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The Samurai Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Guide to Japan's Elite Warrior Class
A captivating and comprehensive guide to Japan's elite class of warriors--revised and updated with over 70 color photographs!
The Samurai played a leading role in Japanese society for centuries, and this is the first encyclopedia to showcase the fascinating history and culture of these enigmatic warriors. With a new foreword by Samurai scholar and martial arts expert Alexander Bennet and over 70 new color photographs, this newly designed edition offers the most comprehensive and enticing collection of Samurai information available today.
This book contains 171 highly detailed alphabetical entries and essays on a broad variety of intriguing topics, including the
The new foreword by renowned Samurai historian Alexander Bennett provides expert insights into the lives and philosophy of the Samurai. Also included are many informative sidebars, suggestions for further reading, a selection of primary sources, and over 125 illustrations.
The Samurai played a leading role in Japanese society for centuries, and this is the first encyclopedia to showcase the fascinating history and culture of these enigmatic warriors. With a new foreword by Samurai scholar and martial arts expert Alexander Bennet and over 70 new color photographs, this newly designed edition offers the most comprehensive and enticing collection of Samurai information available today.
This book contains 171 highly detailed alphabetical entries and essays on a broad variety of intriguing topics, including the
The new foreword by renowned Samurai historian Alexander Bennett provides expert insights into the lives and philosophy of the Samurai. Also included are many informative sidebars, suggestions for further reading, a selection of primary sources, and over 125 illustrations.
- GenresJapanHistoryNonfiction
544 pages, Paperback
Published October 25, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 26, 2026
This encyclopedia adresses itself to intermediate readers. If this is your first foray into samurai culture, then this book will make little sense, as it won’t if you come from a solely martial arts oriented background.
Hobbyists that know their sankin kotai from their buke shohatto will learn a great deal, especially about the later Tokugawa period.
I liked references to pop culture and the realist‘s perspective on adoption, and I appreciate the economic forces at work with „mandatory lending“ to one‘s lord - much like taxes today.
Many odd running sentences and quirky spelling errors made it past the editor to print. Ah well.
Still, I very much enjoyed the well presented tidbits of information on people places and customs which made for diverse reading - I read it cover to cover. Good times !
Hobbyists that know their sankin kotai from their buke shohatto will learn a great deal, especially about the later Tokugawa period.
I liked references to pop culture and the realist‘s perspective on adoption, and I appreciate the economic forces at work with „mandatory lending“ to one‘s lord - much like taxes today.
Many odd running sentences and quirky spelling errors made it past the editor to print. Ah well.
Still, I very much enjoyed the well presented tidbits of information on people places and customs which made for diverse reading - I read it cover to cover. Good times !
January 1, 2025
It an encyclopedia so I am not going to criticize it’s repetitiveness. There are quite a few mistakes with the writing. It is an interesting topic and I learnt a bit. But it really shines in how good Sengoku Judai is at really telling everything
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews