Shōgun question

I read them in chronological order and didn't even realize there was a different publication order until I got to King Rat. Whirlwind is the only one I haven't read yet. They can probably be read in any order, they are all good as stand alone stories but I'm pretty sure they all intertwine. Probably should read Shogun and Tai Pan before Gai Jin. It may be a better reading experience if read in chron order though.

I read them in a completely mixed up order. Having done so, I'd recommend Tai-Pan ahead of Gai-Jin ahead of Noble House ahead of Whirlwind. King Rat and Shogun can be read any time.

Gai-Jin was last published but filled in a gap that nicely tied Tai-Pan to Noble House, so I'd wished I could have read them chronologically. Whirlwind apparently revists some of the characters from Noble House but because I read them backwards, I'm not sure who it was.

King Rat, Taipan, Shogun, then Noble House. I wouldn't read any of the others at all. These are clearly his four best books. I've started Whirlwind at least three times in the past, but could never get more than a hundred pages in it, it dragged so much. Managed to finish Gaijin, but it was a disappointment.

The only order that matters is Taipan then Noble House. The order of the others is unimportant.

In order of whats best for me was: Shogun, then Taipan/Noble House, King Rat, Gai-Jin and lastly Whirlwind.

It shouldn't matter. I'd go in order of publication.