What do you think?
Rate this book
Sengoku Jidai. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu: Three Unifiers of Japan
Japan's Sengoku jidai ('Warring States Period') was a time of crisis and upheaval, a chaotic epoch when the relatively low-born rural military class of 'bushi' (samurai warriors) succeeded in overthrowing their social superiors in the court throughout much of the country. Into this tumultuous age of constant warfare came three remarkable Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616). Each would play a unique role in the re-unification of the disparate, fragmented collection of warring provinces which constituted Japan in the sixteenth and early seventeenth-centuries. This new narrative history of the sengoku era draws together the epic strands of their three stories for the first time. It offers a coherent survey of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568-1600) under both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, followed by the founding years of the Tokugawa shogunate (1600-1616). Every pivotal battle fought by each of these three hegemons is explored in depth from Okehazama (1560) and Nagashino (1575) to Sekigahara (1600) and the Two Sieges of Osaka Castle (1614-15). In addition, the political and administrative underpinnings of their rule is also examined, as well as the marginal role played by western foreigners ('nanban') and the Christian religion in early modern Japanese society. In its scope, the story of Japan's three unifiers ('the Fool', 'the Monkey', and 'the Old Badger') is a sweeping saga encompassing acts of unimaginable cruelty as well as feats of great samurai heroism which were venerated and written about long into the peaceful Edo/Tokugawa period.
640 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
321 people are currently reading
4865 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 20, 2018
A fascinating insight into the period but rather hard-going I found, especially as someone with little prior knowledge of pre-20th century Japanese history. Not to say that the book gave no historical context to Sengoku Jidai - its opening chapters summarise Japanese history leading up to the Ōnin War of 1467-77, when the power of the Ashikaga shogunate over Japan is shattered and the provincial warlords are free to struggle amongst themselves. I found this summary very helpful to my understanding - and the actual historical information provided isn't my particular issue.
The issue was really the way the information was presented. It's a fine art to balance detail with deeper insight or analysis, and I found myself struggling through too much of what I consider 'shallow' detail. There were many instances where I had to push through large lists of names of unimportant retainers, family members and castles (often instantly forgettable, but that will be partially influenced by my own unfamiliarity with Japanese names and language) - I would suspect most readers of this review are not here for mere lists.
Good news then, as the book shined when it delved beneath the lists - for instance to provide insight into culture, strategy, religion, politicking, personalities (and, of great fascination to me, the mindset that allowed samurai to commit seppuku with such extraordinary readiness! I can't say I'd be quite so willing to kill myself if my boss ordered me to).
I should add that (and the book's title does indicate this), while an overall picture is built of Japan during this era, the events do primarily focus on the pivotal roles played by Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu in reunifying the country. You'll learn a lot about their respective rises to power and surrounding events, but you won't learn that much about what's happening in other areas of the country until one of the trio has to deal with them. I don't think this detracts from the book, only noting that it would have been interesting to learn a little more about such figures as Date Masamune for example - someone who seems an interesting character of the era, but whose role is fairly minimal in this book.
While the above is something I think would be a bonus (unless it simply increased the quantity of lists!), the one thing I do think the book lacks is maps. I personally find it very helpful to be able to visualise where the events I'm reading about are happening. It's nothing a quick Google of locations can't fix, but some period-specific maps, which many modern history books include, would have been very helpful.
My overall opinion: If you don't mind pushing through those lists, I would still recommend this book. You will ultimately learn a great deal about the events, personalities and culture of Sengoku Jidai-era Japan (at the cost of frayed patience).
The issue was really the way the information was presented. It's a fine art to balance detail with deeper insight or analysis, and I found myself struggling through too much of what I consider 'shallow' detail. There were many instances where I had to push through large lists of names of unimportant retainers, family members and castles (often instantly forgettable, but that will be partially influenced by my own unfamiliarity with Japanese names and language) - I would suspect most readers of this review are not here for mere lists.
Good news then, as the book shined when it delved beneath the lists - for instance to provide insight into culture, strategy, religion, politicking, personalities (and, of great fascination to me, the mindset that allowed samurai to commit seppuku with such extraordinary readiness! I can't say I'd be quite so willing to kill myself if my boss ordered me to).
I should add that (and the book's title does indicate this), while an overall picture is built of Japan during this era, the events do primarily focus on the pivotal roles played by Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu in reunifying the country. You'll learn a lot about their respective rises to power and surrounding events, but you won't learn that much about what's happening in other areas of the country until one of the trio has to deal with them. I don't think this detracts from the book, only noting that it would have been interesting to learn a little more about such figures as Date Masamune for example - someone who seems an interesting character of the era, but whose role is fairly minimal in this book.
While the above is something I think would be a bonus (unless it simply increased the quantity of lists!), the one thing I do think the book lacks is maps. I personally find it very helpful to be able to visualise where the events I'm reading about are happening. It's nothing a quick Google of locations can't fix, but some period-specific maps, which many modern history books include, would have been very helpful.
My overall opinion: If you don't mind pushing through those lists, I would still recommend this book. You will ultimately learn a great deal about the events, personalities and culture of Sengoku Jidai-era Japan (at the cost of frayed patience).
May 28, 2025
Jezus wat een vreselijke ervaring was dit zeg. Enorm droog geschreven, zonder persoonlijkheid van de auteur. Militaire geschiedenis wat altijd saai is. Langdradig op de vreselijkste punten. Mierenneukerig bij alles. Weinig interessante anecdotes. Geen goede overdracht van kennis. En nog veeeeeeel meer
Over het algemeen een enorm goed onderzocht boek (alhoewel er nog steeds enorm grote fouten in zitten) en daar komen ook de twee sterren vandaan, maar daar houdt de lof voor dit boek ook wel op.
Ik heb 4 (VIER!!!!!) maanden gedaan over dit boek omdat het mij gewoon niet uitnodigde om te lezen. Ik was begin dit jaar super goed bezig met lezen maar dit boek heeft dat eigenhandig gewoon stopgezet. Een misdaad.
2 sterren, kan het echt niet aanraden.
P.S. Alhoewel het boek zuigt, zit er nog steeds iets hilarisch in. De schrijver schrijft de ‘/‘ uit als de officiële naam, namelijk ‘cum’. Dit zorgt voor hilarische woorden zoals ‘mansion-cum-palace’ of ‘canal-cum-aquaduct’. Dit zorgde voor af en toe een lach op mijn puberige gezicht.
P.P.S. De auteur is dus helemaal geen Japan historicus. Hij heeft hiervoor boeken geschreven over vikingen en de Renaissance. Dit is hoogstwaarschijnlijk waarom het zo enorm zuigt.
Over het algemeen een enorm goed onderzocht boek (alhoewel er nog steeds enorm grote fouten in zitten) en daar komen ook de twee sterren vandaan, maar daar houdt de lof voor dit boek ook wel op.
Ik heb 4 (VIER!!!!!) maanden gedaan over dit boek omdat het mij gewoon niet uitnodigde om te lezen. Ik was begin dit jaar super goed bezig met lezen maar dit boek heeft dat eigenhandig gewoon stopgezet. Een misdaad.
2 sterren, kan het echt niet aanraden.
P.S. Alhoewel het boek zuigt, zit er nog steeds iets hilarisch in. De schrijver schrijft de ‘/‘ uit als de officiële naam, namelijk ‘cum’. Dit zorgt voor hilarische woorden zoals ‘mansion-cum-palace’ of ‘canal-cum-aquaduct’. Dit zorgde voor af en toe een lach op mijn puberige gezicht.
P.P.S. De auteur is dus helemaal geen Japan historicus. Hij heeft hiervoor boeken geschreven over vikingen en de Renaissance. Dit is hoogstwaarschijnlijk waarom het zo enorm zuigt.
March 21, 2025
When I was a teenager I was obsessed with the Sengoku Jidai. Then I went on to spend my 20s far more into the modern Empire and my 30s far more into the Tokugawa Shogunate (still holding strong). This is my first time going back to it (outside of playing Shogun 2: Total War) in a very long time.
And this book is a great comprehensive political history of the period. As a military history, however, its a bit superficial outside of two or three specific battles. When you consider that it never ceases to give you the full rundown of every retainer, no matter how minor, one does wish there was more emphasis on the war and logistics side vs a truly massive cast of characters many of whom you get a full biography of to never see again. But aside from that issue I feel this is the best single volume book on the era I have come into contact with.
And this book is a great comprehensive political history of the period. As a military history, however, its a bit superficial outside of two or three specific battles. When you consider that it never ceases to give you the full rundown of every retainer, no matter how minor, one does wish there was more emphasis on the war and logistics side vs a truly massive cast of characters many of whom you get a full biography of to never see again. But aside from that issue I feel this is the best single volume book on the era I have come into contact with.
July 31, 2021
Sengoku Jida: Nobunaga Hideyoshi and Ieyasu by Danny Chaplin
Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
I watched a multipart documentary on the three men who re-unified Japan, namely Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. I had been previously somewhat aware of these men but had a fairly vague idea about who they were and what they had done. The documentary helped a lot and sparked my interest in the subject.
To rectify my ignorance, I picked up this book. I discovered that it is absolutely encyclopedic. One of the surprising and nice things about the book was that it provided a background section on the ancient - virtually prehistoric period - of Japan. Again, I had a vague understanding that the Emperor of Japan was more of a figurehead and that the Shogun was the power that ruled Japan.
What I learned was there there was a period when the emperors ruled as well as reigned. There were two prior shogunates before the Tokugawa Shogunate was initiated in 1600. So, Japan already had experience with the division between the symbolic court - think of the English monarchy during the parliamentary period - and the military power of the Shoguns. Ironically, in the period prior to the Tokugawa Shogunate, the power of the shoguns had deteriorated, such that shoguns were puppets of powerful clans in Kyoto.
The period before Oda Nobunaga had seen approximately two hundred years of civil war. Actually, central power had deteriorated as the nobility in Kyoto had been supplanted by their managers in their holdings. These managers became the daimyos with their subordinate samurai.
Oda Nobunaga began his rise in the mid 16th century as the leader of a minor wing of the Oda clan that controlled portions of a province. Battles between clans were endemic in this period. Nobunaga put himself on the map by employing a force of 3,000 men to defeat an army of 15,000. He parlayed his success and his military skills to consolidate his province, take over adjacent provinces, conquer Kyoto, put the old shogunal family out to pasture.
Nobunaga was then killed by a disgruntled underling in one of the epic betrayals that characterize this period of Japanese history. Daimyos and samurais could be fantastically loyal, even to the point of committing suicide on the order of their superiors, but they could also betray if they thought that was necessary for clan survival/advancement.
Nobunaga was replaced by his subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who in avenging the death of Nobunaga, positioned himself as the new shogun. Hideyoshi extended the power base put together by Nobunaga to the point where he could order two disastrous invasions of Korea. The invasions resulted in the exorbitant deaths of samurai and daimyo and Japanese defeat, but it did keep restive samurai from plotting against Hideoyoshi. Hideyoshi also established rules that stratified Japanese society in the form that it would retain until it was opened to the world by Commodore Perry in 1865.
Hideyoshi had been born a peasant and rose to the height of power on his own talents. Ironically, his rules resulted in a stratification of society that would not allow that kind of ascent again.
Hideyoshi died with a young son. Five powerful daimyo formed a council to rule Japan until the boy grew up. One of the members was Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had been a close ally of both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, but just as Hideyoshi pushed aside the Oda clan, Ieyasu pushed aside Hideyoshi's son. To be precise, Ieyasu plotted and connived to bring down the council on terms that would allow him to fight a battle that would put total power in his hands.
This is an informative book, but not entirely accessible. I learned a lot about the ups and downs of Christianity in Japan and the Japanese infatuation with tea and tea paraphennelia. On the other hand, Japanese naming conventions are hard for Westerners to follow. For example, virtually every member of the extended Oda clan had a name that was a variant of "Nobu." The reason for this is that aristocratic Japanese children were given a children's name, but took another name when they became an adult (around 13, of course.) The name was compounded from two syllables taken from the names of respected elders.
Sometimes as a privilege for a job well done, an even higher superior lord might permit the daimyo or samurai to incorporate a syllable of their name - dropping a syllable from their prior name as an honor. Tokugawa Ieyasu's name evolved through the course of the book. It didn't take its final form until well after he had established himself as a power to be reckoned with in Japan.
This is obviously not the author's fault, but it does make for a dense narrative.
Another problem is the unfamiliarity of Japanese geography. I could have used a few more maps scattered throughout the book as an aid. Again, this is my limitation, not the authors.
I felt that I got what I was looking for, which was definitely an introduction to an interesting and different culture and history.
Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
I watched a multipart documentary on the three men who re-unified Japan, namely Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. I had been previously somewhat aware of these men but had a fairly vague idea about who they were and what they had done. The documentary helped a lot and sparked my interest in the subject.
To rectify my ignorance, I picked up this book. I discovered that it is absolutely encyclopedic. One of the surprising and nice things about the book was that it provided a background section on the ancient - virtually prehistoric period - of Japan. Again, I had a vague understanding that the Emperor of Japan was more of a figurehead and that the Shogun was the power that ruled Japan.
What I learned was there there was a period when the emperors ruled as well as reigned. There were two prior shogunates before the Tokugawa Shogunate was initiated in 1600. So, Japan already had experience with the division between the symbolic court - think of the English monarchy during the parliamentary period - and the military power of the Shoguns. Ironically, in the period prior to the Tokugawa Shogunate, the power of the shoguns had deteriorated, such that shoguns were puppets of powerful clans in Kyoto.
The period before Oda Nobunaga had seen approximately two hundred years of civil war. Actually, central power had deteriorated as the nobility in Kyoto had been supplanted by their managers in their holdings. These managers became the daimyos with their subordinate samurai.
Oda Nobunaga began his rise in the mid 16th century as the leader of a minor wing of the Oda clan that controlled portions of a province. Battles between clans were endemic in this period. Nobunaga put himself on the map by employing a force of 3,000 men to defeat an army of 15,000. He parlayed his success and his military skills to consolidate his province, take over adjacent provinces, conquer Kyoto, put the old shogunal family out to pasture.
Nobunaga was then killed by a disgruntled underling in one of the epic betrayals that characterize this period of Japanese history. Daimyos and samurais could be fantastically loyal, even to the point of committing suicide on the order of their superiors, but they could also betray if they thought that was necessary for clan survival/advancement.
Nobunaga was replaced by his subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who in avenging the death of Nobunaga, positioned himself as the new shogun. Hideyoshi extended the power base put together by Nobunaga to the point where he could order two disastrous invasions of Korea. The invasions resulted in the exorbitant deaths of samurai and daimyo and Japanese defeat, but it did keep restive samurai from plotting against Hideoyoshi. Hideyoshi also established rules that stratified Japanese society in the form that it would retain until it was opened to the world by Commodore Perry in 1865.
Hideyoshi had been born a peasant and rose to the height of power on his own talents. Ironically, his rules resulted in a stratification of society that would not allow that kind of ascent again.
Hideyoshi died with a young son. Five powerful daimyo formed a council to rule Japan until the boy grew up. One of the members was Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had been a close ally of both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, but just as Hideyoshi pushed aside the Oda clan, Ieyasu pushed aside Hideyoshi's son. To be precise, Ieyasu plotted and connived to bring down the council on terms that would allow him to fight a battle that would put total power in his hands.
This is an informative book, but not entirely accessible. I learned a lot about the ups and downs of Christianity in Japan and the Japanese infatuation with tea and tea paraphennelia. On the other hand, Japanese naming conventions are hard for Westerners to follow. For example, virtually every member of the extended Oda clan had a name that was a variant of "Nobu." The reason for this is that aristocratic Japanese children were given a children's name, but took another name when they became an adult (around 13, of course.) The name was compounded from two syllables taken from the names of respected elders.
Sometimes as a privilege for a job well done, an even higher superior lord might permit the daimyo or samurai to incorporate a syllable of their name - dropping a syllable from their prior name as an honor. Tokugawa Ieyasu's name evolved through the course of the book. It didn't take its final form until well after he had established himself as a power to be reckoned with in Japan.
This is obviously not the author's fault, but it does make for a dense narrative.
Another problem is the unfamiliarity of Japanese geography. I could have used a few more maps scattered throughout the book as an aid. Again, this is my limitation, not the authors.
I felt that I got what I was looking for, which was definitely an introduction to an interesting and different culture and history.
April 4, 2021
A stunning tour of force through the troubled times of Japan in the XVIth century known as the 'Sengoku Jidai' or the Age of Warring States. The book really brings to life the unbelievingly complex power plays that took place during those times and the great struggles undertaken by the three great unifiers of Japan.
The author starts with a very helpful history of Japan and a background to how the country came to be ravaged by internal wars and chaos from 1467 onwards. After the brief historical introduction the book then delves into the lives and military campaigns of the great unifiers: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and finally Tokugawa Ieyasu. Other than these great three figures, other great warriors of the age such as Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin and Date Masamune are major players and it is quite a treat reading about their heroic exploits.
The author also does a great job of the organisation of the Empire with the Emperor as mere figurehead, the Shogun as another figurehead and then the various clans with their daimyos vying for power. The Japanese culture of the time is also well explained with their emphasis on honour and saving face and practices such as seppuku, the bushi code, the religion, the much revered tea ceremonies and much more.
The major problem with the book (and the reason for only giving 3 stars) is the over-abundance of samurai and castle names. It seems that compared to other cultures the Japanese studiously recorded the names of every single administrator, samurai and person of even the smallest significance. This is fantastic for the academic study of history, however in condensed history book this becomes very tiresome. The author insists on naming every single minor retainer, samurai or minor castle in sometimes endless lists which causes quite a bit of fatigue and confusion. It would have been better to only name the important actors and major players and perhaps have the names of minor vassals and retainers in an addendum. The book also could really do with some maps, especially of the major battles such as Sekigahara.
The author starts with a very helpful history of Japan and a background to how the country came to be ravaged by internal wars and chaos from 1467 onwards. After the brief historical introduction the book then delves into the lives and military campaigns of the great unifiers: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and finally Tokugawa Ieyasu. Other than these great three figures, other great warriors of the age such as Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin and Date Masamune are major players and it is quite a treat reading about their heroic exploits.
The author also does a great job of the organisation of the Empire with the Emperor as mere figurehead, the Shogun as another figurehead and then the various clans with their daimyos vying for power. The Japanese culture of the time is also well explained with their emphasis on honour and saving face and practices such as seppuku, the bushi code, the religion, the much revered tea ceremonies and much more.
The major problem with the book (and the reason for only giving 3 stars) is the over-abundance of samurai and castle names. It seems that compared to other cultures the Japanese studiously recorded the names of every single administrator, samurai and person of even the smallest significance. This is fantastic for the academic study of history, however in condensed history book this becomes very tiresome. The author insists on naming every single minor retainer, samurai or minor castle in sometimes endless lists which causes quite a bit of fatigue and confusion. It would have been better to only name the important actors and major players and perhaps have the names of minor vassals and retainers in an addendum. The book also could really do with some maps, especially of the major battles such as Sekigahara.
June 13, 2024
A brilliant work of history
The landscape and history of Japan have been sculpted by the three unifiers. This history is fantastically detailed, to a fault. The fact that this history has been written by someone who is not Japanese and who is a specialist in Western history is remarkable.
If you are planning on touring Japan I recommend this book. Or if your interest in Japanese history is inspired by the recent Shogun series, based on the history of Tokugawa, I also recommend this book.
As I mentioned, the book is extremely detailed. The people and minor events detailed here can drag and I skipped over some parts.
The landscape and history of Japan have been sculpted by the three unifiers. This history is fantastically detailed, to a fault. The fact that this history has been written by someone who is not Japanese and who is a specialist in Western history is remarkable.
If you are planning on touring Japan I recommend this book. Or if your interest in Japanese history is inspired by the recent Shogun series, based on the history of Tokugawa, I also recommend this book.
As I mentioned, the book is extremely detailed. The people and minor events detailed here can drag and I skipped over some parts.
January 6, 2023
A comprehensive narrative of Sengoku-era Japan's samurai warlord's various struggles, culminating in the final unification of the country under the 'big three.' I learned a lot, but it could have used more and better maps.
February 5, 2025
Struggle with rating this book. The material is fascinating and the story is compelling. However, the prose is inconsistent, there are dates and typos that are simply wrong (the 26 martyrs incident occurred in 1597 and not 1596), and at least some portions of the work appear to have been copy and pasted from other works (the section regarding the honno-ji incident has sections that are directly quoted on Wikipedia, but Wikipedia cites the quotes to a source other than this book).
Overall, my opinion is that the fascinating source material and the quality parts of this work are deserving of 3 stars notwithstanding the clear issues discussed above.
Without those issues, this would be an easy 5 stars.
Overall, my opinion is that the fascinating source material and the quality parts of this work are deserving of 3 stars notwithstanding the clear issues discussed above.
Without those issues, this would be an easy 5 stars.
July 9, 2025
I find this history somewhat difficult to review. Chaplin is a good writer, but it was, at times, quite hard to get through the book. I could often do no more than a chapter a day (or every couple of days). The book is dense precisely because of the number of names and places that surface. It shouldn't be surprising that a history of the last 60 or so years of civil war will require the reader (and the author) to mention a lot of people. But the naming conventions made this challenging. Warriors from the same family frequently had similar names (e.g., Oda Nobuhide, Oda Nobunaga, Oda Nobutada, Oda Nobukatsu, Oda Nobutaka).
Additionally, several key personages' names changed. It was the custom for warriors to change their names as they grew older or were adopted, or if they wanted to show honor to a patron. Thus, Tokugawa Ieyasu was originally named Matsudaira Takechiyo, but, when he came of age, changed his name to Matsudaira Jirōsaburō Motonobu, and then--upon marriage to his first wife--Matsudaira Kurandonosuke Motoyasu. As he began breaking away from the Imagawa clan and allied himself with Oda Nobunaga, Motoyasu Kurandonosuke Motoyasu became Matsudaira Ieyasu. Four years later, he created the name by which he is now known--Tokugawa Ieyasu.
When Chaplin writes of Ieyasu, he uses the name that was in place at the time of the events. That's obviously the correct thing to do, but it quickly becomes difficult to remember whether Motonobu or Motoyasu is Ieyasu, under an earlier name, or a relative (given the similarity of family names).
Similarly, there are a lot of place names because there are so many battles fought or castles and temples where important events take place. Those castles, temples, and shrines, however, are sometimes torn down and then a new, differently-named castle, etc., built in its place. And the map at the front of the book isn't helpful--it only shows the provinces, not where many of these critical places actually were located.
Still, I found the history quite interesting and informative, which is why I stuck with it for 2 months. I wish I could give it higher than 3 stars, but there were times that I just pushed through a chapter when I couldn't keep track of the various allies, enemies, turncoats, etc. I satisfied myself by getting the gist of what happened, rather than a clear understanding. I don't prefer to do that, but it's the approach that made sense to me, under the circumstances.
Additionally, several key personages' names changed. It was the custom for warriors to change their names as they grew older or were adopted, or if they wanted to show honor to a patron. Thus, Tokugawa Ieyasu was originally named Matsudaira Takechiyo, but, when he came of age, changed his name to Matsudaira Jirōsaburō Motonobu, and then--upon marriage to his first wife--Matsudaira Kurandonosuke Motoyasu. As he began breaking away from the Imagawa clan and allied himself with Oda Nobunaga, Motoyasu Kurandonosuke Motoyasu became Matsudaira Ieyasu. Four years later, he created the name by which he is now known--Tokugawa Ieyasu.
When Chaplin writes of Ieyasu, he uses the name that was in place at the time of the events. That's obviously the correct thing to do, but it quickly becomes difficult to remember whether Motonobu or Motoyasu is Ieyasu, under an earlier name, or a relative (given the similarity of family names).
Similarly, there are a lot of place names because there are so many battles fought or castles and temples where important events take place. Those castles, temples, and shrines, however, are sometimes torn down and then a new, differently-named castle, etc., built in its place. And the map at the front of the book isn't helpful--it only shows the provinces, not where many of these critical places actually were located.
Still, I found the history quite interesting and informative, which is why I stuck with it for 2 months. I wish I could give it higher than 3 stars, but there were times that I just pushed through a chapter when I couldn't keep track of the various allies, enemies, turncoats, etc. I satisfied myself by getting the gist of what happened, rather than a clear understanding. I don't prefer to do that, but it's the approach that made sense to me, under the circumstances.
February 5, 2025
A perfect academic book to form the base of a paper, drawing from alot of sources, but maybe not something to read for the fun of it. Does a fantastic job of describing the 3 unifiers.
September 1, 2021
This book is not an beginner's introduction to the principal figures of Sengoku-period Japan.
This book helps build on the knowledge you already have regarding the key points of Japan. It's not beginner friendly.
If you instinctively know where most castles in Japan are located, and know the historical names of places and where they roughly are (Echizen, Oshu, Tosa, and so on) you'll get along with this book great. There's nearly no maps, so if you're not absolutely sure where half the stuff mentioned is, you'll have to have one on hand.
The book is very verbose, and probably more densely packed with information than it needs to be. Chaplin tells the reader about the history of Japan and what he might think went through the heads of the important figures at the time. Some reviews say he isn't really good at telling a story but then again neither is Wikipedia.
Overall, my review is this: it's a damn good book. If Danny were to take out the fancy language where it isn't needed, and throw in some maps in place of every little detail regarding names and rice yields; the book would be damn great.
This book helps build on the knowledge you already have regarding the key points of Japan. It's not beginner friendly.
If you instinctively know where most castles in Japan are located, and know the historical names of places and where they roughly are (Echizen, Oshu, Tosa, and so on) you'll get along with this book great. There's nearly no maps, so if you're not absolutely sure where half the stuff mentioned is, you'll have to have one on hand.
The book is very verbose, and probably more densely packed with information than it needs to be. Chaplin tells the reader about the history of Japan and what he might think went through the heads of the important figures at the time. Some reviews say he isn't really good at telling a story but then again neither is Wikipedia.
Overall, my review is this: it's a damn good book. If Danny were to take out the fancy language where it isn't needed, and throw in some maps in place of every little detail regarding names and rice yields; the book would be damn great.
July 2, 2024
If you are looking to delve in the world of feudal Japan and the samurai this has to be the best book on the market. Not as well known and Chaplin is certainly more scholarly than he is pop history, but a great read.
Starting with the good, Chaplin focuses on the lives of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. These three as Chaplin states “Piled the rice cake, kneeded the rice cake and ate the rice cake” respectively. All three played a hand in helping to unify Japan during all out clan warfare and ushered in the 200 year Pax-Tokugawa. However, it goes past just a biography of the three describing the political, cultural, and military states of the time period as well as a lot of useful context to help the reader understand the period. I found myself further infatuated with the period than J was coming in (and I was already highly interested after watching FX’s Shogun). The colonial aspects concerning the Portuguese, Dutch, and English were also intriguing to see unfold as the story progresses.
I found myself more interested with the latter half of the book - detailing Hideyoshi and Ieyasu in specific - but overall the book is extremely informative and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
HOWEVER! This book is dense and at times quite dry. Chaplin loves to list the names of every single retainer, advisor, daimyo, samurai, castle, fortification, etc involved in any given situation. As a result, its easy to get confused if you don’t stay vigilant. It can get very hard to track these names, log and remember them when they come up later as I am not as familiar with Japanese cultural names. I also found myself quite lost when it came to geography. There is one map that is at times pretty hard to read. Part One is a little dense as well, it’s a brief survey of Japanese history to that point and the previous issues arise there as well.
If I were to read it for the first time again, I’d make an effort to read a book on Japanese history as a whole and perhaps further familiarize myself with the geography of Honshu specifically. However, I would highly recommend this book.
Starting with the good, Chaplin focuses on the lives of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. These three as Chaplin states “Piled the rice cake, kneeded the rice cake and ate the rice cake” respectively. All three played a hand in helping to unify Japan during all out clan warfare and ushered in the 200 year Pax-Tokugawa. However, it goes past just a biography of the three describing the political, cultural, and military states of the time period as well as a lot of useful context to help the reader understand the period. I found myself further infatuated with the period than J was coming in (and I was already highly interested after watching FX’s Shogun). The colonial aspects concerning the Portuguese, Dutch, and English were also intriguing to see unfold as the story progresses.
I found myself more interested with the latter half of the book - detailing Hideyoshi and Ieyasu in specific - but overall the book is extremely informative and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
HOWEVER! This book is dense and at times quite dry. Chaplin loves to list the names of every single retainer, advisor, daimyo, samurai, castle, fortification, etc involved in any given situation. As a result, its easy to get confused if you don’t stay vigilant. It can get very hard to track these names, log and remember them when they come up later as I am not as familiar with Japanese cultural names. I also found myself quite lost when it came to geography. There is one map that is at times pretty hard to read. Part One is a little dense as well, it’s a brief survey of Japanese history to that point and the previous issues arise there as well.
If I were to read it for the first time again, I’d make an effort to read a book on Japanese history as a whole and perhaps further familiarize myself with the geography of Honshu specifically. However, I would highly recommend this book.
May 27, 2021
I have read the book and I must say that it meets all my expectations on the Sengoku period. The book is a vade mecum or leading authority on the medieval history of Japan.
It is rich in details and full of technical facts that I almost expected to see maps and documents included therein.
It also answers some questions which I could not find in other books. I now know what happened to Manpukumaru ( information which Wikipedia could not provide for me). He was beheaded by Hideyoshi at the behest of the cruel Nobunaga after tricking Oichi to reveal his hideout.
It is also ironical that Lady Chacha who is Manpukumaru's sister became a concubine to the monkey faced Hideyoshi and bore him an heir, Hideoyori.
The ancient Japanese value having large families.Nobunaga had at least five sons and many daughters.Ieyasu also had a large family.
It enables them to make strategic alliances and it could make or break dynasties. Yet Hideyoshi had only one son which feels a bit queer.
Hideyoshi had many concubines and a wife and many went on to marry and have children with other men after he divorced or got rid of them. Yet it was only Chacha who bore him a son.
Did she play him false? Was he sterile with a low sperm count? This fact is hinted at in James Clavell's book, Shogun, (although there are no corroborating facts to buttress this suspicion).
Ieyasu ever the pragmatist must have exploited this to the full because as we know he eventually got rid of the two interlopers based in Osaka Castle many years after the death of the Taiko.
The book sums up the characters of the three protagonists beautifully. Nobunaga is vicious and a cruel bully who took pleasure in beating up his retainers and driving them to rebellion.
Danny Chaplin was a bit too harsh on Mitsuhide Akechi, (the thirteenth day Shogun) when he dismisses him as a traitor who turned against his daimyo.
Nobunaga practically forced him to rebel when he humiliated him in front of Ieyasu, called him Kumquat head and threw away everything he bought for Tokugawa's banquet.
Even Ieyasu knew that Nobunaga had gone too far and tried to play the peacemaker between the two men but the Oda Chieftain refused to listen.
Hideyoshi was a great persuader and was the most diplomatic of the three great musketeers. He could make a cuckoo bird sing even when it was not in the mood to do so, whilst Nobunaga would simply kill it for its non performance.
Ieyasu was the smartest of the three. He could out wait his opponents and had a great knowledge of human psychology. In modern parlance, he would have been called an evil genius.
Nobunaga piled the dough, Hideyoshi kneaded the cake, but it was the supreme manipulator, Ieyasu who ended up eating it.
His dynasty went on to rule Japan as Shoguns for more than two hundred years until the Meiji Restoration.
It is rich in details and full of technical facts that I almost expected to see maps and documents included therein.
It also answers some questions which I could not find in other books. I now know what happened to Manpukumaru ( information which Wikipedia could not provide for me). He was beheaded by Hideyoshi at the behest of the cruel Nobunaga after tricking Oichi to reveal his hideout.
It is also ironical that Lady Chacha who is Manpukumaru's sister became a concubine to the monkey faced Hideyoshi and bore him an heir, Hideoyori.
The ancient Japanese value having large families.Nobunaga had at least five sons and many daughters.Ieyasu also had a large family.
It enables them to make strategic alliances and it could make or break dynasties. Yet Hideyoshi had only one son which feels a bit queer.
Hideyoshi had many concubines and a wife and many went on to marry and have children with other men after he divorced or got rid of them. Yet it was only Chacha who bore him a son.
Did she play him false? Was he sterile with a low sperm count? This fact is hinted at in James Clavell's book, Shogun, (although there are no corroborating facts to buttress this suspicion).
Ieyasu ever the pragmatist must have exploited this to the full because as we know he eventually got rid of the two interlopers based in Osaka Castle many years after the death of the Taiko.
The book sums up the characters of the three protagonists beautifully. Nobunaga is vicious and a cruel bully who took pleasure in beating up his retainers and driving them to rebellion.
Danny Chaplin was a bit too harsh on Mitsuhide Akechi, (the thirteenth day Shogun) when he dismisses him as a traitor who turned against his daimyo.
Nobunaga practically forced him to rebel when he humiliated him in front of Ieyasu, called him Kumquat head and threw away everything he bought for Tokugawa's banquet.
Even Ieyasu knew that Nobunaga had gone too far and tried to play the peacemaker between the two men but the Oda Chieftain refused to listen.
Hideyoshi was a great persuader and was the most diplomatic of the three great musketeers. He could make a cuckoo bird sing even when it was not in the mood to do so, whilst Nobunaga would simply kill it for its non performance.
Ieyasu was the smartest of the three. He could out wait his opponents and had a great knowledge of human psychology. In modern parlance, he would have been called an evil genius.
Nobunaga piled the dough, Hideyoshi kneaded the cake, but it was the supreme manipulator, Ieyasu who ended up eating it.
His dynasty went on to rule Japan as Shoguns for more than two hundred years until the Meiji Restoration.
Read
November 29, 2023(Note: Since this is my first non-fiction read, I will just say that I will not be rating any non-fiction reads I do going forward)
This book delves into the Sengoku Jidai and highlights the actions taken by the three main figures of this era: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. While the Sengoku Jidai is much more expansive than these three figures, much of the narrative of this era does revolve around these three and how they shaped Japan into what it is today. Therefore, while there are elements of other stories and characters present, the focus remains squarely on the actions and accomplishments of these three figures. Through that, the narrative cohesion and organization feels well-organized, even when it does jump outside the timeline here or there or sidesteps into different tangents. Regardless, this book provides a comprehensive and thorough unpacking of the major events leading to Japan' unification after the Sengoku Jidai.
The structure of this book is mostly a chronological one, showing the history of ancient Japan leading up to the Sengoku Jidai and how the past shaped the Sengoku Jidai as we know it today. It then follows with weaving the narrative of the three unifiers before ending off on how their actions impacted the future of Japan leading into modernity. There's enough there to give a complete story, but leaves crumbs here and there for the reader to explore and learn for themselves.
This book is quite informative and does well in setting the stage for the Sengoku Jidai. It goes into as much detail as it can, which really helps set up the narrative focus on Nogunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu. By the end of the book, it becomes a little easier to understand who these three people were and the impact they had. For those interested in the Sengoku Jidai, this book is definitely an excellent high level book to start off with to come to a greater appreciation for the era and its events.
This book delves into the Sengoku Jidai and highlights the actions taken by the three main figures of this era: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. While the Sengoku Jidai is much more expansive than these three figures, much of the narrative of this era does revolve around these three and how they shaped Japan into what it is today. Therefore, while there are elements of other stories and characters present, the focus remains squarely on the actions and accomplishments of these three figures. Through that, the narrative cohesion and organization feels well-organized, even when it does jump outside the timeline here or there or sidesteps into different tangents. Regardless, this book provides a comprehensive and thorough unpacking of the major events leading to Japan' unification after the Sengoku Jidai.
The structure of this book is mostly a chronological one, showing the history of ancient Japan leading up to the Sengoku Jidai and how the past shaped the Sengoku Jidai as we know it today. It then follows with weaving the narrative of the three unifiers before ending off on how their actions impacted the future of Japan leading into modernity. There's enough there to give a complete story, but leaves crumbs here and there for the reader to explore and learn for themselves.
This book is quite informative and does well in setting the stage for the Sengoku Jidai. It goes into as much detail as it can, which really helps set up the narrative focus on Nogunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu. By the end of the book, it becomes a little easier to understand who these three people were and the impact they had. For those interested in the Sengoku Jidai, this book is definitely an excellent high level book to start off with to come to a greater appreciation for the era and its events.
December 20, 2025
I’m really conflicted on this book. From an information/history standpoint, it is packed. In that regard alone I’d say it’s 4 or 5 stars. One will definitely learn a lot about the unification period of Japan & its three major players of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu.
Yet for a general history book that feels designed to be sort of entry level, it is at times a bit dull; will go from one area to another where it doesn’t make sense in regards to chapter’s title (for example there is a chapter about building Edo that randomly throws in the William Adams story that felt like it could’ve been its own chapter); and is way too detailed.
The book doesn’t seem to know if it wants to be a more academic leaning book with overt amount of details such as monetary stuff and tea ceremonies (yawn) or a book designed to be an accessible sort of say “pop general history” book for people looking to learn about significant historical period of Japan.
As I said, information wise this is a 4 or 5 star book. You will learn a lot. Yet as readability goes, I can’t exactly call it a good book. It took me longer to finish than I would’ve liked and I’d say I was skimming through much of the 2nd half just to get it over with. It didn’t excite me. It didn’t inspire me to want to say go find a biography on any other individuals of note. If I had not ready a biography on Hideyoshi before this one, I may not have read one at all if I had read this book first.
I think if this book cut back on some details and was written in more of narrative style, I think it could’ve been great. Way too dry and detailed of a book for what seems to be an entry level casual book about its topic that isn’t inspiring me to want explore the period further.
Yet for a general history book that feels designed to be sort of entry level, it is at times a bit dull; will go from one area to another where it doesn’t make sense in regards to chapter’s title (for example there is a chapter about building Edo that randomly throws in the William Adams story that felt like it could’ve been its own chapter); and is way too detailed.
The book doesn’t seem to know if it wants to be a more academic leaning book with overt amount of details such as monetary stuff and tea ceremonies (yawn) or a book designed to be an accessible sort of say “pop general history” book for people looking to learn about significant historical period of Japan.
As I said, information wise this is a 4 or 5 star book. You will learn a lot. Yet as readability goes, I can’t exactly call it a good book. It took me longer to finish than I would’ve liked and I’d say I was skimming through much of the 2nd half just to get it over with. It didn’t excite me. It didn’t inspire me to want to say go find a biography on any other individuals of note. If I had not ready a biography on Hideyoshi before this one, I may not have read one at all if I had read this book first.
I think if this book cut back on some details and was written in more of narrative style, I think it could’ve been great. Way too dry and detailed of a book for what seems to be an entry level casual book about its topic that isn’t inspiring me to want explore the period further.
January 26, 2021
The three unifiers of Japan could be depicted as such;
"Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu were sitting together watching a cuckoo bird and waiting for it to sing, but the bird would not sing. Nobunaga said ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing I will kill you’. Hideyoshi said ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing. I will make you sing’. Then Ieyasu said to the bird ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing I will just sit here and wait for you to sing’."
The book itself was arranged according to the proverb: "Nobunaga piled the cake, Hideyoshi kneads the cake, and Ieyasu eat the cake".
Definitely one of the best history books I ever read! The prose is understandably dense, but the narration of the author really eased the burden. This is a major feat on the part of the author, especially in an inter-generational conflict such as the Sengoku Jidai. One chapter could introduce a 30 new historical figures and up to 40 new key places and castles, but the author would knowingly briefed the characters again. Comprehensive and impartial, the author provided a holistic coverage of the Japanese history so the readers would miss nothing. He summarized the entire Japanese history from the Jomons down to the eve of the Sengoku Jidai which is critical to have a good perspective in understanding the entire event. This is one history books you must have, if you are interested in Japanese history. The author depicted the bushi culture in its rawest, but never hesistated to include the subtle aspect of the Japanese culture such as the complex architecture or even the proverbial tea ceremony, in between conflicts of blood and treachery.
"Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu were sitting together watching a cuckoo bird and waiting for it to sing, but the bird would not sing. Nobunaga said ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing I will kill you’. Hideyoshi said ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing. I will make you sing’. Then Ieyasu said to the bird ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing I will just sit here and wait for you to sing’."
The book itself was arranged according to the proverb: "Nobunaga piled the cake, Hideyoshi kneads the cake, and Ieyasu eat the cake".
Definitely one of the best history books I ever read! The prose is understandably dense, but the narration of the author really eased the burden. This is a major feat on the part of the author, especially in an inter-generational conflict such as the Sengoku Jidai. One chapter could introduce a 30 new historical figures and up to 40 new key places and castles, but the author would knowingly briefed the characters again. Comprehensive and impartial, the author provided a holistic coverage of the Japanese history so the readers would miss nothing. He summarized the entire Japanese history from the Jomons down to the eve of the Sengoku Jidai which is critical to have a good perspective in understanding the entire event. This is one history books you must have, if you are interested in Japanese history. The author depicted the bushi culture in its rawest, but never hesistated to include the subtle aspect of the Japanese culture such as the complex architecture or even the proverbial tea ceremony, in between conflicts of blood and treachery.
January 2, 2023
Wow, a long time between reviews for me. This book did take me a while to get through but there were also other distractions keeping me away from reading in the last month or so.
A strong 4 here as I pick up another history book to try and clear away some gaps in my knowledge. All I had for this period in Japanese history was references to it from 'Lone Wolf and Cub', not really a comprehensive understanding. This book fair delivered on that ambition.
I particularly enjoyed how clear eyed this book was about the people it was chronicling. These were vicious, thuggish warlords whose motivations were as much about their own aggrandizement as any lofty goals of national unity. The book never shied away from that or tried to 'redeem' them in any way. It also pointed out how adept these guys were at adopting new technology and taking from other cultures (particularly the Europeans) what would serve their ends while keeping away from assimilation.
It was a long book though with a few minor structural flaws. A tighter edit was definitely required as there is the odd wrong word used and sometimes labyrinthine sentence structures. There were also long screeds of dry data (retainer x received y fief of z koku) that I felt could have been summarised or stuck in an appendix.
Apart from this, an important 100 odd years of Japanese history was covered well and I feel the read was time well spent. Recommended.
A strong 4 here as I pick up another history book to try and clear away some gaps in my knowledge. All I had for this period in Japanese history was references to it from 'Lone Wolf and Cub', not really a comprehensive understanding. This book fair delivered on that ambition.
I particularly enjoyed how clear eyed this book was about the people it was chronicling. These were vicious, thuggish warlords whose motivations were as much about their own aggrandizement as any lofty goals of national unity. The book never shied away from that or tried to 'redeem' them in any way. It also pointed out how adept these guys were at adopting new technology and taking from other cultures (particularly the Europeans) what would serve their ends while keeping away from assimilation.
It was a long book though with a few minor structural flaws. A tighter edit was definitely required as there is the odd wrong word used and sometimes labyrinthine sentence structures. There were also long screeds of dry data (retainer x received y fief of z koku) that I felt could have been summarised or stuck in an appendix.
Apart from this, an important 100 odd years of Japanese history was covered well and I feel the read was time well spent. Recommended.
March 27, 2023
Finally.... it took me forever to read this giant of a book.
And I'm glad I took my time with it because there's so much details in it it's frightening.
I was staring at a certain chapter that deals with the Owari province and different clans of the Oda family. So there would be two major branches and a third "sub-clan" from lower Owari, called Shobata, from which the first unifier of Japan came. Here we meet his family members but everyone has similar names. Everyone is Nobuyori, Nobumitsu, Nobuyasu, Nobuharu, Nobukata, Nobukatsu - WHO IS WHO!?
I just couldn't follow at times. There's just so many similar sounding names.
That aside, the book is chronological, which makes it easy to follow. Major battles are covered and events of importance are explained. There was little left unsaid.
Even though pictures are not essential for these types of books, I'd appreciated it if there was a picture or two, at least for the battles. Graphics would do.
At certain points in the book I noticed some discrepancies between this book and Turnbull's work. Some names differ (e.g. Shitaragahara, field at Nagashino is called Shidahara in Turnbull).
Not a major problem but could be potentialy concerning one if not adressed properly. Names are important in sinic languages; also, writing is important as well.
All in all, the book is great.
Worth the time and money.
And I'm glad I took my time with it because there's so much details in it it's frightening.
I was staring at a certain chapter that deals with the Owari province and different clans of the Oda family. So there would be two major branches and a third "sub-clan" from lower Owari, called Shobata, from which the first unifier of Japan came. Here we meet his family members but everyone has similar names. Everyone is Nobuyori, Nobumitsu, Nobuyasu, Nobuharu, Nobukata, Nobukatsu - WHO IS WHO!?
I just couldn't follow at times. There's just so many similar sounding names.
That aside, the book is chronological, which makes it easy to follow. Major battles are covered and events of importance are explained. There was little left unsaid.
Even though pictures are not essential for these types of books, I'd appreciated it if there was a picture or two, at least for the battles. Graphics would do.
At certain points in the book I noticed some discrepancies between this book and Turnbull's work. Some names differ (e.g. Shitaragahara, field at Nagashino is called Shidahara in Turnbull).
Not a major problem but could be potentialy concerning one if not adressed properly. Names are important in sinic languages; also, writing is important as well.
All in all, the book is great.
Worth the time and money.
January 15, 2025
Focused, informative read
I can’t comment on the historical accuracy of this book, since it’s the only formal book of history I’ve read on this period and these characters. Like many, I have consumed a lot of media that takes place in this setting: Akira Kurosawa’s movies, James Clavell’s books etc. I read this book to get the real story behind the historical fiction which I have enjoyed elsewhere.
I say it’s a focused read because it focuses on Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu as a matter of course in its structure. A poorly written book would have lost its focus and been confused and meandering.
I say it’s informative because it provides detailed information, especially the facts I was looking for to compare with the aforementioned historical fiction.
Overall it really satisfied and kept me basically engaged and interested. I gave it 4 stars- I would give it 4.5- because nothing is perfect and, I’ll say at times I wished the content was more entertaining or was presented in a more entertaining way. Perhaps if there had been some kind of break from the routine from time to time- more episodes into private life, or simply more examples of the characters quoted speech. That’s all I could ask more for.
However overall I can’t fault the book for these reasons too much. I came for history and I got history, and in a very readable form.
I can’t comment on the historical accuracy of this book, since it’s the only formal book of history I’ve read on this period and these characters. Like many, I have consumed a lot of media that takes place in this setting: Akira Kurosawa’s movies, James Clavell’s books etc. I read this book to get the real story behind the historical fiction which I have enjoyed elsewhere.
I say it’s a focused read because it focuses on Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu as a matter of course in its structure. A poorly written book would have lost its focus and been confused and meandering.
I say it’s informative because it provides detailed information, especially the facts I was looking for to compare with the aforementioned historical fiction.
Overall it really satisfied and kept me basically engaged and interested. I gave it 4 stars- I would give it 4.5- because nothing is perfect and, I’ll say at times I wished the content was more entertaining or was presented in a more entertaining way. Perhaps if there had been some kind of break from the routine from time to time- more episodes into private life, or simply more examples of the characters quoted speech. That’s all I could ask more for.
However overall I can’t fault the book for these reasons too much. I came for history and I got history, and in a very readable form.
February 1, 2025
Grande leitura. É impossível não ficar imerso na saga espetacular e quase mitológica dos três unificadores, suas famílias, amigos e inimigos. As páginas são recheadas de batalhas colossais entre exércitos de ashigarus, duelos épicos entre samurais, táticas criativas e eventos heroicos. A tragédia nunca está muito longe de toda essa glória: a maioria das histórias narradas nesse livro terminam em seppukus, feitos ainda mais dramáticos pela imagem de castelos flamejantes e clãs inteiros exterminados. A unificação do Japão foi um processo de absurda violência, que forjou homens implacáveis diante desse desafio.
Como um adicional, ao situar o Sengoku Jidai no panorama mais amplo da história japonesa, o livro serve como uma introdução muito boa a história do Japão até 1615.
Como críticas, só posso observar duas: primeiro, há um excesso de nomes de daimyos e samurais no livro, muitos dos quais aparecem apenas uma ou duas vezes. Isso dificulta acompanhar a história de outras figuras secundárias, mas mais importantes. Além disso, seria um ótimo acréscimo a esse livro a presença de mapas mostrando as campanhas, batalhas e posições dos castelos. Foi complicado acompanhar a narrativa sem um conhecimento aprofundado da geografia japonesa.
Como um adicional, ao situar o Sengoku Jidai no panorama mais amplo da história japonesa, o livro serve como uma introdução muito boa a história do Japão até 1615.
Como críticas, só posso observar duas: primeiro, há um excesso de nomes de daimyos e samurais no livro, muitos dos quais aparecem apenas uma ou duas vezes. Isso dificulta acompanhar a história de outras figuras secundárias, mas mais importantes. Além disso, seria um ótimo acréscimo a esse livro a presença de mapas mostrando as campanhas, batalhas e posições dos castelos. Foi complicado acompanhar a narrativa sem um conhecimento aprofundado da geografia japonesa.
November 29, 2024
The book is indispensable reading for anyone with any interest in Japanese history and culture. It concerns itself with the Period of Warring States, i.e., the civil wars that roiled Japan in the late sixteenth century when three warlords - Nobunga, Hideyoshi, and finally Tokugawa - succeeded one another in an attempt to exert hegmony over the entire country and found a ruling dynasty. The story itself is as exciting as one could wish for from beginning to end with shifting alliances, diplomatic treachery and blood soaked samurai battles before finally culminating in the 1600 Battle of Sekigahara and the 1614 siege of Osaka Castle that led ultimately to the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate that then ruled Japan with an iron hand for the next two and one half centuries. Chaplin does an excellent job of tracing the historical events and explaining their significance. Though through no fault of the author it is difficult at times to keep track of unfamiliar location and character names, the reader is given an excellent sense of what it must have been like for the Japanese people to live through one the most violent chapters in the country's history.
June 11, 2019
Most definitely one of the greatest history books I’ve ever read. It reads like a narrative, but is filled with facts and diverting (sometimes grisly) anecdotes. Somehow Mr. Chaplin writes in such a way that the reader gets attached to certain characters, and I feel I knew the Three Unifiers personally.
You have Nobunaga, who is sometimes cruel and destructive, but also appreciates the more beautiful things in life (like tea instruments). He’s passionate and honorable (most times) and one can’t dispute his military genius.
You have Hideyoshi, the sandal bearer turned de facto Shogun whose reforms and legacy is still apparent in Japan today. Hideyoshi is, in my opinion, the most impressive of the Three. You can say Thomas Cromwell went from a peasant to a de facto ruler, too, but I will say Cromwell didn’t build a castle in enemy territory in one night.
And finally, Ieyasu, “The Old Badger”. Maybe the wisest of the Three, and definitely the most skilled in administration (if you want to be broad, Nobunaga was great militarily wise, Hideyoshi diplomatically wise, and Ieyasu administratively wise). He had to chew his fingers (a real habit of his) under two terrifying reigns of two terrifying men, but in the end, he got the last laugh.
The story of Sengoku Jidai is a chaotic but ultimately satisfying one, and I’m very pleased with Chaplin’s presentation of it.
You have Nobunaga, who is sometimes cruel and destructive, but also appreciates the more beautiful things in life (like tea instruments). He’s passionate and honorable (most times) and one can’t dispute his military genius.
You have Hideyoshi, the sandal bearer turned de facto Shogun whose reforms and legacy is still apparent in Japan today. Hideyoshi is, in my opinion, the most impressive of the Three. You can say Thomas Cromwell went from a peasant to a de facto ruler, too, but I will say Cromwell didn’t build a castle in enemy territory in one night.
And finally, Ieyasu, “The Old Badger”. Maybe the wisest of the Three, and definitely the most skilled in administration (if you want to be broad, Nobunaga was great militarily wise, Hideyoshi diplomatically wise, and Ieyasu administratively wise). He had to chew his fingers (a real habit of his) under two terrifying reigns of two terrifying men, but in the end, he got the last laugh.
The story of Sengoku Jidai is a chaotic but ultimately satisfying one, and I’m very pleased with Chaplin’s presentation of it.
March 8, 2025
If you're looking for a one-stop-shopping experience to learn about the "warring states" period in Japanese history, look no further than this. Chaplin does an admirable job of giving some run-up background/history, then going play-by-play through the rise and fall of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the rise and continuance of Tokogawa Ieyasu. In places Chaplin gets very detailed, giving the names of individuals present at battles, individuals killed, what swords they carried, who smithed those swords, etc. But it's not simply a battle-by-battle military history, Chaplin also covers the machinations, politics, significant cultural and religious developments, etc.
I would have been helped with maps of the important battles, though at least Chaplin does provide a map of Japan with localities listed as he uses them. As I was reading this on my Paperwhite Kindle, such graphics are of less value, but overall individual battle layouts would add a lot to the volume in other formats. Chaplin's style can be a little old-school, he'll describe someone as "bravely" doing this or something "tragic" about that, so it's not a dry "just the facts ma'am" rendition.
A specialist looking for something deeper could still start here, as Chaplin provides a good bibliography for further reading, though obviously a work like this is most appealing to someone seeking more of an introduction to the subject. A very good read for what it offers.
I would have been helped with maps of the important battles, though at least Chaplin does provide a map of Japan with localities listed as he uses them. As I was reading this on my Paperwhite Kindle, such graphics are of less value, but overall individual battle layouts would add a lot to the volume in other formats. Chaplin's style can be a little old-school, he'll describe someone as "bravely" doing this or something "tragic" about that, so it's not a dry "just the facts ma'am" rendition.
A specialist looking for something deeper could still start here, as Chaplin provides a good bibliography for further reading, though obviously a work like this is most appealing to someone seeking more of an introduction to the subject. A very good read for what it offers.
April 15, 2023
This is an excellent history of the period leading to the founding of the Takugawa shogunate. Chaplin is able to bring some order to the period, which was extremely chaotic at the beginning, and shows how these three great (though flawed) leaders were able to unify Japan.
That there was 250 years of peace after Ieyasu became shogun is impressive, but as the author notes, this was somewhat at the expense of an ossifying of Japanese society and culture, leaving them ill prepared for Commodore Perry's arrival in the 19th century.
This wasn't an easy book for me to read since I know very little about Japanese geography or culture. I found it very difficult to keep track of who was who - so many polysyllabic names! But I found the book to be richly rewarding.
That there was 250 years of peace after Ieyasu became shogun is impressive, but as the author notes, this was somewhat at the expense of an ossifying of Japanese society and culture, leaving them ill prepared for Commodore Perry's arrival in the 19th century.
This wasn't an easy book for me to read since I know very little about Japanese geography or culture. I found it very difficult to keep track of who was who - so many polysyllabic names! But I found the book to be richly rewarding.
dnf
January 8, 2024DNF ☠️
i really wanted to like this book but i couldn’t pull myself together and finish it. It’s way too dry!
For a historian or researcher with an interest in ‘Warring states period’ this may be heaven sent material. It covers all the daimyos with their actions with their families during a 3-century period or so. I don’t need all that. I don’t need 25 new characters in each chapter. I am not reading this with a pen in my hand.
All I wanted was to follow a story line from teenage Oda Nobunaga to the battle of Sekigahara. Because it’s a good damn story.
Maybe another time, another author.
i really wanted to like this book but i couldn’t pull myself together and finish it. It’s way too dry!
For a historian or researcher with an interest in ‘Warring states period’ this may be heaven sent material. It covers all the daimyos with their actions with their families during a 3-century period or so. I don’t need all that. I don’t need 25 new characters in each chapter. I am not reading this with a pen in my hand.
All I wanted was to follow a story line from teenage Oda Nobunaga to the battle of Sekigahara. Because it’s a good damn story.
Maybe another time, another author.
November 21, 2024
A staggering achievement! I sincerely consider this work to serve as a landmark not merely on the subject of the Sengoku Jidai nor even Japan but in the entire history genre as a whole. In all of 600 pages, we are acquainted with the vagaries of Japanese culture, whose nuances alone might easily swell a half dozen tomes, and those momentous events which in a short span would upend them heralding for the nation of Japan a new age.
The principal praise I reserve for Chaplin's aptitude in weaving together a coherent narrative encompassing myriad characters with each accorded their moment in the spotlight exemplified best perhaps by the pains taken introducing the daimyos who placed themselves on the wrong side of history, such as those of the Takeda clan whose demise at the hands of the Oda was related from a varied perspective which lent itself to a fulfilling and comprehensive account.
Reflecting now I fail to derive any innate objections though if the mantle of a pedant were thrust on me I might take issue with the few chronological leaps which at times proved confusing, not least pertaining to the subject of Christianity sprinkled as it was throughout the narrative. A trifling peeve of small import that doesn't detract from what I consider to be a 5-star read!
The principal praise I reserve for Chaplin's aptitude in weaving together a coherent narrative encompassing myriad characters with each accorded their moment in the spotlight exemplified best perhaps by the pains taken introducing the daimyos who placed themselves on the wrong side of history, such as those of the Takeda clan whose demise at the hands of the Oda was related from a varied perspective which lent itself to a fulfilling and comprehensive account.
Reflecting now I fail to derive any innate objections though if the mantle of a pedant were thrust on me I might take issue with the few chronological leaps which at times proved confusing, not least pertaining to the subject of Christianity sprinkled as it was throughout the narrative. A trifling peeve of small import that doesn't detract from what I consider to be a 5-star read!
February 21, 2022
While this book is a good summary of the unification of Japan, it is a slog to get through. The author includes an excessive amount of names which have no bearing on the overall history other than being the member of a household, etc. Names that recur or conduct important activities, sure. All of the rest, excessive. The analysis is often missing or heavily biased as well. Overall, a good intro but anyone wanting more depth needs to supplement this work with different literature.
October 22, 2024
One of the most interesting periods in history all laid on this book is amazing. A great read. Yes he does list a lot but it’s fun if you already know some samurai. It’s def better if you already have knowledge on this period of time. I learnt a lot and although he left a couple of interesting things out that wouldn’t have added much in terms of length this felt pretty comprehensive and maybe a little too repetitive in places.
November 2, 2019
If you are looking for an in-depth, yet eminently readable account of the Sengoku period covering the lives of the three great unifiers of Japan, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, this is the book for you. I am a history buff with a long-standing interest in Japan and this is probably the most exciting book I have read about Japanese history. Highly recommended!
March 21, 2020
Very good summary of history
This covers a very interesting period in Japan, and it does so very well. It’s a bit confusing, as the names (at least to me) are not intuitive, and there is a lot of intermarriage and therefore, similar names for the various figures. But once you get used to that, it gives an excellent summary of how Japan became one country.
This covers a very interesting period in Japan, and it does so very well. It’s a bit confusing, as the names (at least to me) are not intuitive, and there is a lot of intermarriage and therefore, similar names for the various figures. But once you get used to that, it gives an excellent summary of how Japan became one country.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews