The First Samurai by Karl Friday

The First Samurai by Karl Friday

It is the kind of story from which great tragic operas are made: A brave warrior of noble birth and royal ancestry runs afoul of a jealous neighbor who then ambushes him in the countryside. The warrior and his followers defeat their attackers, only to be targeted by others who now fear his growing strength. Overly impressed with his continued success against his enemies, he becomes consumed with hubris and soon falls victim to his own ambition. Add to this the mystique of the samurai, the pageantry of Japan's tenth-century imperial court, and legends of a flying head whose curse has caused disasters for a thousand years, and this compelling tale becomes a drama of epic proportions.
In The First Samurai, you'll discover the amazing true story of Taira Masakado, Japan's first samurai hero. This gripping account traces the roots of Masakado's bloody feud with local rivals, including his uncles and brothers-in-law. It explains how apparently trifling squabbles grew into years of bitter provincial warfare involving thousands of highly trained samurai.
How could Masakado and the other elite landholders of his region amass and maintain such formidable forces? What led Masakado to seize control of eight provincial government headquarters, and declare himself overlord of eastern Japan? And why did he fail?
The answers to these questions provide a fascinating glimpse into the political, social, and military structure of tenth-century Japan.
You'll also discover that many popular and scholarly conceptions of early samurai warfare aspicturesque, quaintly ritualized, and respectful of noncombatants are pure myth. In reality, ambush was the preferred form of attack, and ferocious raiding and looting were typical of the time. These tactics and strategies were partly the result of the nature of samurai combat, but they were also strongly influenced by the political and property structure of the country.
Filled with harrowing battle scenes, enchanting portraits of early Japan, and astounding legends of Masakado's celebrated life after death, The First Samurai is a must-read for anyone interested in the samurai, early Japanese history, and a whopping good tale well told.

Friday, Karl F.: - KARL FRIDAY is a Professor of History at the University of Georgia. A renowned expert on the samurai and early Japanese history, he has authored four books and appeared on numerous A&E, History, and Discovery Channel programs. He is active on several Web forums.

SKU	Nicht verfügbar
ISBN 13	9780471760825
ISBN 10	047176082X
Titel	The First Samurai
Autor	Karl Friday
Buchzustand	Nicht verfügbar
Bindungsart	Hardback
Verlag	Wiley
Erscheinungsjahr	2007-11-01
Seitenanzahl	240
Hinweis auf dem Einband	Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden.