All About History: Book of the Samurai
BOOK OF THE SAMURAI
All About History: Book of the Samurai
God emperors and warrior queens • The earliest history of Japan is shrouded in myths and legends of emperors descended from gods and queens who waged bloody wars
The Tōdaijiyama Sword • The Kofun tombs of Japan were the burial sites of important Japanese people – people who were often sent to the afterlife with rich grave goods like swords
The Grass-Cutting Sword • Each person who takes the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan is presented with three legendary items
The conquest of northern Honshu • Northern Honshu was not always part of Japan; its colonisation and conquest, and the dynamic response by the Emishi even after their military defeat, had a far-reaching influence on Japanese political and military history
Northern Honshu after the Emishi
The Age of Tranquillity • The Heian period was a cultural high point of Japan, but it also saw some of the most vicious struggles for control
Ladies of the court
Tomoe Gozen: A female samurai
Taira Masakado The first samurai • Among the samurai, there were none like the first, Taira Masakado, whose premature rebellion brought the imperial court to its knees
Rise of the samurai • Masakado’s uprising marked the rise of the samurai warrior class
Masakado’s legacy • More than 1,000 years after his death, Japan still fears the wrath of Masakado
Secrets of the samurai • We delve into the tradition, dissect the legends and reveal the innovations that made the samurai one of the most renowned fighting forces in history
Dr Nyri A Bakkalian
The many ways of the sword • Eight of the most common samurai fighting styles
A warrior’s armour • Key details of the samurai’s iconic uniform
The importance of masks • Samurai face coverings came in many designs and sizes
Japanese feudal era
Himeji Castle Himeji, Japan
The anatomy of a Noh theatre performer • JAPAN, 14TH CENTURY
Hall of Fame FAMOUS WARRIORS • Many samurai, outlaws and military leaders are revered to this day for their exploits
Q&A With… Dr Peter Shapinsky • Exploring the role and influence of piracy in late medieval Japan
Places to explore Historic Japan • Five locations that will transport you back to the feudal period
Historical treasures Maple Viewers • Capturing the natural beauty of feudal Japan, mid-16th century
DISCOVER THE PAST!
The war for Japan’s throne • When a power vacuum left Japan without an emperor, two brothers prepared to fight to the death for the ultimate prize
Tametomo the Terrible • Not all war stories are about the victors – some tell the tales of power-hungry men
The nine-tailed fox • Uncover the story of Tamamo-no-Mae
The Way of the Warrior • Cultivated over centuries, the samurai developed a philosophy where honour, loyalty, discipline and a noble death were more important than life itself
Bushidō today • After World War II, Japan disavowed war for pacifism, disbanding its army and creating the Self-Defence Force
The 47 Rōnin
Jisei: Death poetry • In preparation for their death in battle, or as part of ritual suicide, samurai composed a traditional poem bidding farewell to life
Famous jisei • Discover the lyrical, allusive stanzas of death poetry. For the authors and the context of each poem, see the text to the left
Philosophy of the samurai • The common view of warrior classes from history is one of bloody violence and rough manners – but the samurai turned their lives into works of art
The tranquillity of tea • Japanese samurai had a special relationship with...
