History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

Average customer rating:

Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori

Average customer rating:

The Life Behind the Legend
Virtue to the End
For me an interesting read
Good Insight into the True life of a Samurai
Agenst all odds

The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori
Mark Ravina
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0471705373

Book Description

The dramatic arc of Saigo Takamori's life, from his humble origins as a lowly samurai, to national leadership, to his death as a rebel leader, has captivated generations of Japanese readers and now Americans as well - his life is the inspiration for a major Hollywood film, The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. In this vibrant new biography, Mark Ravina, professor of history and Director of East Asian Studies at Emory University, explores the facts behind Hollywood storytelling and Japanese legends, and explains the passion and poignancy of Saigo's life. Known both for his scholarly research and his appearances on The History Channel, Ravina recreates the world in which Saigo lived and died, the last days of the samurai.

The Last Samurai traces Saigo's life from his early days as a tax clerk in far southwestern Japan, through his rise to national prominence as a fierce imperial loyalist. Saigo was twice exiled for his political activities -- sent to Japan's remote southwestern islands where he fully expected to die. But exile only increased his reputation for loyalty, and in 1864 he was brought back to the capital to help his lord fight for the restoration of the emperor. In 1868, Saigo commanded his lord's forces in the battles which toppled the shogunate and he became and leader in the emperor Meiji's new government. But Saigo found only anguish in national leadership. He understood the need for a modern conscript army but longed for the days of the traditional warrior.

Saigo hoped to die in service to the emperor. In 1873, he sought appointment as envoy to Korea, where he planned to demand that the Korean king show deference to the Japanese emperor, drawing his sword, if necessary, top defend imperial honor. Denied this chance to show his courage and loyalty, he retreated to his homeland and spent his last years as a schoolteacher, training samurai boys in frugality, honesty, and courage. In 1876, when the government stripped samurai of their swords, Saigo's followers rose in rebellion and Saigo became their reluctant leader. His insurrection became the bloodiest war Japan had seen in centuries, killing over 12,000 men on both sides and nearly bankrupting the new imperial government. The imperial government denounced Saigo as a rebel and a traitor, but their propaganda could not overcome his fame and in 1889, twelve years after his death, the government relented, pardoned Saigo of all crimes, and posthumously restored him to imperial court rank.

In THE LAST SAMURAI, Saigo is as compelling a character as Robert E. Lee was to Americans-a great and noble warrior who followed the dictates of honor and loyalty, even though it meant civil war in a country to which he'd devoted his life. Saigo's life is a fascinating look into Japanese feudal society and a history of a country as it struggled between its long traditions and the dictates of a modern future.

Customer Reviews:

The Life Behind the Legend.......2007-06-05

For those of you who like your reviews short and to the point: this book is just plain wonderful. I used it as an assigned text in a class I taught about modern Japan and will use it again. It is an academic book in that it addresses serious issues, but it is also exceptionally well-written. Those two qualities are usually mutual exclusive of one another. Ravina starts with an arresting sentence: "Where was Saigo Takamori's head?" and the story stays engaging throughout.

Ravina's purpose is to tell the story about the real man behind the Tom Cruise movie of the same name. Readers will discover that there are significant differences between what the film depicted and what really happened. Ravina might tell his story well, but also has an important one. While the Ken Watanabe's Matsumoto was a traditionalist opposed to change, the real Saigo Takamori was one of the Japanese equavilent of George Washington. He helped bring down the Shogun and was a founding father of modern Japan. He was also a learned, thoughtful man who studied the Confucian classics.

One of Ravina's strengths is showing that the many enemies of the Tokugawa family had an easier time agreeing to bring to bring them down than on what should replace their central authority. Saigo had fought against the shogun because they were the hereditary enemies of Satsuma, his daimyo or feudal province and/or lord. He was not prepared to create a modern, central state that abolished Satsuma altogether. Less than happy about the events that were taking place, he quite the new government. A few years later led a revolt against his former comrades. In an important point, Ravina shows that Saigo did a poor job of articulating a message about why he was rebelling, so people with a lot of different agendas who were unhappy at what was happening to Japan for any number of reasons. He literally was a rebel without a cause and has remained an enduring, modern folk hero in modern Japan.

Virtue to the End.......2007-01-06

Saigo Takamori is rightly remembered, despite being a traitor in some people's views. His life was one of ebbs and flows, being at the centre of power in Japan and also at the very fringes in internal exile. Knowing that a character from Cruise's movie was loosely, (very loosely, as it turns out), based on him, I had to read the book about the real man.

"The Last Samurai", (the book from here), is arranged quite well in broad phases of Saigo's life, from childhood to his final battle and campaign. The book focuses a lot on what drove and influenced Saigo, from the Confucian classics he absorbed through Oyomei learning and also Mito thinking. All of these influences profoundly affected Saigo, along with some important events in his life. I was interested in his emphasis on a lord-vassal relationship that took on a very personal nature for him, and was something that he craved.

The book is well referenced and has a good number of endnotes given for various sources and some details additional to the main text. Ravina has clearly written the book as an academic text that is still accessible to the lay reader. Not only that, Ravina manages to keep the interest and grip the reader to the very end.

I liked this book very much, both for the subject matter, but also for the way in which Ravina presents his subject. He keeps Saigo in context with the history around him, and also makes plenty of references to the wider issues that Saigo was involved in and why. This is a great book about a great man.

For me an interesting read.......2006-12-24

After seeing "The Last Samurai;" I was curious to read a little about what really happened with Saigo Takamori.

I was not surprised to see that the movie took the characters in different directions. In the movie Saigo was a defender of tradition and tried to fight against the Westernizing of Japan with the theme of the clash between the old ways of Samurai Swords against the modern ways of the Gun.

Saigo was more of a "rags to riches" story. He went from being the son of a clerk to one of the most powerful men in Japan. He was also instrumental in the dismantling of the Shogunite which ended Japanese feudalism and opened the doors to the 19th Century.

Guided by the principles of Confusism, he garnered such respect that the simple act of refusing to be involved in the Meijin goverment was viewed as a threat by the goverment.

His rebellion got volunteers simply because of a failed plot to assassinate him.

Saigo was a very complex man and the very fact that a great deal of myths were created about him and his rebellion makes the task of studying him almost impossible.

To Ravina's credit he mentions myth and lore several times rather then presenting them as fact.

Overall the book could be labeled rather dry for details rather then being guided through a story.

I would label it a worthwhile addition to a library about the Samurai.

Good Insight into the True life of a Samurai.......2006-11-25

While a true fan of the Samurai movies may enjoy reading about the life and times of the last Samurai, those looking for a "real life" account of the Characters found in the "last Samurai movie" will be sorely disappointed. The first chapter starts out alright, but gets pretty dry with a great number of names, places, dates, and facts, all of which also read pretty foreign to the average reader. Its not too unlike trying to read the old testament, book of numbers or book of kings. However, a fan of politics will certainly appreciate it. The life of Saigo Takamori was one of a civil servent - imagine reading about the life and times of your postal carrier. However, it improves if you get throught the first 2 chapters.

Agenst all odds.......2006-03-08

The plot involved a man who is a sword fighter. His name is Saigo Takamori which is a Japanese name. He would fight his opponents with a wooden boken or Japanese practice sword when they would have a real sword. He would bring his dog to his battles. There is a statue of him in Japan. I liked this book because it was filled with action. Saigo would go matrix sometimes. The thing I did not like was it was too long. I recommend it to people who like to read for long periods of time because it felt like you were hooked. You had to see what was next.

Samurai Invasion: Japan's Korean War 1592 -1598

Average customer rating:

An epic campaign of the East
A good read for any military history lover
seriously flawed in some areas.
Unique, well written
Important scholarly work

Samurai Invasion: Japan's Korean War 1592 -1598
Stephen Turnbull
Manufacturer: Cassell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0304359483

Book Description

By the end of the sixteenth century the Samurai, Japanese warrior-nobles, had taken total control of their domestic territory. Their unforgiving militarism needed a new foe to conquer: the target was China, the route to victory through Korea. But the Koreans were no pushover. It was a hard fought and, in the end, an unsuccessful campaign, the only time in their 1,500 year history that the Samurai had attacked another country. The Koreans drove them off. Retribution was inevitable. The Samurai returned in 1597 to wreak vengeance and terrible, wanton havoc on the Koreans in a war of unbelievable savagery. This book is the most complete account of those two invasions yet written, researched from forgotten archives in Japan and Korea and written by the world's most acclaimed historian of the Samurai period, the English Oriental specialist Dr Stephen Turnbull. This is a book that all followers of Samurai history will not be able to resist. It fabulously includes extracts from contemporary Japanese field diaries not seen even in Japan for over 400 years.

Customer Reviews:

An epic campaign of the East .......2007-03-01

A study of the Imjin War, Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi's grand 16th. century attempt to conquer Korea ...and eventually invade China.
From Stephen Turnbull, who is by far the most prolific Western expert on Japanese warfare, we have a narration of the epic struggle between two rival nations, a war of Yin versus Yang contrasts:
-Japan possessed superbly professional armies of highly trained warriors. They fielded weapons and equipment far superior to the defending Koreans. The Japanese soldier was generally a thoroughly trained mercenary and veteran, whatever his rank or status. He came from a society divided into clearly defined social strata...but a society where it was still possible to attain upward mobility, advanced education and skills.
-The Korean armies were composed largely of untrained peasant conscripts, poorly armed and poorly led by a minority of effete and oppressive aristocracy. The Koreans had only two classes: the illiterate and impoverished peasant, and the wealthy aristocrat.
-The Japanese excelled in battle on land, but their naval forces were sadly Medieval.
-At sea, the Koreans ruled! Although their lackluster armies toiled in vain on land, the Korean admirals deployed armored ships of ingenious design. The skillful Korean sailors under the genius leadership of Admiral Yi Sun Sin routinely devasted Japanese fleets on the seas, in retaliation for the grievous damage the Japanese inflicted on Korean land forces.
Another fascinating study of Eastern military-history from Mr. Tunbull!

A good read for any military history lover.......2007-02-01

Stephen Turnbull is an expert in Samurai warfare and this is one of his best work to date. His coverage of this important war is very action-oriented and the ample maps and illustrations that come with the book help to boost the book's readability. Given that there aren't that many books on this subject, I have decided to give it a 5 starts in spite of the minor flaws that I have found below:

I must say, however, Mr. Turnbull's writing is not as comprehensive as Samuel Hawley's Imjin War which not only has described the politics of the Chosun Korea and Ming China in detail (giving the reader a better idea on the reasoning behind the strategic decisions made by those parties) but also explained in a more comprehensive fashion the contribution of the Ming China's army.

Any one interested in the subject may also want to check out the Immortal Yi Soon-Shin DVD (starting episode 36) here at amazon.com (which has a pretty good special effect on the battles for a TV drama and a plot that is also very comprehensive on the tactical battle planning of the said admiral and the factional rivalries within the Chosun court which brought him down).

Lastly, anyone who is a fan of samurai warfare should not miss out on Shogun:Total War by Creative Assembly (now in Gold version).

seriously flawed in some areas........2005-10-16

Turnbulls book offers a decent introduction to the Imjin war, however, their are some big flaws. Turnbull seemingly ignores Chinese sources, instead relying almost entirely on Japanese accounts of the Imjin war. In addition to this, his insistance that Chinese armies only used "human wave attacks", is entirely incorrect. as is his statement that Japanese weapons were completely superior. While the Ming army had been in slow decline, they were still a formidable fighting force(and certainly in better shape than the Korean army). Often employing hundreds of artillery pieces on the battlefield, and relying on complex tactics involving flanking, suprise attacks and backing the enemy armies up against obstacles. A far cry from Turbulls description of Chinese armies.

All in all, a good read. But the author obviously favours the Samurai. What more can you expect after reading the title? it is, afterall, a book about the samurai.

Unique, well written.......2005-05-26

This is the only book length treatment of this neglected war available in English, and it is a very good one, if a little skewed in favor of the Japanese. Turnbull gives a good political and diplomatic background and covers both land and naval warfare as well as can be expected. Having read little Eastern military history, it was interesting to read about the combined use of archers, musketeers, and artillery (including rockets) as well as the unique naval tactics and turtle ships. This view of a different style of warfare helps put western military history in perspective.

Important scholarly work.......2005-03-29

This is a book which is not only well written but also gives great insight into a little-known war which has unfortunately continued to bedevil Japan-Korea relations ever since. Naturally Admiral Yi is the Lord Nelson (or Admiral Togo?!) of Korea, and for those who have visited that country and been frustrated by the language barrier (as I have) this book is a perfect starting-point to understanding the historical background and conflicting cultures of the two countries.
Furthermore, the detailed maps created when the author drove round Korea in a hired car are a joy and extremely helpful. The clash was not only cultural but also technological, and it is fascinating to learn about the 'turtle ships', celebrated still today as the great secret weapon of the Korean navy. A real tour de force!

Osaka 1614-15: The Last Samurai Battle (Campaign)

Average customer rating:

Turnbull Assaults Osaka-jo
Samurai Stories Galore
Outstanding
Tokugawa versus Toyotomi....

Osaka 1614-15: The Last Samurai Battle (Campaign)
Stephen Turnbull
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841769606
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Book Description

In 1614, Osaka Castle was Japan's greatest fortification, measuring approximately 2 miles in length with double circuits of walls, 100 feet high. It was guarded by 100,000 samurai, loyal to their master: the head of the Toyotomi clan, Toyotomi Hideyori. The castle was seemingly impenetrable, however the ruling shogun of the age, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was determined to destroy this one last threat to his position as Japan's ultimate ruler. This book explores the complex background of this bitter struggle, as well as the battle experiences of the opposing forces, in a compelling exploration of the conflict that led to the eventual triumph of one dynasty over another.

Customer Reviews:

Turnbull Assaults Osaka-jo.......2006-11-17

Osaka 1615, Stephen Turnbull's latest Osprey effort, is a welcome addition to the sparse English sources on Japanese warfare. Much of the information in this volume is presented in English for the first time, and Turnbull does a good job of detailing the movements and maneuverings of the two armies. I found his coverage of the many small battles occurring at the beginning of the Winter Osaka Campaign to be particularly well done and helpful. The orders of battle are highly detailed and extensive. As always, Turnbull excels in his ability to breath life into what could otherwise be a straightforward military history with many stories of the `glorious' (and not so glorious, as in the case of a commander who was lying drunk in a brothel as his fort was being captured) deeds performed. The volume is loaded with prints, woodcuts, and modern photos of the battlefields from Turnbull's archives (one of the best and most diverse sources to be found outside Japan). Colorful and detailed maps round out the volume. At 96 pages, it's not quite as extensive as could be hoped for, but hey, that's Osprey.
I'd like here to address some points made by another reviewer that I found rather odd, as Turnbull covers them all in his volume.
1)"Unfortunately, Turnbull is somewhat weaker on examining the actual military aspects of the campaign, such as why the Tokugawa won (yes the artillery was important, but simply not decisive at this point in history due to slow rate of fire and limited battlefield mobility)"
Artillery fire WAS the decisive factor in the Winter campaign (and henceforth the campaign as a whole). After several failed assaults on the Osaka castle defenses, Ieyasu decided to take a different approach. He knew his best bet was to prompt Lady Yodo (Toyotomi Hideyori's mother) to coerce her son into entering peace negotiations. Ieyasu knew Lady Yodo well, and his keen insight into her nature led him to believe that opening up on her living quarters with his artillery would have the desired effect...and he was right. The artillery bombardments of the keep (along with the entreaties of Yodo's family members sent as envoys by Ieyasu) drove the Toyotomi to a disastrous agreement with Ieyasu that ended up leaving the castle stripped of much of its defenses. The superior range of the Tokugawa cannon meant that they could bombard the keep at will without fear of retaliation. Rate of fire and mobility were simply not important factors, and for that matter even the physical damage they caused. Without the artillery, it's likely that the siege would have taken many extra months or perhaps years...if the Tokugawa coalition held that long.
2)"...or how many casualties occurred."
Turnbull doesn't discuss this for the simple reason that there exist no contemporary records of casualties for the battles as a whole. Anything on his part would be no more than wild speculation.
3)"Turnbull's methodology for the most part ignores how units fought or operational decisions in favor of spotlighting individual behavior."
Welcome to the world of samurai warfare, where operational decisions many times tended to be on the `There's the enemy-go get them!' and `We're being attacked-go get them' level. Some armies such as the Shimazu or Uesugi would pull off well planned ambushes and assaults, but these were the exception rather than the rule.
4)"After reading the description of the main actions on 3-4 June 1615 I found it difficult to gauge from this volume why exactly one side prevailed (other than the obviously higher level of initiative on the Tokugawa side)."
As Turnbull explained, the Toyotomi forces (outnumbered two to one) found their initial assault blunted as the Tokugawa continually brought fresh troops into the battle (while the Toyotomi forces became more and more tired and depleted). When the assault ground to a halt, the Toyotomi commander (Sanada Yukimura) was killed and their exhausted forces broke.
The book is not without its faults (I'd give it 4.8 stars rather than 5)...there are a few typos (for example, Kyushu is spelled Kyosho on page 9). The map of the battle of Domyoji on pages 70-71 has some mislabeling (there are two number 3's on the map-one of which should be #2-and number 1 & 2 on the map should both be labeled `1'). The same map also shows further troop positions on the Toyotomi side that do not agree with Japanese sources and appear to be incorrect. There's also some statements made to the effect that the walls and outworks of the castle look now just as they did in 1615-not so, as the original Toyotomi walls and structures were covered with dirt and built upon for the `Tokugawa' version of Osaka castle built around 1620. Likewise, the present keep is said to be based upon the Toyotomi version of the keep-however, the dimensions, number of roofs, and even something as basic as the castle's color are completely different.
All in all, however, Turnbull has done an exceptional job with the book given the limited space. There's something to be learned here for both serious scholars and casual readers. Highly recommended for any aficionado of Japanese history!

Samurai Stories Galore.......2006-08-12

In Osaka 1615, Osprey Campaign #170, Samurai expert Dr. Stephen Turnbull provides an interesting summary of the final battle that unified Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate. I have been reading Turnbull's work since I was a student in Japan in the early '80s, when I also had chance to visit Osaka Castle. In short, Turnbull has a huge wealth of Samurai-related knowledge that he is able to convey on these pages to fascinate readers who enjoy Eastern tales of derring-do. Unfortunately, Turnbull is somewhat weaker on examining the actual military aspects of the campaign, such as why the Tokugawa won (yes the artillery was important, but simply not decisive at this point in history due to slow rate of fire and limited battlefield mobility) or how many casualties occurred. The author presents the reader with one Samurai account after another, but after awhile they start to appear as ciphers since we really don't know much about most of them. Turnbull's methodology for the most part ignores how units fought or operational decisions in favor of spotlighting individual behavior.

The volume follows the standard Osprey campaign format, with the usual 2-D and 3-D maps. Dr. Turnbull divides the campaign narrative into the winter and summer phases. I must admit that Dr. Turnbull adds good insight into Tokugawa Ieyasu's character, but most of the other leaders remain obscure. After reading the description of the main actions on 3-4 June 1615 I found it difficult to gauge from this volume why exactly one side prevailed (other than the obviously higher level of initiative on the Tokugawa side). Since the author admits that the final battle could have gone either way, this question deserved better analysis. Overall, this volume covers the subject fairly well, although it remains aloof from military issues, such as logistics, intelligence.

Outstanding.......2006-08-11

I have been reading and enjoying Stephen Turnbull's books since 1978. His latest book about Osaka in 1615 as the last battle of the samurai is outstanding. I pre-ordered it knowing it would be good, but I was blown away by how comprehensive it was.
Turnbull has a seemingly enless number of stories about the samurai. Interesting anecdotes such as the question of Tokugawa Ieyasu being killed and replaced by a kagemusha (shadow warrior)is fascinating. I am looking forward to his next book due out this fall.

Tokugawa versus Toyotomi...........2006-07-28

This proves to be a valued addition to the Osprey Campaign series. The author, Stephen Turnbull wrote a great summary book on one of final major campaigns fought by the Japanese samurai during their heydays.

The campaign in question was Tokugawa Ieyasu's effort to secured his family rule of Japan by destroying the only other family who had the power and prestiage to challenge him. That family was the one of Toyotomi Hideyori, son of the great Taiko, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. While Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 created the Tokugawa Shogunate, Osaka Campaign of 1615 secured it for the next 250 years.

This book proves to be well written, well research and reflects strongly on the author's command of the subject. The author explains clearly the motives, directions and purpose of the campaign. The campaign ironically proves to be some sort of a Sekigahara Part II type of scenario since so many members of the Toyotomi army were made up of survivors who lost the first battle.

The book is organized into Osprey's typical set-up of introduction, background, commanders, troop type and finally the campaign itself. The entire book is exactly 96 pages long including the index. It come well illustrated, the maps are easy to read and followed and there some which proves to be very useful. The author have also provided some very nice order of the battle as well.

Overall, the book come highly recommended for anyone interested in Japanese samurai history. This book will go superbly well with Ospery's earlier book on Sekigahara by Anthony Bryant which proves to be equally well written.

Kawanakajima 1553-1564: Samurai Power Struggle (Campaign, 130) (Campaign)

Average customer rating:

The specialized book by Turnbull to get
Solid Effort On A Major Sengoku Battle
A very informative book on an interesting battle
Doesn't Pass the "So What?" Test
Good coverage of little known battle

Kawanakajima 1553-1564: Samurai Power Struggle (Campaign, 130) (Campaign)
Stephen Turnbull
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841765627
Release Date: 2003-11-21

Book Description

Kawanakajima is unique in history. In the space of 12 years, between 1553 and 1564, this valley deep in the mountains of central Japan witnessed no fewer than five battles between two of Japan’s greatest warlords. Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin were both descended from great families and were highly skilled tacticians. Both had taken the tonsure and risen to high rank in their respective Buddhist sects. When Shingen attempted to seize control of Shinano province they were set on a collision course. Stephen Turnbull chronicles the see-saw struggle between two men who epitomize the warrior daimyo from Japan’s ‘Warring States’ period.

Customer Reviews:

The specialized book by Turnbull to get.......2004-06-16

A quick and dirty review. I have several Turnbull authored Osprey books and I think this is the one to own. One reviewer on the site says the book does not pass the "So What?" test. He's right. This is a book ultimately less about an important (series) of battles than it is about the Legend. Still, legends are fun.

Turnbull is in *love* with Takeda Shingen. If you read his other Osprey books, you'll get a lot of references to Shingen -- so it makes sense to start here; Kawanakajima is the battle that displayed his strengths and weaknesses as a general. The book here has lavish layouts of Japanese art and original Osprey produced artistic renderings. Overall, the book is an interesting read, appealing to the eye as well as the mind. The author is in top form -- there is a limit of both objectivism as well as historical detail (e.g., the fourth battle, the most important, probably should have been the meat of the book). But you accept that with Osprey: you're getting a quick, colorful look at a moment in military history.

Yes, there are redundancies: Osprey/Turnbull recycles art and info from their other books; some of the photos are disappointing (real-life photos really don't help that much; nor do photos of pictures from other books). Photos/art goes uncredited. Sources are not always specified.

Nevetheless, I give it 3/5 stars: not for a general reader, but someone interested in Japanese or Military History might enjoy this quick read.

Solid Effort On A Major Sengoku Battle.......2004-05-07

Considered by the Japanese to be one of their 4 most signifigant Sengoku era battles (along with Nagashino, Sekigahara, and Osaka Castle), Kawanakajima and its related campaigns have been the subject of at least two major big budget films, television miniseries, woodcuts and other artwork, popular board games, video games, and dozens if not hundreds of Japanese language books. As with most Asian battles, it has been largely ignored by Western historians until now. Stephen Turnbull's new book rectifies that situation most nicely.
Turnbull sets the table with the background of perhaps Japan's two greatest tactitians, Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. Their respective rises to power are outlined and juxtaposed, showing their impending collision at what was to become the most fought over ground in Japan, Kawanakajima. The individual battles are given their proper context within the campaign at large, helping to explain the sometimes confusing advances and withdrawals of the two combatants. As with most Osprey books, there are copious illustrations. The maps are particularly outstanding, with the most helpful being the map of the Takeda campaign to conquer the province of Shinano (where Kawanakajima is located). The 3-D maps are quite well done as well, giving the reader a good idea of the terrain fought over and its effects on the movements of the two armies. There are many nice modern day shots of the battlefield which are far more helpful in picturing the battlefield than the most elaborate written descriptions. Photos of reenactments give you a feel for period forces and there are also many shots of scrolls and woodcuts made around the time of the battles. Overall, one of Turnbull's best recent works, especially in a year that saw the release of at least 6 of his samurai themed books.
Another reviewer has stated that this battle does not pass the historical relevancy test since the two clans involved had little to do with the impending unification of Japan. Not so. Turnbull's book points out why. The Takeda were far and away the most powerful and ambitious clan in Japan, known for their political, economic, and administrative skills as well as martial adeptness. It was a forgone conclusion to many that it would be Takeda Shingen who would unify the country. What kept the Takeda from doing so were the constant campaigns in Kawanakajima, draining their manpower and resources. This gave the Tokugawa and Oda clans time to put their plans into effect and see them thrive, rather than be crushed by the Takeda war machine. When the Takeda steamrolled and scattered the Tokugawa army at Mikata-ga-hara, there was nothing standing between the Takeda and the back of Oda Nobunaga who was already surrounded by enemies in the west. So why did Shingen withdraw his army back to Shinano? Fear of Kenshin striking his unprotected flank and rear areas-fear that had been installed by Kawanakajima. The 4th battle of Kawanakajima in particular was the epitome of the Phyrric victory-although the Takeda won, they teetered close to complete disaster, and the huge losses of men and high ranking generals (particularly Shingen's brother, and his chief strategist) were to be felt for many years. In fact, many historians feel the groundwork for the Takeda debacle at Nagashino stemmed directly from Kawanakajima. The historical relevancy of these battles was that the Uesugi clan was able to halt the advance of the most powerful clan in Japan, forcing them into a war of manuver and attrition that destroyed their momentum and mystique, giving the Oda and Tokugawa clans time to develop into major clans instead of becoming historical footnotes.
Excellent work by Dr. Turnbull, who one would hope to see develop a similar book dealing with the Winter and Summer campaigns of Osaka.

A very informative book on an interesting battle.......2004-02-14

Kawanakajima...the island between the rivers. High on the Japan Alps lay a valley fought over between two of Sengoku Japan's most prestigious warlords, Uesugi Kenshin (the celibent) and Takeda Shingen (the multiplier). So what makes this battle so interesting? After (unsucsessfully) browsing the internet for scant, but interesting, information, I first leared that over 5 battles where fought here. Interesting. Second, that the main battle of Kawanakajima (4th) had one of the most horrendous casualty rates in all the battles in the exceedingly bloody Sengoku era of Japan. Even more interesting. So I said what the heck, Ill get this book...and what a book it was.

Turnbull cuts to the good stuff immediatley, and I don't mean the campaign. He gives a brief, but meaningful, summary of the two different daimyo and their rises to power (both gained by usurping immediate family members, hmmmm...), and the organizations of the two armies, all of which is very enjoyable to read. Note however, that basic knowledge of medival Japan isn't suggested (by me, at least), its MANDATORY. Turnbull dosent gloss over who samurai or ashigaru or daimyo or the whole Sengoku period as a whole is, so if you are new coming to Japan, go elsewhere.

Before the actual campaigns of Kawanakajima came the slow, but steady, Takeda drive into the mountains of Shinano. Six whole pages and a wicked map are given in this section (ok, I admit, I have a fancy towards maps) about the invasion. Its easy to get lost in the number of engagements, via seige or open battle, that this section covers but personally I found it quite enjoyable mapping Takeda Shingens slow drive north. The tension builds, and in a very cliff-hanging phrase at the end of that section "The Shinano campaign was over, the Kawanakajima campaign was about to begin."

The battles...ahh. The first three and the fifth, to put it in context, where large-scale skirmishes and maneuvers and are not given much information because, as the author states, there simply wasn't enough contemporary records about them. In essence, the whole myth of Kawanakajima being foolsplay and not true combat stems from these four encounters, and Turnbull gives plenty of evidence (and inferrence as a good tactician) why the two commanders never fully engaged in those confrontations, which I truly must commend him on. The Fourth Battle is where it all is, and when I first saw that 2 of the good, but not mind-blowing, 3-D maps are on maneuvers and not combat, I was pretty turned off. Alas, I saw later that the fourth battle of Kawanakajima is DEFINED by the movements, positions, and maneuvers instead of the combat that resulted from them, attesting greatly to the millitary skills (if I daresay genius, but I know Nappy and Old Fritz would be ticked off at me if I said that) of the two warlords. I suggest buying the book solely for the purpose of seeing two grand strategists doing what they do best and seeing how different scenarios played out on the same field five times.

So why do I rate it a four if you see me raving about it the whole time? I do it for numerous reasons, all concerning troop positions and movements pre-ceding and during the climatic (or anti, since it was a Phyrric victory for the Takeda and niether warlords could get the other's heads) fourth battle. If you buy this book please note the main problem...HOW can a FORD MOVE during a battle!? Preceding the battle, the ford was crossed, re-crossed, and mentioned numerous times, but on the 3D battle maps, it moves or maybe there was another 'invisible' ford that the author didn't mention. I highly doubt that as one of the most important parts of the battle happened at that ford (or fords). Regardless, it is still very possible to peice out the battle despite the difficulty with that. My last complaint(s) is that he didn't even give a hint of the Takeda casualties (but they gave Uesugi down to the number: 3,117 heads exact) and they didn't even MENTION the Uesugi withdrwal that he expects us to guess happened. So much for that.

Regardless, if any of you are into such scenarios where the same men fight each other again and again under great strategists, I HIGHLY recommend this book. The maps (both 2D and 3D) are wicked, the whole flow of the book very smooth, and the battles exciting to read even if a few fords decide to move to a different neighborhood one mile down the river. Turnbull, I commend you for this effort to enlighten our minds on one very interesting battle.

By the way, I'm 15 and the only way I can avoid this spam amazon and co. sends us is by cutting of 3 years from my ID :).

Doesn't Pass the "So What?" Test.......2004-01-21

The battles of Kawanakajima fought in mid-16th Century Japan are so obscure that they are not even mentioned in the authoritative Encyclopedia of Military History, but Samurai enthusiast Stephen Turnbull feels that they are among "history's greatest conflicts" - a prerequisite for admission into the Osprey Campaign series. Turnbull's hypothesis in Campaign #130, Kawanakajima 1553-1564, is that the five battles fought on the plains of Shinano province were the "archetypal clash of samurai arms". Two rival daimyo (feudal lords) - the Takeda and Uesugi - fought a series of battles for the control of Shinano province, which separated their two domains. However the campaign is deservedly obscure, since not only were both the rival clans virtually extinct within a generation after the battles, but this regional power struggle was soon overshadowed by even more powerful warlords who were in the process of unifying Japan under military rule. Thus, the Kawanakajima campaigns might be interesting for a Samurai enthusiast such as Turnbull, but he essentially fails to pass the "so what" test of historical relevancy. The 32-year fight over Shinano province, while enrichening for Samurai mythology, had very little long-lasting results.

Kawanakajima 1553-1564 begins with a 5-page introduction that explains the mythology behind the multiple battles. The section on opposing commanders focuses entirely on Takeda Shingen (Turnbull notes that he was a bisexual who had a relationship with one of his generals) and Uesugi Kenshin, both of whom were nominally Buddhist monks. Actually, there is little to differentiate between the two clans and the reader may feel an intense disinterest as to which side prevails. Turnbull's sections on opposing armies is not particularly detailed, but he makes the point that this campaign marked a turning point in Japanese warfare toward more full-time samurai armed with a greater number of gunpowder weapons. The main focus of the volume is the 4th battle of Kawanakajima in 1561, which was the only really large-scale pitched battle (the other battles were stand-offs or indecisive). The five 2-D maps are: Central Japan 1542; Takeda Shingen's Conquest of Shinano, 1536-1568 (the most important map in the volume); the First (1553), Second (1555) and Third (1557) battles of Kawanakajima. The three 3-D maps are all about the 4th Battle of Kawanakajima (1561) and depict the approach marches, the night maneuvers and the climax of the battle. The three color battle scenes depict the Siege of Katsurayama in 1557; the Uesugi charge at 4th Kawanakajima and the battle at the ford. Readers should note that the paucity of source material forces Turnbull to rely very heavily upon a single 16th Century account that was written by the Takeda clan (therefore biased). Turnbull also relied very heavily upon photographs of the modern terrain (22) and modern re-enactments (8).

Turnbull's account is certainly interesting at times and it reminds me of the decades-long fight for Silesia in the 18th Century between Frederick the Great and the Hapsburgs. However, despite the "romance" of samurai lore, the fight over Shinano province did not yield long-term results for either side, unlike the struggle for Silesia (which marked the rise of Prussia). Both Takeda and Uesugi were soon overshadowed by the much more powerful armies of Oda Nobunaga and Ieyasu Tokugawa, who were on the path to military unification of Japan. In the end, Kawanakajima might provide interesting insight into a heretofore obscure but "classic" samurai campaign, but it provides precious little else. Furthermore, Kawanakajima is not only obscure in the US; as an Asian history major who studied at a Tokyo university for a year, I do not recollect hearing about these battles despite having a number of courses on Medieval Japanese history. Finally, Turnbull's use of Japanese phraseology is sometimes suspect and his use of terms like "hara-kiri" (literally to cut your guts) is considered vulgar in Japan; the term used for ritual suicide was usually seppukku.

Good coverage of little known battle.......2004-01-10

Stephen Turnbull's Kawanakajima is about a battle that very few Americans would ever know about or heard about during their life time. Mr. Turnbull did great justice with probably limited reference material (mostly in Japanese no doubt) in trying to revealed what this 12 years of campaigning between two great Japanese warlords - Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin - over the same territory was all about. I believed Mr. Turnbull did accomplished his goals within the frame work of the short Osprey format. I thought the book was pretty well broken down into easy to read sections, each of them going through each of the five campaigns that took place in and near Kawanakajima area. It was ironic that all the efforts and time both leaders put into their Kawanakajima campaigns probably ultimately weaken their respective clans in the face of up and coming warlords like Oda Nobunaga. While Takeda Shingen did appears to win the overall 12 year struggle, it was all for nothing since his clan didn't survived his own death for long. I thought the book was pretty well written by Mr. Turnbull and anyone who is interested in this time period of Japanese military history should enjoyed this addition to the Osprey Campaign series. Overall, a pretty good book of a little known set of campaigns - little known in this country that is.

American Samurai: Myth and Imagination in the Conduct of Battle in the First Marine Division 19411951

Average customer rating:

American Samurai : Myth and Imagination in the Conduct of Battle in the First Marine Division 1941-1951
Horrible Book... Burn Baby Burn!!!
The Truth Hurts
Its about time
Disgruntlement as Analysis

American Samurai: Myth and Imagination in the Conduct of Battle in the First Marine Division 19411951
Craig M. Cameron
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521441684

Book Description

Events on the battlefields of the Pacific War were not only outgrowths of technology and tactics, but also products of cultural myth and imagination. American Samurai offers a bold and innovative approach to military history by linking combat activity to cultural images. Marines projected ideas and assumptions about themselves and their enemy onto people and events throughout the war--giving life to formerly abstract myths and ideas and molding their behavior to expectations. This fascinating book concludes by considering what happened to the myths and images and how they have been preserved in American society to the present.

Customer Reviews:

American Samurai : Myth and Imagination in the Conduct of Battle in the First Marine Division 1941-1951.......2005-09-05

While the author uses complex and delineated occurances in military history, his opinion openly and incorrectly bears his philosophical presuppositions on war and the nature of fighting war. It is evident that the author is a social commentator on the subject and not an actual participant in said events. The fact of the matter is that war by its very nature and existance is a brutal and vile scourge on humanity. I understand this all to well. What belies opinions and books like this is a false belief that superior knoweledge of anti-war will stop them (future wars) from happening. How can this explain the religious fanaticim exemplified in the mideast under the auspicious of an Islamic Jiad. No, there is no war that is clean and antiseptic. You cannot with any intelligence send men or women into combat without preparing them fro the stark realities of it. The better prepared an individual is ensures an improved chance for survival. If I had to go back into a combat situation I would gladly take any Marine over this author or any one else with an hallucination of reality. Seemingly intelligent and opinionated people which espouse the "Athinean, right never has to fight" view (to the Spartan world) should always preface their books and opinions with the caveat that they have never had to do "dirty work" in the real world. Remember, it was men like Chamberlin that cost the world over 60 million dead.

Horrible Book... Burn Baby Burn!!!.......2003-12-19

GOD made the earth, GOD made the sky, GOD made this ignornat fool... only GOD knows why!

The Truth Hurts.......2002-10-15

Organizations must have identities, however manufactured or inbred, and the Marine Corps is not immune to such an eminently human and natural tendency. I've been a Marine for much of my life, and Cameron is right. Further, anyone with the intellectual courage to contact and speak with him will discover that, alas, he enjoyed his service, he loves the Corps, and is still involved with it as a cultural institution. Anyone who has a problem with Cameron also has a problem with the revered Marine General Smedley Butler, two-time Medal of Honor winner. At the end of his career, he wrote a book entitled "War is a Racket", also available here on Amazon. He makes some equally disturbing revelations about the Marine Corps he served, claiming that he had spent his career as an instrument of American imperialism. Chew on that one, devil dogs.

This book, while occasionally going a bit far out in its analysis, does with frightening accuracy portray both the historical and real Marine Corps. It serves as a much needed counterbalance to Thomas Ricks' "Making the Corps". To my mind, the Marines need more thinking men like him to expose some of the sinister dysfunctions of our virtual religion. Call him the Martin Luther of the Corps.

Its about time.......2000-06-13

Finally someone has the guts to admit what actually occured in the Pacific war in WW@. Both my uncles were Marines involved in the battles of Peleliu, Okinawa and Tarawa, and their experiences are mirrored exactly in this book. It was almost a ritual for the Marines, once after killing Japanese soldiers, to harvest various body parts, including teeth, ears, and even cutting off the heads and boiling the flesh off dead Japanese soldiers and sending them back to families in the states to use as cigarette trays! My uncles were taught from the first day of boot camp that the Japanese weren't even human and deserved such treatment. I congratulate the author for being brave enought to withstand the obvious charges of "revisionism" and "political correctness" that his book would elicit.

Disgruntlement as Analysis.......2000-05-19

I couldn't help but wonder whether Cameron, who the book jacket noted was a former Marine, had some axe to grind with the Corps. His radically revisionist examination of the combat record of the 1st Marine Division, a unit which lost no battles in either World War II or Korea, can only be termed baffling. More puzzling is his treatment of Marine training, which sustained almost half a million men through a series of savagely violent battles from Wake Island to Okinawa to Chosin Reservoir. Veterans like William Manchester and Eugene B. Sledge provide balanced, accurate analyses of USMC wartime training and its effect on the Marines in combat. I don't know what upset Craig Cameron when he served, but "American Samurai" seems to be a clear attempt to get back at the Corps.

Average customer rating:

Excellent!
Wonderful source of information on the "Sengoku jidai."
Best overall history of the great samurai battles!

Battles of the Samurai
S.R. Turnbull
Manufacturer: Weidenfeld Military
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

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The Samurai: A Military History

ASIN: 0853688265

Customer Reviews:

Excellent! .......2006-07-17

I read this book some time ago and it was really a wonderful experience! I didn't have heard anything about the samurai history before and of course I did't know anything about the "Golden Age" of samurai battles, which is the 16th century. Mr Turnbull has done a fine job here, analysing nine famous Japanese battles: Kurikara (1183), Kamakura (1333), Okehazama (1560), Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima (1561), Anegawa (1570), Mikata-ga-Hara (1572), Nagashino (1575), Shizugatake (1583) and Sekigahara (1600). In each one the narrative flows in an excellent way and the story is read like a novel, full of heroes, epic clashes, self-denial, traitors and strange war ethics. There are also many simple but fine maps which support the text and enough information of how those battlefields are still preserved today. The Japanese are really fond of their history and this is shown in the condition of their monuments! Don't miss this book!

Wonderful source of information on the "Sengoku jidai.".......2005-01-05

Stephen Turnbull's BATTLES OF THE SAMURAI is an enthralling look at the history of Japan's "Sengoku jidai", or "warring states period." Turnbull provides fascinating accounts of a number of important battles of the era, relating dramatic anecdotes of heroism, courage, and valor, as well as of betrayal and tragedy, while also describing the more technical aspects of the battles, such as the terrain, weather conditions, tactics, strategies, and weaponry. Turnbull's book is richly illustrated with maps and artwork, helping the reader to understand the geographical layout of the areas in which battles occurred and the paths taken by the troops of the various warring factions. In addition, Turnbull provides explanation of the political events and clan struggles taking place between the battles, which is very helpful in tying everything together. Turnbull's volume is also written in such a manner as to be a viable guide for travelers interested in visiting and exploring the sites of the various battles described.

Best overall history of the great samurai battles!.......2000-09-19

What a shame this is out of print! Our family used this book extensively as a guide to our sightseeing of Japan this past summer as it offers not only historical background, portraits of great samurai personalities, and dramatic stories of the battles, but also information on visiting the battlefield sites today. Unable to obtain maps or directions to Sekigahara and Nagashino battlefields from the Japanese Tourist Organization (they told us "nobody goes there - there is nothing to see!") we relied on directions and photos in this book to discover for ourselves that samurai battlefields (Kamakura, Sekigahara) can be toured with relative ease and offer much for the modern tourist. Of course, it was the book's excellent coverage of the battles that first made us want to walk in the footsteps of Tokugawa, Mitsunari, Yoshisada, etc. A valuable resource!

Cowboys and Samurai Why the U S is Losing the Battle with the Japanese , and Why it Matters

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Cowboys and Samurai Why the U S is Losing the Battle with the Japanese , and Why it Matters
Cohen Stephen
Manufacturer: Harperbusiness
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LC672W

Cowboys and Samurai: Why the United States Is Losing the Industrial Battle and Why It Matters

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Cowboys and Samurai: Why the United States Is Losing the Industrial Battle and Why It Matters
Stephen D. Cohen
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0887304168

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