The Samurai Swordsman  
Master of War
Author(s): Stephen Turnbull
Published by Pen and Sword
Publication Date:  Available in all formats
ISBN: 9781473817937
Pages: 0

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ISBN: 9781473817937 Price: INR 620.99
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Samurai tells the story of the courageous and highly disciplined fighting men of this time, showing how they evolved from the primitive fighters of the seventh century into an invincible military caste with a fearsome reputation. In the early seventh century, the samurai rose to prominence during the struggles between the emperor and the military leaders (shogun). They took part in the invasion of Korea, as well as helping to keep Japan free from foreign influence. From the Heian period through to the Onin wars, the history of the samurai is replete with tales of heroism and bloodshed. Although the samurai is most famous for his use of the sword, he also used a wide variety of other weapons, such as the crossbow, the dagger and the spear. Samurai armour and costume were constantly evolving, and by the twelfth century most samurai were wearing the box-like yoroi armour. Samurai examines samurai fighting tactics, as well as acts such as ritual suicide (hari-kiri) and the taking of enemy heads as trophies.
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Samurai tells the story of the courageous and highly disciplined fighting men of this time, showing how they evolved from the primitive fighters of the seventh century into an invincible military caste with a fearsome reputation. In the early seventh century, the samurai rose to prominence during the struggles between the emperor and the military leaders (shogun). They took part in the invasion of Korea, as well as helping to keep Japan free from foreign influence. From the Heian period through to the Onin wars, the history of the samurai is replete with tales of heroism and bloodshed. Although the samurai is most famous for his use of the sword, he also used a wide variety of other weapons, such as the crossbow, the dagger and the spear. Samurai armour and costume were constantly evolving, and by the twelfth century most samurai were wearing the box-like yoroi armour. Samurai examines samurai fighting tactics, as well as acts such as ritual suicide (hari-kiri) and the taking of enemy heads as trophies.
Table of contents
  • Cover
  • Half Title
  • Full Title
  • Copyright Page
  • Contents
    • Preface
    • Chapter 1: Swords and Heroes
      • The Sword and the Kami
      • The Rise of the Samurai
      • Samurai Arms and Armor
      • The Way of Horse and Bow
      • The Samurai Battle
      • The Sword in Combat
      • Hand-to-Hand Fighting
    • Chapter 2: Swords in Service
      • The Dwarf Robbers
      • The First Mongol Invasion
      • The Second Mongol Invasion
      • The Pirates Return
      • Swords in Action
    • Chapter 3: Sword and Spear
      • The Age of Warring States
      • Changes in Warfare
      • The Mounted Spearman
      • The Sword in Battle
      • Kamiizumi Nobutsuna—the Master Swordsman
      • The Wolf and the Deer
      • The Brave Makara Family
      • The Seven Spears
      • The Sword in Korea
      • The Unwelcome Combat
    • Chapter 4: Sword and Samurai
      • The Samurai Sword
      • The Warrior Pilgrimage
      • Tsukahara Bokuden
      • The Wanderings of Kamiizumi Nobutsuna
      • Death of a Swordsman
      • Miyamoto Musashi
    • Chapter 5: Sword and Sensei
      • The First Schools
      • Sensei and Students
      • Ryūha and Rivalry
      • Sensei and Shogun
      • Passing on the Tradition
      • The Fight for Succession
      • The Dying Sensei
      • Sensei and Survival
    • Chapter 6: Swords in Society
      • The Brave Otokodate
      • The Samurai Policemen
      • Swords and Gamblers
      • Bodyguards and Battles
      • The Fighting Firemen
    • Chapter 7: Sword of Vengeance
      • The Revenge of the Soga Brothers
      • The Legalized Vendetta
      • The Igagoe Vendetta
      • The Kameyama Vengeance
      • The Forty-Seven Rōnin
      • Rōnin and Reality
      • Legacy of Loyalty
    • Chapter 8: Swords and Sisters
      • Tomoe Gozen—the Beautiful Samurai
      • The Nun Shogun
      • Women in the Age of War
      • Women of the Ikkō-ikki
      • Women and Vengeance
      • The Women Warriors of Aizu
    • Chapter 9: Sword of Peace
      • The Tokugawa Peace
      • The Thinking Samurai
      • The Martial Arts in Peacetime
      • Classifying the Martial Arts
      • Sensei for a New Age
      • Chiba Shūsaku
      • The Last of the Old Sensei
    • Chapter 10: Sword of Revolution
      • Men of High Purpose
      • The Protector of Kyoto
      • The Shinsengumi
      • Their Finest Hour
      • The Last Days of the Shogun
      • The Divine Wind
      • The Satsuma Rebellion
    • Notes
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Index
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