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Osprey Warrior #125
Pirate of the Far East: 811-1639
Osprey's survey of pirates of the Far East, from 811 to 1639. For many centuries, international relations between Medieval Japan, Korea and China were carried out by means of the 'inseparable trinity' of war, trade and piracy. Much has been written about the first two means of interaction. The third element, which combined the other two in a violent blend of free enterprise, is the subject of this original and exciting book. It is written by Stephen Turnbull, who has visited all three countries in search of the elusive pirates of the Far East.
64 pages, Paperback
First published November 20, 2007
About the author
Stephen Turnbull
144 books128 followersStephen Richard Turnbull is British a historian specializing in eastern military history, especially the samurai of Japan. His books are mainly on Japanese and Mongolian subjects. He attended Cambridge University where he gained his first degree. He currently holds an MA in Theology, MA in Military History and a PhD from the University of Leeds where he is currently a lecturer in Far Eastern Religions. He has also written a number of books on other medieval topics. He is semi-retired but still holds the post of Visiting Professor of Japanese Studies at Akita International University in Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 25, 2015
Unfortunately, the first thing one notices about this book is what seems like a typo in the title. Instead of “Pirates of the Far East,” it’s Pirate of the Far East, which suggests piracy wasn’t so much of a problem in the region because there was only the one pirate—and that the author isn’t a fan of either definite or indefinite articles. I’m sure this was done intentionally, but it does read oddly and sounds tinny.
This slim book is a typical edition of the Osprey military history series. All of these books are less than 100 pages, illustrated, and focus on a specific class of warfighter over a defined period. In this case, the book presents a class of pirates called wako for the period from 811 to 1639. Wako literally refers to Japanese pirates, but--in fact--these marauders of the high seas were often mixed nationality crews. The book also provides information about counter-piracy activities and those groups of warriors, such as Shaolin monks, who fought against piracy back in those days.
This book covers a range of topics including: the life of a pirate, pirate ships, strategy, tactics, and weapons—as well as the history of these groups. The book has five actual chapters, but there are short units providing important information that would usually be appendices, e.g. a chronology, a discussion of museum exhibits, and an annotated bibliography.
The illustrations are mostly drawings, but include maps and photographs as well. Some of the art is drawn in the present-day by the illustrator Richard Hook, but some are historic pieces from art collections. The photographs also include some present-day photos of locations that were once bases of piracy, as well as photos of museum exhibits (e.g. topographic and other models.) The graphics are helpful in showing how pirates dressed/armored and were armed. The maps and drawings are particularly helpful.
I’d recommend this book, but I do think it’s overpriced at full price. At a mere 64 pages—a pamphlet more than a book--paying $10 or more seems a bit pricey despite the useful graphics and the fact that the author is among the most renowned authorities on Japanese warriors and medieval military tactics. All that said, there are relatively few books on the topic, and it’s not easy to get this information from other sources.
This slim book is a typical edition of the Osprey military history series. All of these books are less than 100 pages, illustrated, and focus on a specific class of warfighter over a defined period. In this case, the book presents a class of pirates called wako for the period from 811 to 1639. Wako literally refers to Japanese pirates, but--in fact--these marauders of the high seas were often mixed nationality crews. The book also provides information about counter-piracy activities and those groups of warriors, such as Shaolin monks, who fought against piracy back in those days.
This book covers a range of topics including: the life of a pirate, pirate ships, strategy, tactics, and weapons—as well as the history of these groups. The book has five actual chapters, but there are short units providing important information that would usually be appendices, e.g. a chronology, a discussion of museum exhibits, and an annotated bibliography.
The illustrations are mostly drawings, but include maps and photographs as well. Some of the art is drawn in the present-day by the illustrator Richard Hook, but some are historic pieces from art collections. The photographs also include some present-day photos of locations that were once bases of piracy, as well as photos of museum exhibits (e.g. topographic and other models.) The graphics are helpful in showing how pirates dressed/armored and were armed. The maps and drawings are particularly helpful.
I’d recommend this book, but I do think it’s overpriced at full price. At a mere 64 pages—a pamphlet more than a book--paying $10 or more seems a bit pricey despite the useful graphics and the fact that the author is among the most renowned authorities on Japanese warriors and medieval military tactics. All that said, there are relatively few books on the topic, and it’s not easy to get this information from other sources.
February 9, 2025
Frequently forgotten, the wako were the scourge of eastern seas
Although those sea raiders influenced external policy and the way Korea and China regarded the Japanese, it’s impressive how few information is published regarding the wako. Even histories of Japan barely mention them.
As a Portuguese historian I’ve read the several reports of navigators encountering those dangerous characters – the wako, and even contact with pirate kings such as the powerful Murakami, but as far as I know there are no book in Portuguese regarding the subject and extremely few in English translation (and missing the Chinese and Korean perspective on the subject).
So, Stephen Turnbull managed again to bring to the general audience an amazing book filled with authoritative information regarding this subject. Several wako liked to hide from their enemies in caves and islands; nowadays the information regarding them is also difficult to find for several reasons: Japanese aren’t proud at all of the wako’s exploits and cruelties, the few Japanese documents available in foreign translations are heavily nationalistic (produced in the forties) and the Chinese sources aren’t readily available to western scholars. But the author managed to overcome all those obstacles visiting sites, museums and universities in situ, and obviously being able to read the sources in the original languages.
He gives the reader a short but very assertive history from the early raids in the ninth century till the massive invasions and eventual closure of the borders by Japan in 1639 with the Sakoku edict (which ended the wako pirate era). Turnbull analyses the causes of the raids, the periods when they grew in number, the commercial and political factors, the motivations of the pirates, how they dressed and were lightly equipped and armed, the kind of ships and tactics used in the attacks among many other issues.
The author also provides information regarding the most important pirate leaders such as the Murakami family (and their three branches) although It’s important to note that many of those pirates weren’t Japanese (they were considered wako all the same); some of the most important pirate kings were in fact Chinese!
You will also find the defensive measures Korea and China used against piracy, including fortifications, military action and negotiation. There are three case studies that summarize the revolt of Fujiwara Sumitomo in 936-41; the fight between the pirate king Xu Hai and the Chinese general Hu Dongxian; and the “Tiger” incident in 1605.
Well illustrated by the veteran Richard Hook, you'll find the following color plates which complement elegantly Stephen Turnboll's prose: wako surrendering before the Koreans on Tsushima, 1389; Kaizoku (sea raiders) of the Murakami navy with full equipment for sea fighting (including horoku "grenades" throwers); a wako band in China , 1548; Japanese Kenminsen pirate ship in action in a raid on Korea, 1419; the Murakami pirate base at Noshima, 1585; the impressive fortified harbor of Dengzhou (Penglai), part of the Chinese coastal defences "Great wall of the sea", 1560; Fujiwara Sumitomo leads a pirate raid, 940; A wako multinational band profane a shrine dedicated to the goddess of the sea Mazu, 1567.
With a very good further reading guide, great photos of locations, dioramas, paintings, boat models, chronology and maps, this is a title you just can’t miss.
Although those sea raiders influenced external policy and the way Korea and China regarded the Japanese, it’s impressive how few information is published regarding the wako. Even histories of Japan barely mention them.
As a Portuguese historian I’ve read the several reports of navigators encountering those dangerous characters – the wako, and even contact with pirate kings such as the powerful Murakami, but as far as I know there are no book in Portuguese regarding the subject and extremely few in English translation (and missing the Chinese and Korean perspective on the subject).
So, Stephen Turnbull managed again to bring to the general audience an amazing book filled with authoritative information regarding this subject. Several wako liked to hide from their enemies in caves and islands; nowadays the information regarding them is also difficult to find for several reasons: Japanese aren’t proud at all of the wako’s exploits and cruelties, the few Japanese documents available in foreign translations are heavily nationalistic (produced in the forties) and the Chinese sources aren’t readily available to western scholars. But the author managed to overcome all those obstacles visiting sites, museums and universities in situ, and obviously being able to read the sources in the original languages.
He gives the reader a short but very assertive history from the early raids in the ninth century till the massive invasions and eventual closure of the borders by Japan in 1639 with the Sakoku edict (which ended the wako pirate era). Turnbull analyses the causes of the raids, the periods when they grew in number, the commercial and political factors, the motivations of the pirates, how they dressed and were lightly equipped and armed, the kind of ships and tactics used in the attacks among many other issues.
The author also provides information regarding the most important pirate leaders such as the Murakami family (and their three branches) although It’s important to note that many of those pirates weren’t Japanese (they were considered wako all the same); some of the most important pirate kings were in fact Chinese!
You will also find the defensive measures Korea and China used against piracy, including fortifications, military action and negotiation. There are three case studies that summarize the revolt of Fujiwara Sumitomo in 936-41; the fight between the pirate king Xu Hai and the Chinese general Hu Dongxian; and the “Tiger” incident in 1605.
Well illustrated by the veteran Richard Hook, you'll find the following color plates which complement elegantly Stephen Turnboll's prose: wako surrendering before the Koreans on Tsushima, 1389; Kaizoku (sea raiders) of the Murakami navy with full equipment for sea fighting (including horoku "grenades" throwers); a wako band in China , 1548; Japanese Kenminsen pirate ship in action in a raid on Korea, 1419; the Murakami pirate base at Noshima, 1585; the impressive fortified harbor of Dengzhou (Penglai), part of the Chinese coastal defences "Great wall of the sea", 1560; Fujiwara Sumitomo leads a pirate raid, 940; A wako multinational band profane a shrine dedicated to the goddess of the sea Mazu, 1567.
With a very good further reading guide, great photos of locations, dioramas, paintings, boat models, chronology and maps, this is a title you just can’t miss.
August 4, 2011
Rather good for the historically technical stuff, but some statements with regard to the broader historical events did not seem to be historically accurate.
October 5, 2020
Molto breve, forse perché le fonti scarseggiano. Gli stessi giapponesi si vergognano di questa parentesi della loro storia marittima.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews