Samurai Warfare

by Stephen Turnbull

Dr Stephen Turnbull has been at the forefront of explaining the intricacies of the Samurai world to the inquisitive, but previously ignorant, Western reader.
In Samurai Warfare he examines the reality of the battlefield tactics, personalities and practices. Dispelling some of the myths surrounding the subject, we are shown that their broad strategies were unspectacular; we read of cavalrymen and archers, of castles and sieges, of naval blockades and bombardments, of the routines of warfare which would be seen in the study of any medieval conflicts. The final part of the book features a selection of case studies for the century from 1560 which will take the reader into the action and advance even the most established knowledge of Samurai warfare.

Genres: Martial Arts, Military History, Japan, Nonfiction, History

158 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Stephen 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.

Reviews

[Little Timmy]

Very good historical overview of the tactics and strategies of the Samurai. Recommended

[Anna Vanaga]

A to-the-point summary of the warfare tactics and tools of the day and age, I enjoyed it very much. Mind you, I'm a complete beginner to the subject, but the book doesn't really assume you already know what's what, so it was not a deterrent at all.

[Rin]

Pretty dope book, concise and clear, a lot of information.
I like how Turnbull divided it into section like 'siege warfare' or 'naval combat' and so on.
It doesn't cover every battle in every detail, but provides rather general analysis of warfare, arms
and tactics of samurai. There's also some pictures and maps and figures which is always appreciated.
There's little to criticise about this book, mostly it comes down to it being the same thing like previous titles or the later ones (depending which one you've read first).
Also, a lot of "general history", if you know what I mean.
Biggest flaw is that Turnbull somehow manages to write about the same thing in several books in the same way. It wasn't one time that I saw the same passage about some battle in two different books. It's a bit dissapointing, but it is what it is.
Still a recommended book for those interested in samurai warfare.

[Jbondandrews]

A very interesting book on the Samurai. Having a great interest in Akira movies and Japanese history in general helps me understand an important part of Japanese history and culture.

[Michael Bond]

A true sleeper. Dense for a relatively short book.