Samurai Warlords: The Book of the Daimyo

Nearly every book I own on samurai is written by Mr. Turnbull and this one does not disappoint! It is a beautiful hard back that looks at all the different aspects of a daimyo's life. From calling men to arms, to arts, and even their private lives. The pictures are great, the drawings are lovely and many of the photographs are in color. The only negative I have isn't with in the book itself but it was described as a book about all the indivual warlords from the Sengoku and Edo periods. I thought I was getting a book with a ton of biographies. But still the book will become a valuble resource and join the ranks of all my other favorite Samurai books.

Anyone interested in the history of Japan by a Western writer should be familiar with the works of Cambridge educated Stephen Turnbull. Having read four of his books on Japanese history I can testify to the clarity and detail he puts into his writing. This book is no exception. The book is about the daimyo, the elite of the samurai who in turn were the elite of the military. So what Turnbull does is give a detailed account of the creme de la creme of the samurai class. Although the book can be a bit tedious for the novice Japanese historian it is complimented by wonderful illustrations, colorful plates by James Field and photographs of exquisite beauty. There is much to see in this book if the details of the military structure get too complicated. It helps to have a basic understanding of the historical periods dicussed, but not essential as Turnbull makes the information easy to understand. He covers two periods, the Sengoku Period(think feudal Japan) and the Edo Period which was the three centuries of peace that followed. The foundation was created for the daimyo during the age of war and carried over into the folowing period that was by contrast almost marked by the total absence of war. The code of conduct and honour of a samuarai, or bushido, is discussed as well as the various relationships to all parts of society. Turnball makes a correlation to the present and shows how allegiance to a group, in this case modern industry, and a leader are part of self- sacrifice for the good of the country. The plates, drawings, photographs and woodcuts are fascinating and spellbinding material for students of Japnese history. While teaching a class I used some of the plates to compliment the subject and found that students were totally captivated by the often graphic nature of the violent war scenes. One plate in particular was inspired by the fabulous film by Kurosawa entitled Ran, where the defeated warlords family commits suicide in a blazing castle. This is an excellent source book for anyone interested in the hisory of Japan, samurai or more specifically, the daimyo. Recommended for teachers and students alike, this book is worth seeking out if this subject interests you, there are few if any better authorites in this field.