Warriors of Medieval Japan (General Military) - Hardcover

"This lavishly illustrated volume provides a realistic impression of [these warriors'] way of life, which today is heavily mythologised." --BBC Magazine "Lavishly illustrated study of the various classes of Japanese warriors...An excellent and instructive study of a crucial century in the devlopment of Japan's military...I warmly commend this book to all who are interested in the samurai tradition and the Japanese military of the 1500s." --Military Trader "A thorough resource book documenting the four groups of distinct warriors in Japanese Medieval society...the fabulous art adds to make this an astonishingly beautiful work." --Popthought.com This lavishly illustrated volume provides a realistic impression of [these warriors'] way of life, which today is heavily mythologised. "BBC Magazine" Lavishly illustrated study of the various classes of Japanese warriors...An excellent and instructive study of a crucial century in the devlopment of Japan's military...I warmly commend this book to all who are interested in the samurai tradition and the Japanese military of the 1500s. "Military Trader" A thorough resource book documenting the four groups of distinct warriors in Japanese Medieval society...the fabulous art adds to make this an astonishingly beautiful work. "Popthought.com"" "This lavishly illustrated volume provides a realistic impression of [these warriors'] way of life, which today is heavily mythologised." "BBC Magazine" "A thorough resource book documenting the four groups of distinct warriors in Japanese Medieval society...the fabulous art adds to make this an astonishingly beautiful work." "Popthought.com" "Lavishly illustrated study of the various classes of Japanese warriors...An excellent and instructive study of a crucial century in the devlopment of Japan's military...I warmly commend this book to all who are interested in the samurai tradition and the Japanese military of the 1500s." "Military Trader" "From the Trade Paperback edition."

Combines material previously published as Warrior 29: Ashigaru 1467-1649, Warrior 64: Ninja AD 1460-1650, Warrior 70: Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949-1603, with a new section on Samurai, new images, and a new introduction and conclusion. The samurai remain the best known warriors of medieval Japan, but they were by no means the only fighting elite. There were the ashigaru, who were first recruited to swell army numbers but later became a vital part of any samurai force. Trained to protect their monasteries, warrior monks were formidable enemies, mastering a range of martial traditions. Finally, the Ninja catered to an increasing demand for spies, informants and sometimes assassins, developing the arts of armed and unarmed combat and explosives.