The Book of the Samurai The Warrior Class of Japan

200 Pages·1982·53.16 MB·English

by  Stephen R. Turnbull

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THEWARRIORCLASS OF JAPAN
Few countries have a warrior tradition as long and
exciting as that of Japan. It is a tradition found
particularly in the person ofthe romantic, loyal and
self-sacrificing; knight ofoldJapan the samurai. He
is the valiant lone swordsman, the ultimate individual
warrior. He is the aesthete, appreciating the beauty
ofthe cherry blossom, seeing in its briefcareer his
own short but glorious life. He is the commander of
the host on the battlefield, the keeper ofthe peace,
the aristocratic administrator and the avenger ofhis
master.
Yet he is also a member ofa class that ruledJapan
for nearly 700 years, a class whose members fought
both for control ofthe country and to keepJapan
free from foreign influence. From its inception in the
Heian Period through to the bloody Onin Wars, the
history ofthe samurai is a history ofpolitical and
military struggle. In the sixteenth century.
Xobunaga and Hideyoshi attempted to unite bands
ofsamurai and reunifyJapan. Then, after the Battle
ofSekigahara. peace was established and the samurai
slipped into an administrative role. As their military
role declined, their armour became more elaborate
and decorative.
However.Japan could not stand alone forever.
Advances in technology meant that the \\ est could
threatenJapan militarily, and the Meiji Restoration
was a progressive movement that effectively put an
end to the samurai class. In 1877. Saigo organized an
uprising ofthe degraded class and. fighting guns with
swords, attempted to re-establish the samurai's
dominant position. But he was doomed to fail. The
samurai's days ofglory were over.
The history ofthe samurai is an integral part ofthe
history ofJapan. In this book. Stephen Turnbull,
author ofseveral books on the samurai and Reader'
in History at the University ofLeeds, describes the
development and decline ofthis great military
tradition. It is illustrated with some 300 line
drawings, photographs and maps.
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Page A mountedsamurai
Published by i :
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A Division of W.H. Smith Publishers [nc. Emaki.
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USA.
Osaka .Xatsu-no-jin Scroll
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Produced by
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Greenwich. CT. 06830 Page 4-5: A scenefrom The
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©
Copyright 1982 Bison Books Corp.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may
be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
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Publisher.
ISBN 0-8317-7676-5
Printed in Hong Kong
1098 7654
'*3*''+i
TheWay of the Horse and Bow 6
1
2 The ClassicalWarriors 20
3 The Sons of Hachiman 42
4 The Shogunof the Golden Pavilion 54
5 The Age of the Country atWar 70
6 TheProfessionals 86
7 Great PeaceThroughout the Land 110
3 The Sword and the Abacus 126
9 Decline and Opportunity 148
10 Menof High Purpose 162
1 1 The Last of the Samurai 178
Glossary 188
Index 189
Bibliography 192
Acknowledgments
192
CHAPTERl