McBride is one of the world's most respected historical illustrators, and has contributed to more than 90 Osprey titles in the past three decades. Wayne Reynolds attended art college in Middlesborough. He has had a life-long passion for illustration and has been a professional artist since 1991. Howard Gerrard studied at the Wallasey School of Art and has been a freelance designer and illustrator for over 20 years.
Stephen Turnbull is widely recognised as the world's leading English language authority on the samurai of Japan. He took his first degree at Cambridge and has two MAs (in Theology and Military History) and a PhD from Leeds University. He is now retired and pursues an active literary career, having now published 85 books. His expertise has helped with numerous projects including films, television and the award-winning strategy game Shogun Total War.

Table of Contents

Introduction · Part I: The Samurai · Part II: The Ashigaru · Part III: The Ninja · Part IV: The Warrior Monk · Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

This lavishly illustrated volume provides a realistic impression of [these warriors'] way of life, which today is heavily mythologised.” —BBC Magazine

“Lavishly illustrated study of the various classes of Japanese warriors...An excellent and instructive study of a crucial century in the devlopment of Japan's military...I warmly commend this book to all who are interested in the samurai tradition and the Japanese military of the 1500s.” —Military Trader

“A thorough resource book documenting the four groups of distinct warriors in Japanese Medieval society...the fabulous art adds to make this an astonishingly beautiful work.” —Popthought.com

From the Publisher