Samurai Armies 1467–1649

Osprey Battle Orders #36

by Stephen Turnbull

The Sengoku Jidai or "Age of Warring States" is the time of the samurai - Japan's military aristocracy. A period of endemic warfare where the absence of unifying central control led to constant struggles between the daimyo (or "Great Names") who sought to protect and extend the influence of their respective families through political and military means. However, it was also a time of great military change, as technology advanced rapidly, and the introduction of European gunpowder revolutionized infantry tactics and fortification technology.

This title provides a highly detailed technical account of the samurai armies of Japan's Sengoku Jidai from the outbreak of the Onin War in 1467 to the publication of the final revised schedule for supplying troops to the Tokugawa Shogunate - by that time the government of united Japan - in 1649. It examines the complicated nature of family and clan that governed so much of the initial organization of the armies, how this changed over the period and how the battlefield tactics developed over a series of major encounters such as Nagashino and Sekigahara. Packed with rare photographs, maps, organizational charts and detailed text written by samurai expert Stephen Turnbull, this book is a unique insight into the organization of the armies of the samurai and is essential reading for anyone interested in the subject.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Japan, Military History

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

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

[Rin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, this is the kind of a book I was looking for.
It promised the stuff about armies and it delivered. And then some.
There was soooooo much figures about tactics that I was awed. Beautiful.
If only more books were like this one it'd be a field day learning about military history of Japan.

The book also gives nomenclature about battle functioneers (bugyo, metsuke, teppogumi, etc.).
I think that I was only slightly annoyed that this book contains Hojo's as an example for rising in power. The reason for my annoyance is that this family is in EVERY single book by Turnbull. In the same way. I can't... I just can't... I mean... I like Hojo's, they're badass, but still... There must be some other clan that had the same history as Hojo. At least one.

But I digress. This book is awesome. I read carefully as to not omitt something.
I recommended almost every book by Turnbull, but this one...
In the immortal words of the OG Spiderman: "This is something else."

5/5 stars.
Would read it if I haven't already.
Actually, then I'd re-read it.
And I will.

[R. Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative if at times a bit overwhelming in the details, particularly the large number of names to keep track of. Still, very useful for anyone wanting to understand the fundamentals of warfare in medieval Japan.