Warriors of Japan as Portrayed in the War Tales

by Paul Varley

Overview

A leading cultural historian of premodern Japan draws a rich portrait of the emerging samurai culture as it is portrayed in gunki-mono, or war tales, examining eight major works spanning the mid-tenth to late fourteenth centuries. Although many of the major war tales have been translated into English, Warriors of Japan is the first book-length study of the tales and their place in Japanese history. The war tales are one of the most important sources of knowledge about Japan's premodern warriors, revealing much about the medieval psyche and the evolving perceptions of warriors, warfare, and warrior customs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780824815752
Publisher:	University of Hawaii Press, The
Publication date:	07/01/1994
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Author: Varley, Paul;
Paul Varley is emeritus professor at Columbia University and Sen Soshitsu XV Professor of Japanese Cultural History at the University of Hawai'i.

Editorial Reviews

If one is familiar with the war tales of medieval Japan (tenth to early 17th century), this scholarly study will give valuable background about the warriors (precursors of the samurai) and their combat conventions. If, however, one is unfamiliar with Japanese war tales, the endless names, places, dates, and battles presented here will prove daunting. It would be better to read some of the war tales themselves, many of which have been ably translated, for accounts of various battles that mix historical events with fantasy and literature, and then read this discussion for background. Varley (Japanese history, Columbia Univ.) does not demand familiarity with Japanese but does use many Japanese words with translations throughout his work. His writing is clear and skillful, but the subject matter will still be difficult. Recommended as a companion to collections of war tales.-Kitty Chen Dean, Nassau Coll., Garden City, N.Y.

Library Journal