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Sengoku Jidai. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu: Three Unifiers of Japan
Japan's Sengoku jidai ('Warring States Period') was a time of crisis and upheaval, a chaotic epoch when the relatively low-born rural military class of 'bushi' (samurai warriors) succeeded in overthrowing their social superiors in the court throughout much of the country. Into this tumultuous age of constant warfare came three remarkable Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616). Each would play a unique role in the re-unification of the disparate, fragmented collection of warring provinces which constituted Japan in the sixteenth and early seventeenth-centuries. This new narrative history of the sengoku era draws together the epic strands of their three stories for the first time. It offers a coherent survey of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568-1600) under both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, followed by the founding years of the Tokugawa shogunate (1600-1616). Every pivotal battle fought by each of these three hegemons is explored in depth from Okehazama (1560) and Nagashino (1575) to Sekigahara (1600) and the Two Sieges of Osaka Castle (1614-15). In addition, the political and administrative underpinnings of their rule is also examined, as well as the marginal role played by western foreigners ('nanban') and the Christian religion in early modern Japanese society. In its scope, the story of Japan's three unifiers ('the Fool', 'the Monkey', and 'the Old Badger') is a sweeping saga encompassing acts of unimaginable cruelty as well as feats of great samurai heroism which were venerated and written about long into the peaceful Edo/Tokugawa period.
640 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
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December 20, 2018
A fascinating insight into the period but rather hard-going I found, especially as someone with little prior knowledge of pre-20th century Japanese history. Not to say that the book gave no historical context to Sengoku Jidai - its opening chapters summarise Japanese history leading up to the Ōnin War of 1467-77, when the power of the Ashikaga shogunate over Japan is shattered and the provincial warlords are free to struggle amongst themselves. I found this summary very helpful to my understanding - and the actual historical information provided isn't my particular issue.
The issue was really the way the information was presented. It's a fine art to balance detail with deeper insight or analysis, and I found myself struggling through too much of what I consider 'shallow' detail. There were many instances where I had to push through large lists of names of unimportant retainers, family members and castles (often instantly forgettable, but that will be partially influenced by my own unfamiliarity with Japanese names and language) - I would suspect most readers of this review are not here for mere lists.
Good news then, as the book shined when it delved beneath the lists - for instance to provide insight into culture, strategy, religion, politicking, personalities (and, of great fascination to me, the mindset that allowed samurai to commit seppuku with such extraordinary readiness! I can't say I'd be quite so willing to kill myself if my boss ordered me to).
I should add that (and the book's title does indicate this), while an overall picture is built of Japan during this era, the events do primarily focus on the pivotal roles played by Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu in reunifying the country. You'll learn a lot about their respective rises to power and surrounding events, but you won't learn that much about what's happening in other areas of the country until one of the trio has to deal with them. I don't think this detracts from the book, only noting that it would have been interesting to learn a little more about such figures as Date Masamune for example - someone who seems an interesting character of the era, but whose role is fairly minimal in this book.
While the above is something I think would be a bonus (unless it simply increased the quantity of lists!), the one thing I do think the book lacks is maps. I personally find it very helpful to be able to visualise where the events I'm reading about are happening. It's nothing a quick Google of locations can't fix, but some period-specific maps, which many modern history books include, would have been very helpful.
My overall opinion: If you don't mind pushing through those lists, I would still recommend this book. You will ultimately learn a great deal about the events, personalities and culture of Sengoku Jidai-era Japan (at the cost of frayed patience).
The issue was really the way the information was presented. It's a fine art to balance detail with deeper insight or analysis, and I found myself struggling through too much of what I consider 'shallow' detail. There were many instances where I had to push through large lists of names of unimportant retainers, family members and castles (often instantly forgettable, but that will be partially influenced by my own unfamiliarity with Japanese names and language) - I would suspect most readers of this review are not here for mere lists.
Good news then, as the book shined when it delved beneath the lists - for instance to provide insight into culture, strategy, religion, politicking, personalities (and, of great fascination to me, the mindset that allowed samurai to commit seppuku with such extraordinary readiness! I can't say I'd be quite so willing to kill myself if my boss ordered me to).
I should add that (and the book's title does indicate this), while an overall picture is built of Japan during this era, the events do primarily focus on the pivotal roles played by Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu in reunifying the country. You'll learn a lot about their respective rises to power and surrounding events, but you won't learn that much about what's happening in other areas of the country until one of the trio has to deal with them. I don't think this detracts from the book, only noting that it would have been interesting to learn a little more about such figures as Date Masamune for example - someone who seems an interesting character of the era, but whose role is fairly minimal in this book.
While the above is something I think would be a bonus (unless it simply increased the quantity of lists!), the one thing I do think the book lacks is maps. I personally find it very helpful to be able to visualise where the events I'm reading about are happening. It's nothing a quick Google of locations can't fix, but some period-specific maps, which many modern history books include, would have been very helpful.
My overall opinion: If you don't mind pushing through those lists, I would still recommend this book. You will ultimately learn a great deal about the events, personalities and culture of Sengoku Jidai-era Japan (at the cost of frayed patience).
July 31, 2021
Sengoku Jida: Nobunaga Hideyoshi and Ieyasu by Danny Chaplin
Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
I watched a multipart documentary on the three men who re-unified Japan, namely Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. I had been previously somewhat aware of these men but had a fairly vague idea about who they were and what they had done. The documentary helped a lot and sparked my interest in the subject.
To rectify my ignorance, I picked up this book. I discovered that it is absolutely encyclopedic. One of the surprising and nice things about the book was that it provided a background section on the ancient - virtually prehistoric period - of Japan. Again, I had a vague understanding that the Emperor of Japan was more of a figurehead and that the Shogun was the power that ruled Japan.
What I learned was there there was a period when the emperors ruled as well as reigned. There were two prior shogunates before the Tokugawa Shogunate was initiated in 1600. So, Japan already had experience with the division between the symbolic court - think of the English monarchy during the parliamentary period - and the military power of the Shoguns. Ironically, in the period prior to the Tokugawa Shogunate, the power of the shoguns had deteriorated, such that shoguns were puppets of powerful clans in Kyoto.
The period before Oda Nobunaga had seen approximately two hundred years of civil war. Actually, central power had deteriorated as the nobility in Kyoto had been supplanted by their managers in their holdings. These managers became the daimyos with their subordinate samurai.
Oda Nobunaga began his rise in the mid 16th century as the leader of a minor wing of the Oda clan that controlled portions of a province. Battles between clans were endemic in this period. Nobunaga put himself on the map by employing a force of 3,000 men to defeat an army of 15,000. He parlayed his success and his military skills to consolidate his province, take over adjacent provinces, conquer Kyoto, put the old shogunal family out to pasture.
Nobunaga was then killed by a disgruntled underling in one of the epic betrayals that characterize this period of Japanese history. Daimyos and samurais could be fantastically loyal, even to the point of committing suicide on the order of their superiors, but they could also betray if they thought that was necessary for clan survival/advancement.
Nobunaga was replaced by his subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who in avenging the death of Nobunaga, positioned himself as the new shogun. Hideyoshi extended the power base put together by Nobunaga to the point where he could order two disastrous invasions of Korea. The invasions resulted in the exorbitant deaths of samurai and daimyo and Japanese defeat, but it did keep restive samurai from plotting against Hideoyoshi. Hideyoshi also established rules that stratified Japanese society in the form that it would retain until it was opened to the world by Commodore Perry in 1865.
Hideyoshi had been born a peasant and rose to the height of power on his own talents. Ironically, his rules resulted in a stratification of society that would not allow that kind of ascent again.
Hideyoshi died with a young son. Five powerful daimyo formed a council to rule Japan until the boy grew up. One of the members was Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had been a close ally of both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, but just as Hideyoshi pushed aside the Oda clan, Ieyasu pushed aside Hideyoshi's son. To be precise, Ieyasu plotted and connived to bring down the council on terms that would allow him to fight a battle that would put total power in his hands.
This is an informative book, but not entirely accessible. I learned a lot about the ups and downs of Christianity in Japan and the Japanese infatuation with tea and tea paraphennelia. On the other hand, Japanese naming conventions are hard for Westerners to follow. For example, virtually every member of the extended Oda clan had a name that was a variant of "Nobu." The reason for this is that aristocratic Japanese children were given a children's name, but took another name when they became an adult (around 13, of course.) The name was compounded from two syllables taken from the names of respected elders.
Sometimes as a privilege for a job well done, an even higher superior lord might permit the daimyo or samurai to incorporate a syllable of their name - dropping a syllable from their prior name as an honor. Tokugawa Ieyasu's name evolved through the course of the book. It didn't take its final form until well after he had established himself as a power to be reckoned with in Japan.
This is obviously not the author's fault, but it does make for a dense narrative.
Another problem is the unfamiliarity of Japanese geography. I could have used a few more maps scattered throughout the book as an aid. Again, this is my limitation, not the authors.
I felt that I got what I was looking for, which was definitely an introduction to an interesting and different culture and history.
Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
I watched a multipart documentary on the three men who re-unified Japan, namely Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. I had been previously somewhat aware of these men but had a fairly vague idea about who they were and what they had done. The documentary helped a lot and sparked my interest in the subject.
To rectify my ignorance, I picked up this book. I discovered that it is absolutely encyclopedic. One of the surprising and nice things about the book was that it provided a background section on the ancient - virtually prehistoric period - of Japan. Again, I had a vague understanding that the Emperor of Japan was more of a figurehead and that the Shogun was the power that ruled Japan.
What I learned was there there was a period when the emperors ruled as well as reigned. There were two prior shogunates before the Tokugawa Shogunate was initiated in 1600. So, Japan already had experience with the division between the symbolic court - think of the English monarchy during the parliamentary period - and the military power of the Shoguns. Ironically, in the period prior to the Tokugawa Shogunate, the power of the shoguns had deteriorated, such that shoguns were puppets of powerful clans in Kyoto.
The period before Oda Nobunaga had seen approximately two hundred years of civil war. Actually, central power had deteriorated as the nobility in Kyoto had been supplanted by their managers in their holdings. These managers became the daimyos with their subordinate samurai.
Oda Nobunaga began his rise in the mid 16th century as the leader of a minor wing of the Oda clan that controlled portions of a province. Battles between clans were endemic in this period. Nobunaga put himself on the map by employing a force of 3,000 men to defeat an army of 15,000. He parlayed his success and his military skills to consolidate his province, take over adjacent provinces, conquer Kyoto, put the old shogunal family out to pasture.
Nobunaga was then killed by a disgruntled underling in one of the epic betrayals that characterize this period of Japanese history. Daimyos and samurais could be fantastically loyal, even to the point of committing suicide on the order of their superiors, but they could also betray if they thought that was necessary for clan survival/advancement.
Nobunaga was replaced by his subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who in avenging the death of Nobunaga, positioned himself as the new shogun. Hideyoshi extended the power base put together by Nobunaga to the point where he could order two disastrous invasions of Korea. The invasions resulted in the exorbitant deaths of samurai and daimyo and Japanese defeat, but it did keep restive samurai from plotting against Hideoyoshi. Hideyoshi also established rules that stratified Japanese society in the form that it would retain until it was opened to the world by Commodore Perry in 1865.
Hideyoshi had been born a peasant and rose to the height of power on his own talents. Ironically, his rules resulted in a stratification of society that would not allow that kind of ascent again.
Hideyoshi died with a young son. Five powerful daimyo formed a council to rule Japan until the boy grew up. One of the members was Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had been a close ally of both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, but just as Hideyoshi pushed aside the Oda clan, Ieyasu pushed aside Hideyoshi's son. To be precise, Ieyasu plotted and connived to bring down the council on terms that would allow him to fight a battle that would put total power in his hands.
This is an informative book, but not entirely accessible. I learned a lot about the ups and downs of Christianity in Japan and the Japanese infatuation with tea and tea paraphennelia. On the other hand, Japanese naming conventions are hard for Westerners to follow. For example, virtually every member of the extended Oda clan had a name that was a variant of "Nobu." The reason for this is that aristocratic Japanese children were given a children's name, but took another name when they became an adult (around 13, of course.) The name was compounded from two syllables taken from the names of respected elders.
Sometimes as a privilege for a job well done, an even higher superior lord might permit the daimyo or samurai to incorporate a syllable of their name - dropping a syllable from their prior name as an honor. Tokugawa Ieyasu's name evolved through the course of the book. It didn't take its final form until well after he had established himself as a power to be reckoned with in Japan.
This is obviously not the author's fault, but it does make for a dense narrative.
Another problem is the unfamiliarity of Japanese geography. I could have used a few more maps scattered throughout the book as an aid. Again, this is my limitation, not the authors.
I felt that I got what I was looking for, which was definitely an introduction to an interesting and different culture and history.
April 4, 2021
A stunning tour of force through the troubled times of Japan in the XVIth century known as the 'Sengoku Jidai' or the Age of Warring States. The book really brings to life the unbelievingly complex power plays that took place during those times and the great struggles undertaken by the three great unifiers of Japan.
The author starts with a very helpful history of Japan and a background to how the country came to be ravaged by internal wars and chaos from 1467 onwards. After the brief historical introduction the book then delves into the lives and military campaigns of the great unifiers: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and finally Tokugawa Ieyasu. Other than these great three figures, other great warriors of the age such as Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin and Date Masamune are major players and it is quite a treat reading about their heroic exploits.
The author also does a great job of the organisation of the Empire with the Emperor as mere figurehead, the Shogun as another figurehead and then the various clans with their daimyos vying for power. The Japanese culture of the time is also well explained with their emphasis on honour and saving face and practices such as seppuku, the bushi code, the religion, the much revered tea ceremonies and much more.
The major problem with the book (and the reason for only giving 3 stars) is the over-abundance of samurai and castle names. It seems that compared to other cultures the Japanese studiously recorded the names of every single administrator, samurai and person of even the smallest significance. This is fantastic for the academic study of history, however in condensed history book this becomes very tiresome. The author insists on naming every single minor retainer, samurai or minor castle in sometimes endless lists which causes quite a bit of fatigue and confusion. It would have been better to only name the important actors and major players and perhaps have the names of minor vassals and retainers in an addendum. The book also could really do with some maps, especially of the major battles such as Sekigahara.
The author starts with a very helpful history of Japan and a background to how the country came to be ravaged by internal wars and chaos from 1467 onwards. After the brief historical introduction the book then delves into the lives and military campaigns of the great unifiers: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and finally Tokugawa Ieyasu. Other than these great three figures, other great warriors of the age such as Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin and Date Masamune are major players and it is quite a treat reading about their heroic exploits.
The author also does a great job of the organisation of the Empire with the Emperor as mere figurehead, the Shogun as another figurehead and then the various clans with their daimyos vying for power. The Japanese culture of the time is also well explained with their emphasis on honour and saving face and practices such as seppuku, the bushi code, the religion, the much revered tea ceremonies and much more.
The major problem with the book (and the reason for only giving 3 stars) is the over-abundance of samurai and castle names. It seems that compared to other cultures the Japanese studiously recorded the names of every single administrator, samurai and person of even the smallest significance. This is fantastic for the academic study of history, however in condensed history book this becomes very tiresome. The author insists on naming every single minor retainer, samurai or minor castle in sometimes endless lists which causes quite a bit of fatigue and confusion. It would have been better to only name the important actors and major players and perhaps have the names of minor vassals and retainers in an addendum. The book also could really do with some maps, especially of the major battles such as Sekigahara.
June 13, 2024
A brilliant work of history
The landscape and history of Japan have been sculpted by the three unifiers. This history is fantastically detailed, to a fault. The fact that this history has been written by someone who is not Japanese and who is a specialist in Western history is remarkable.
If you are planning on touring Japan I recommend this book. Or if your interest in Japanese history is inspired by the recent Shogun series, based on the history of Tokugawa, I also recommend this book.
As I mentioned, the book is extremely detailed. The people and minor events detailed here can drag and I skipped over some parts.
The landscape and history of Japan have been sculpted by the three unifiers. This history is fantastically detailed, to a fault. The fact that this history has been written by someone who is not Japanese and who is a specialist in Western history is remarkable.
If you are planning on touring Japan I recommend this book. Or if your interest in Japanese history is inspired by the recent Shogun series, based on the history of Tokugawa, I also recommend this book.
As I mentioned, the book is extremely detailed. The people and minor events detailed here can drag and I skipped over some parts.
January 6, 2023
A comprehensive narrative of Sengoku-era Japan's samurai warlord's various struggles, culminating in the final unification of the country under the 'big three.' I learned a lot, but it could have used more and better maps.
September 1, 2021
This book is not an beginner's introduction to the principal figures of Sengoku-period Japan.
This book helps build on the knowledge you already have regarding the key points of Japan. It's not beginner friendly.
If you instinctively know where most castles in Japan are located, and know the historical names of places and where they roughly are (Echizen, Oshu, Tosa, and so on) you'll get along with this book great. There's nearly no maps, so if you're not absolutely sure where half the stuff mentioned is, you'll have to have one on hand.
The book is very verbose, and probably more densely packed with information than it needs to be. Chaplin tells the reader about the history of Japan and what he might think went through the heads of the important figures at the time. Some reviews say he isn't really good at telling a story but then again neither is Wikipedia.
Overall, my review is this: it's a damn good book. If Danny were to take out the fancy language where it isn't needed, and throw in some maps in place of every little detail regarding names and rice yields; the book would be damn great.
This book helps build on the knowledge you already have regarding the key points of Japan. It's not beginner friendly.
If you instinctively know where most castles in Japan are located, and know the historical names of places and where they roughly are (Echizen, Oshu, Tosa, and so on) you'll get along with this book great. There's nearly no maps, so if you're not absolutely sure where half the stuff mentioned is, you'll have to have one on hand.
The book is very verbose, and probably more densely packed with information than it needs to be. Chaplin tells the reader about the history of Japan and what he might think went through the heads of the important figures at the time. Some reviews say he isn't really good at telling a story but then again neither is Wikipedia.
Overall, my review is this: it's a damn good book. If Danny were to take out the fancy language where it isn't needed, and throw in some maps in place of every little detail regarding names and rice yields; the book would be damn great.
July 2, 2024
If you are looking to delve in the world of feudal Japan and the samurai this has to be the best book on the market. Not as well known and Chaplin is certainly more scholarly than he is pop history, but a great read.
Starting with the good, Chaplin focuses on the lives of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. These three as Chaplin states “Piled the rice cake, kneeded the rice cake and ate the rice cake” respectively. All three played a hand in helping to unify Japan during all out clan warfare and ushered in the 200 year Pax-Tokugawa. However, it goes past just a biography of the three describing the political, cultural, and military states of the time period as well as a lot of useful context to help the reader understand the period. I found myself further infatuated with the period than J was coming in (and I was already highly interested after watching FX’s Shogun). The colonial aspects concerning the Portuguese, Dutch, and English were also intriguing to see unfold as the story progresses.
I found myself more interested with the latter half of the book - detailing Hideyoshi and Ieyasu in specific - but overall the book is extremely informative and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
HOWEVER! This book is dense and at times quite dry. Chaplin loves to list the names of every single retainer, advisor, daimyo, samurai, castle, fortification, etc involved in any given situation. As a result, its easy to get confused if you don’t stay vigilant. It can get very hard to track these names, log and remember them when they come up later as I am not as familiar with Japanese cultural names. I also found myself quite lost when it came to geography. There is one map that is at times pretty hard to read. Part One is a little dense as well, it’s a brief survey of Japanese history to that point and the previous issues arise there as well.
If I were to read it for the first time again, I’d make an effort to read a book on Japanese history as a whole and perhaps further familiarize myself with the geography of Honshu specifically. However, I would highly recommend this book.
Starting with the good, Chaplin focuses on the lives of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. These three as Chaplin states “Piled the rice cake, kneeded the rice cake and ate the rice cake” respectively. All three played a hand in helping to unify Japan during all out clan warfare and ushered in the 200 year Pax-Tokugawa. However, it goes past just a biography of the three describing the political, cultural, and military states of the time period as well as a lot of useful context to help the reader understand the period. I found myself further infatuated with the period than J was coming in (and I was already highly interested after watching FX’s Shogun). The colonial aspects concerning the Portuguese, Dutch, and English were also intriguing to see unfold as the story progresses.
I found myself more interested with the latter half of the book - detailing Hideyoshi and Ieyasu in specific - but overall the book is extremely informative and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
HOWEVER! This book is dense and at times quite dry. Chaplin loves to list the names of every single retainer, advisor, daimyo, samurai, castle, fortification, etc involved in any given situation. As a result, its easy to get confused if you don’t stay vigilant. It can get very hard to track these names, log and remember them when they come up later as I am not as familiar with Japanese cultural names. I also found myself quite lost when it came to geography. There is one map that is at times pretty hard to read. Part One is a little dense as well, it’s a brief survey of Japanese history to that point and the previous issues arise there as well.
If I were to read it for the first time again, I’d make an effort to read a book on Japanese history as a whole and perhaps further familiarize myself with the geography of Honshu specifically. However, I would highly recommend this book.
May 27, 2021
I have read the book and I must say that it meets all my expectations on the Sengoku period. The book is a vade mecum or leading authority on the medieval history of Japan.
It is rich in details and full of technical facts that I almost expected to see maps and documents included therein.
It also answers some questions which I could not find in other books. I now know what happened to Manpukumaru ( information which Wikipedia could not provide for me). He was beheaded by Hideyoshi at the behest of the cruel Nobunaga after tricking Oichi to reveal his hideout.
It is also ironical that Lady Chacha who is Manpukumaru's sister became a concubine to the monkey faced Hideyoshi and bore him an heir, Hideoyori.
The ancient Japanese value having large families.Nobunaga had at least five sons and many daughters.Ieyasu also had a large family.
It enables them to make strategic alliances and it could make or break dynasties. Yet Hideyoshi had only one son which feels a bit queer.
Hideyoshi had many concubines and a wife and many went on to marry and have children with other men after he divorced or got rid of them. Yet it was only Chacha who bore him a son.
Did she play him false? Was he sterile with a low sperm count? This fact is hinted at in James Clavell's book, Shogun, (although there are no corroborating facts to buttress this suspicion).
Ieyasu ever the pragmatist must have exploited this to the full because as we know he eventually got rid of the two interlopers based in Osaka Castle many years after the death of the Taiko.
The book sums up the characters of the three protagonists beautifully. Nobunaga is vicious and a cruel bully who took pleasure in beating up his retainers and driving them to rebellion.
Danny Chaplin was a bit too harsh on Mitsuhide Akechi, (the thirteenth day Shogun) when he dismisses him as a traitor who turned against his daimyo.
Nobunaga practically forced him to rebel when he humiliated him in front of Ieyasu, called him Kumquat head and threw away everything he bought for Tokugawa's banquet.
Even Ieyasu knew that Nobunaga had gone too far and tried to play the peacemaker between the two men but the Oda Chieftain refused to listen.
Hideyoshi was a great persuader and was the most diplomatic of the three great musketeers. He could make a cuckoo bird sing even when it was not in the mood to do so, whilst Nobunaga would simply kill it for its non performance.
Ieyasu was the smartest of the three. He could out wait his opponents and had a great knowledge of human psychology. In modern parlance, he would have been called an evil genius.
Nobunaga piled the dough, Hideyoshi kneaded the cake, but it was the supreme manipulator, Ieyasu who ended up eating it.
His dynasty went on to rule Japan as Shoguns for more than two hundred years until the Meiji Restoration.
It is rich in details and full of technical facts that I almost expected to see maps and documents included therein.
It also answers some questions which I could not find in other books. I now know what happened to Manpukumaru ( information which Wikipedia could not provide for me). He was beheaded by Hideyoshi at the behest of the cruel Nobunaga after tricking Oichi to reveal his hideout.
It is also ironical that Lady Chacha who is Manpukumaru's sister became a concubine to the monkey faced Hideyoshi and bore him an heir, Hideoyori.
The ancient Japanese value having large families.Nobunaga had at least five sons and many daughters.Ieyasu also had a large family.
It enables them to make strategic alliances and it could make or break dynasties. Yet Hideyoshi had only one son which feels a bit queer.
Hideyoshi had many concubines and a wife and many went on to marry and have children with other men after he divorced or got rid of them. Yet it was only Chacha who bore him a son.
Did she play him false? Was he sterile with a low sperm count? This fact is hinted at in James Clavell's book, Shogun, (although there are no corroborating facts to buttress this suspicion).
Ieyasu ever the pragmatist must have exploited this to the full because as we know he eventually got rid of the two interlopers based in Osaka Castle many years after the death of the Taiko.
The book sums up the characters of the three protagonists beautifully. Nobunaga is vicious and a cruel bully who took pleasure in beating up his retainers and driving them to rebellion.
Danny Chaplin was a bit too harsh on Mitsuhide Akechi, (the thirteenth day Shogun) when he dismisses him as a traitor who turned against his daimyo.
Nobunaga practically forced him to rebel when he humiliated him in front of Ieyasu, called him Kumquat head and threw away everything he bought for Tokugawa's banquet.
Even Ieyasu knew that Nobunaga had gone too far and tried to play the peacemaker between the two men but the Oda Chieftain refused to listen.
Hideyoshi was a great persuader and was the most diplomatic of the three great musketeers. He could make a cuckoo bird sing even when it was not in the mood to do so, whilst Nobunaga would simply kill it for its non performance.
Ieyasu was the smartest of the three. He could out wait his opponents and had a great knowledge of human psychology. In modern parlance, he would have been called an evil genius.
Nobunaga piled the dough, Hideyoshi kneaded the cake, but it was the supreme manipulator, Ieyasu who ended up eating it.
His dynasty went on to rule Japan as Shoguns for more than two hundred years until the Meiji Restoration.
Read
November 29, 2023(Note: Since this is my first non-fiction read, I will just say that I will not be rating any non-fiction reads I do going forward)
This book delves into the Sengoku Jidai and highlights the actions taken by the three main figures of this era: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. While the Sengoku Jidai is much more expansive than these three figures, much of the narrative of this era does revolve around these three and how they shaped Japan into what it is today. Therefore, while there are elements of other stories and characters present, the focus remains squarely on the actions and accomplishments of these three figures. Through that, the narrative cohesion and organization feels well-organized, even when it does jump outside the timeline here or there or sidesteps into different tangents. Regardless, this book provides a comprehensive and thorough unpacking of the major events leading to Japan' unification after the Sengoku Jidai.
The structure of this book is mostly a chronological one, showing the history of ancient Japan leading up to the Sengoku Jidai and how the past shaped the Sengoku Jidai as we know it today. It then follows with weaving the narrative of the three unifiers before ending off on how their actions impacted the future of Japan leading into modernity. There's enough there to give a complete story, but leaves crumbs here and there for the reader to explore and learn for themselves.
This book is quite informative and does well in setting the stage for the Sengoku Jidai. It goes into as much detail as it can, which really helps set up the narrative focus on Nogunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu. By the end of the book, it becomes a little easier to understand who these three people were and the impact they had. For those interested in the Sengoku Jidai, this book is definitely an excellent high level book to start off with to come to a greater appreciation for the era and its events.
This book delves into the Sengoku Jidai and highlights the actions taken by the three main figures of this era: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. While the Sengoku Jidai is much more expansive than these three figures, much of the narrative of this era does revolve around these three and how they shaped Japan into what it is today. Therefore, while there are elements of other stories and characters present, the focus remains squarely on the actions and accomplishments of these three figures. Through that, the narrative cohesion and organization feels well-organized, even when it does jump outside the timeline here or there or sidesteps into different tangents. Regardless, this book provides a comprehensive and thorough unpacking of the major events leading to Japan' unification after the Sengoku Jidai.
The structure of this book is mostly a chronological one, showing the history of ancient Japan leading up to the Sengoku Jidai and how the past shaped the Sengoku Jidai as we know it today. It then follows with weaving the narrative of the three unifiers before ending off on how their actions impacted the future of Japan leading into modernity. There's enough there to give a complete story, but leaves crumbs here and there for the reader to explore and learn for themselves.
This book is quite informative and does well in setting the stage for the Sengoku Jidai. It goes into as much detail as it can, which really helps set up the narrative focus on Nogunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu. By the end of the book, it becomes a little easier to understand who these three people were and the impact they had. For those interested in the Sengoku Jidai, this book is definitely an excellent high level book to start off with to come to a greater appreciation for the era and its events.
January 26, 2021
The three unifiers of Japan could be depicted as such;
"Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu were sitting together watching a cuckoo bird and waiting for it to sing, but the bird would not sing. Nobunaga said ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing I will kill you’. Hideyoshi said ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing. I will make you sing’. Then Ieyasu said to the bird ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing I will just sit here and wait for you to sing’."
The book itself was arranged according to the proverb: "Nobunaga piled the cake, Hideyoshi kneads the cake, and Ieyasu eat the cake".
Definitely one of the best history books I ever read! The prose is understandably dense, but the narration of the author really eased the burden. This is a major feat on the part of the author, especially in an inter-generational conflict such as the Sengoku Jidai. One chapter could introduce a 30 new historical figures and up to 40 new key places and castles, but the author would knowingly briefed the characters again. Comprehensive and impartial, the author provided a holistic coverage of the Japanese history so the readers would miss nothing. He summarized the entire Japanese history from the Jomons down to the eve of the Sengoku Jidai which is critical to have a good perspective in understanding the entire event. This is one history books you must have, if you are interested in Japanese history. The author depicted the bushi culture in its rawest, but never hesistated to include the subtle aspect of the Japanese culture such as the complex architecture or even the proverbial tea ceremony, in between conflicts of blood and treachery.
"Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu were sitting together watching a cuckoo bird and waiting for it to sing, but the bird would not sing. Nobunaga said ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing I will kill you’. Hideyoshi said ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing. I will make you sing’. Then Ieyasu said to the bird ‘Little bird, if you don’t sing I will just sit here and wait for you to sing’."
The book itself was arranged according to the proverb: "Nobunaga piled the cake, Hideyoshi kneads the cake, and Ieyasu eat the cake".
Definitely one of the best history books I ever read! The prose is understandably dense, but the narration of the author really eased the burden. This is a major feat on the part of the author, especially in an inter-generational conflict such as the Sengoku Jidai. One chapter could introduce a 30 new historical figures and up to 40 new key places and castles, but the author would knowingly briefed the characters again. Comprehensive and impartial, the author provided a holistic coverage of the Japanese history so the readers would miss nothing. He summarized the entire Japanese history from the Jomons down to the eve of the Sengoku Jidai which is critical to have a good perspective in understanding the entire event. This is one history books you must have, if you are interested in Japanese history. The author depicted the bushi culture in its rawest, but never hesistated to include the subtle aspect of the Japanese culture such as the complex architecture or even the proverbial tea ceremony, in between conflicts of blood and treachery.
January 2, 2023
Wow, a long time between reviews for me. This book did take me a while to get through but there were also other distractions keeping me away from reading in the last month or so.
A strong 4 here as I pick up another history book to try and clear away some gaps in my knowledge. All I had for this period in Japanese history was references to it from 'Lone Wolf and Cub', not really a comprehensive understanding. This book fair delivered on that ambition.
I particularly enjoyed how clear eyed this book was about the people it was chronicling. These were vicious, thuggish warlords whose motivations were as much about their own aggrandizement as any lofty goals of national unity. The book never shied away from that or tried to 'redeem' them in any way. It also pointed out how adept these guys were at adopting new technology and taking from other cultures (particularly the Europeans) what would serve their ends while keeping away from assimilation.
It was a long book though with a few minor structural flaws. A tighter edit was definitely required as there is the odd wrong word used and sometimes labyrinthine sentence structures. There were also long screeds of dry data (retainer x received y fief of z koku) that I felt could have been summarised or stuck in an appendix.
Apart from this, an important 100 odd years of Japanese history was covered well and I feel the read was time well spent. Recommended.
A strong 4 here as I pick up another history book to try and clear away some gaps in my knowledge. All I had for this period in Japanese history was references to it from 'Lone Wolf and Cub', not really a comprehensive understanding. This book fair delivered on that ambition.
I particularly enjoyed how clear eyed this book was about the people it was chronicling. These were vicious, thuggish warlords whose motivations were as much about their own aggrandizement as any lofty goals of national unity. The book never shied away from that or tried to 'redeem' them in any way. It also pointed out how adept these guys were at adopting new technology and taking from other cultures (particularly the Europeans) what would serve their ends while keeping away from assimilation.
It was a long book though with a few minor structural flaws. A tighter edit was definitely required as there is the odd wrong word used and sometimes labyrinthine sentence structures. There were also long screeds of dry data (retainer x received y fief of z koku) that I felt could have been summarised or stuck in an appendix.
Apart from this, an important 100 odd years of Japanese history was covered well and I feel the read was time well spent. Recommended.
March 27, 2023
Finally.... it took me forever to read this giant of a book.
And I'm glad I took my time with it because there's so much details in it it's frightening.
I was staring at a certain chapter that deals with the Owari province and different clans of the Oda family. So there would be two major branches and a third "sub-clan" from lower Owari, called Shobata, from which the first unifier of Japan came. Here we meet his family members but everyone has similar names. Everyone is Nobuyori, Nobumitsu, Nobuyasu, Nobuharu, Nobukata, Nobukatsu - WHO IS WHO!?
I just couldn't follow at times. There's just so many similar sounding names.
That aside, the book is chronological, which makes it easy to follow. Major battles are covered and events of importance are explained. There was little left unsaid.
Even though pictures are not essential for these types of books, I'd appreciated it if there was a picture or two, at least for the battles. Graphics would do.
At certain points in the book I noticed some discrepancies between this book and Turnbull's work. Some names differ (e.g. Shitaragahara, field at Nagashino is called Shidahara in Turnbull).
Not a major problem but could be potentialy concerning one if not adressed properly. Names are important in sinic languages; also, writing is important as well.
All in all, the book is great.
Worth the time and money.
And I'm glad I took my time with it because there's so much details in it it's frightening.
I was staring at a certain chapter that deals with the Owari province and different clans of the Oda family. So there would be two major branches and a third "sub-clan" from lower Owari, called Shobata, from which the first unifier of Japan came. Here we meet his family members but everyone has similar names. Everyone is Nobuyori, Nobumitsu, Nobuyasu, Nobuharu, Nobukata, Nobukatsu - WHO IS WHO!?
I just couldn't follow at times. There's just so many similar sounding names.
That aside, the book is chronological, which makes it easy to follow. Major battles are covered and events of importance are explained. There was little left unsaid.
Even though pictures are not essential for these types of books, I'd appreciated it if there was a picture or two, at least for the battles. Graphics would do.
At certain points in the book I noticed some discrepancies between this book and Turnbull's work. Some names differ (e.g. Shitaragahara, field at Nagashino is called Shidahara in Turnbull).
Not a major problem but could be potentialy concerning one if not adressed properly. Names are important in sinic languages; also, writing is important as well.
All in all, the book is great.
Worth the time and money.
June 11, 2019
Most definitely one of the greatest history books I’ve ever read. It reads like a narrative, but is filled with facts and diverting (sometimes grisly) anecdotes. Somehow Mr. Chaplin writes in such a way that the reader gets attached to certain characters, and I feel I knew the Three Unifiers personally.
You have Nobunaga, who is sometimes cruel and destructive, but also appreciates the more beautiful things in life (like tea instruments). He’s passionate and honorable (most times) and one can’t dispute his military genius.
You have Hideyoshi, the sandal bearer turned de facto Shogun whose reforms and legacy is still apparent in Japan today. Hideyoshi is, in my opinion, the most impressive of the Three. You can say Thomas Cromwell went from a peasant to a de facto ruler, too, but I will say Cromwell didn’t build a castle in enemy territory in one night.
And finally, Ieyasu, “The Old Badger”. Maybe the wisest of the Three, and definitely the most skilled in administration (if you want to be broad, Nobunaga was great militarily wise, Hideyoshi diplomatically wise, and Ieyasu administratively wise). He had to chew his fingers (a real habit of his) under two terrifying reigns of two terrifying men, but in the end, he got the last laugh.
The story of Sengoku Jidai is a chaotic but ultimately satisfying one, and I’m very pleased with Chaplin’s presentation of it.
You have Nobunaga, who is sometimes cruel and destructive, but also appreciates the more beautiful things in life (like tea instruments). He’s passionate and honorable (most times) and one can’t dispute his military genius.
You have Hideyoshi, the sandal bearer turned de facto Shogun whose reforms and legacy is still apparent in Japan today. Hideyoshi is, in my opinion, the most impressive of the Three. You can say Thomas Cromwell went from a peasant to a de facto ruler, too, but I will say Cromwell didn’t build a castle in enemy territory in one night.
And finally, Ieyasu, “The Old Badger”. Maybe the wisest of the Three, and definitely the most skilled in administration (if you want to be broad, Nobunaga was great militarily wise, Hideyoshi diplomatically wise, and Ieyasu administratively wise). He had to chew his fingers (a real habit of his) under two terrifying reigns of two terrifying men, but in the end, he got the last laugh.
The story of Sengoku Jidai is a chaotic but ultimately satisfying one, and I’m very pleased with Chaplin’s presentation of it.
April 15, 2023
This is an excellent history of the period leading to the founding of the Takugawa shogunate. Chaplin is able to bring some order to the period, which was extremely chaotic at the beginning, and shows how these three great (though flawed) leaders were able to unify Japan.
That there was 250 years of peace after Ieyasu became shogun is impressive, but as the author notes, this was somewhat at the expense of an ossifying of Japanese society and culture, leaving them ill prepared for Commodore Perry's arrival in the 19th century.
This wasn't an easy book for me to read since I know very little about Japanese geography or culture. I found it very difficult to keep track of who was who - so many polysyllabic names! But I found the book to be richly rewarding.
That there was 250 years of peace after Ieyasu became shogun is impressive, but as the author notes, this was somewhat at the expense of an ossifying of Japanese society and culture, leaving them ill prepared for Commodore Perry's arrival in the 19th century.
This wasn't an easy book for me to read since I know very little about Japanese geography or culture. I found it very difficult to keep track of who was who - so many polysyllabic names! But I found the book to be richly rewarding.
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 8, 2024DNF ☠️
i really wanted to like this book but i couldn’t pull myself together and finish it. It’s way too dry!
For a historian or researcher with an interest in ‘Warring states period’ this may be heaven sent material. It covers all the daimyos with their actions with their families during a 3-century period or so. I don’t need all that. I don’t need 25 new characters in each chapter. I am not reading this with a pen in my hand.
All I wanted was to follow a story line from teenage Oda Nobunaga to the battle of Sekigahara. Because it’s a good damn story.
Maybe another time, another author.
i really wanted to like this book but i couldn’t pull myself together and finish it. It’s way too dry!
For a historian or researcher with an interest in ‘Warring states period’ this may be heaven sent material. It covers all the daimyos with their actions with their families during a 3-century period or so. I don’t need all that. I don’t need 25 new characters in each chapter. I am not reading this with a pen in my hand.
All I wanted was to follow a story line from teenage Oda Nobunaga to the battle of Sekigahara. Because it’s a good damn story.
Maybe another time, another author.
February 21, 2022
While this book is a good summary of the unification of Japan, it is a slog to get through. The author includes an excessive amount of names which have no bearing on the overall history other than being the member of a household, etc. Names that recur or conduct important activities, sure. All of the rest, excessive. The analysis is often missing or heavily biased as well. Overall, a good intro but anyone wanting more depth needs to supplement this work with different literature.
November 2, 2019
If you are looking for an in-depth, yet eminently readable account of the Sengoku period covering the lives of the three great unifiers of Japan, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, this is the book for you. I am a history buff with a long-standing interest in Japan and this is probably the most exciting book I have read about Japanese history. Highly recommended!
March 21, 2020
Very good summary of history
This covers a very interesting period in Japan, and it does so very well. It’s a bit confusing, as the names (at least to me) are not intuitive, and there is a lot of intermarriage and therefore, similar names for the various figures. But once you get used to that, it gives an excellent summary of how Japan became one country.
This covers a very interesting period in Japan, and it does so very well. It’s a bit confusing, as the names (at least to me) are not intuitive, and there is a lot of intermarriage and therefore, similar names for the various figures. But once you get used to that, it gives an excellent summary of how Japan became one country.
October 27, 2018
Wonderfull book however i lacked a map and strategic schemes therefore had to read with the atlass and wikipedia open. Otherwise the grasp of the book is hardly percieved. Neverthelesa the
book is instrumental in introduction to Japaneese mindset.
book is instrumental in introduction to Japaneese mindset.
January 31, 2022
Comprehensive and fascinating account of the Warring States Period in Japan and its many remarkable protagonists and stories.
Would have profited from maps, even more translated quotes and a better copy-edit, but it was still such a captivating read.
Would have profited from maps, even more translated quotes and a better copy-edit, but it was still such a captivating read.
February 2, 2020
Great book
Great book, once you get past the opening summary, though some names of the vassals do get confusing. Would recommend.
Great book, once you get past the opening summary, though some names of the vassals do get confusing. Would recommend.
February 17, 2022
The Sengoku Jidai is covered in several media forms in the West. A current Netflix documentary, video games, and the occasional NHK program are examples. These are the typical gateways for anyone wanting to learn more about any historical period; this is how I began a decades-long interest in World War II, for example. Usually, if you want to learn more about such periods, reading a popular (non-academic) history is the next step up.
However, books on this period are a strange exception in this (admittedly sporadic) coverage. A web search reveals that one-volume, English accounts of this period are rare. Chaplin’s book is the only contemporary book readily available right now. As a result, this book is what readers interested in this period are forced to choose if they want to deepen their knowledge and understanding. As it is arguably the “high samurai” era, the Warring States period is prime subject matter for learning about feudal Japan.
It is not clear what in his professional or personal background would have enabled him to take on such a monumental task, covering roughly 150 years of chaotic history. Tackling such a subject would probably be a challenge for many professional scholars, let alone an amateur, especially for a non-native Japanese speaker.
Indeed, the topic may have proven too much for Chaplin to organize and tell well. Chaplin’s book is dense and the prose not always sharp and elegant, making reading a chore. For example, he stumbles out of the gate early, writing that the Sengoku Jidai was the third re-unification of Japan. I think he means that it was either the third unification, or the second re-unification after the first unification. And his accounting of those three unifications isn’t entirely clear either.
Other passages include a blizzard of Japanese terms that he does not establish well. Some are mentioned in passing and could have been replaced with English versions for clarity and readability. As a consequence, we are presented with challenges like this one: “Under a new code of law, the gosei baishi kimoku, the bakufu further codified the duties of the shugo and jito in their dealings with both the gokenin and the kuge.”
Chaplin also ranges far and wide in covering the period. This isn’t just a story of the three unifiers, but Chaplin describes Japanese society at the time. He includes a staggering amount of detail, and as I want to learn as much as I can, I tried to absorb it all. Even so, Chaplin often doesn’t know when to restrain himself, like he tells us, “Rice cultivation began each year with the seeding of nursery beds,” and proceeds to tell us even more aspects of rice farming. In a politico-military history like this, this is kind of like detailing wheat farming in a history of the Eastern Front, or corn farming when describing the battle of Antietam.
One might think that the three unifiers themselves would provided a natural organizing structure for such a history. That is true with Chaplin’s work to some degree. However, if there is an interesting anecdote or aside about some retainer, lady, or minor lord, Chaplin can’t seem to help himself and tells it. He also does not stick with one of the three unifiers in sections, which makes some kind of sense because they were contemporaries. Yet, for a newcomer to this history, it can be quite baffling to be diverted from a chapter on the young Nobunaga, into one about a noble boy named Takechiyo. Only with a Google search did I put together that this boy would later become Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of several names he would (confusingly) adopt throughout his life. Chaplin owes it to readers to establish this connection early, or perhaps simply to just name him Ieyasu all the while as a narrative convenience and footnote the man’s actual name.
Yet, Chaplin’s book does have some standout chapters, ones that have more to do with the cultural and political spectacle of the times. He writes with sparkling clarity on background issues like the arrival of Christianity to Japan around this time, Hideyoshi’s authoritarian measures, and the various aspects of the tea ceremony. These are some of his best chapters and display Chaplin’s strengths, more so than the rest of the book. The military and biographical sections pale in comparison, and those fill most of the book, as one would expect.
Despite the ups and downs in his prose, the history itself is fascinating on its own, enough to have kept my interest, and Chaplin packs a lot of it in here. However, it lacks any kind of thesis or over-arching theme. Much of the action is difficult to follow in detail, because the book lacks tactical and operational maps, which would help understand the challenges and decision-making commanders faced. Chaplin also does not offer detailed footnotes or a robust bibliography, leaving the impression when reading it that this is a downstream translation and synthesis of secondary Japanese sources.
While the events and people make the period intriguing, as a contribution to Western popular understanding of the period, it is rather lacking, though it may be the best we have for now.
However, books on this period are a strange exception in this (admittedly sporadic) coverage. A web search reveals that one-volume, English accounts of this period are rare. Chaplin’s book is the only contemporary book readily available right now. As a result, this book is what readers interested in this period are forced to choose if they want to deepen their knowledge and understanding. As it is arguably the “high samurai” era, the Warring States period is prime subject matter for learning about feudal Japan.
It is not clear what in his professional or personal background would have enabled him to take on such a monumental task, covering roughly 150 years of chaotic history. Tackling such a subject would probably be a challenge for many professional scholars, let alone an amateur, especially for a non-native Japanese speaker.
Indeed, the topic may have proven too much for Chaplin to organize and tell well. Chaplin’s book is dense and the prose not always sharp and elegant, making reading a chore. For example, he stumbles out of the gate early, writing that the Sengoku Jidai was the third re-unification of Japan. I think he means that it was either the third unification, or the second re-unification after the first unification. And his accounting of those three unifications isn’t entirely clear either.
Other passages include a blizzard of Japanese terms that he does not establish well. Some are mentioned in passing and could have been replaced with English versions for clarity and readability. As a consequence, we are presented with challenges like this one: “Under a new code of law, the gosei baishi kimoku, the bakufu further codified the duties of the shugo and jito in their dealings with both the gokenin and the kuge.”
Chaplin also ranges far and wide in covering the period. This isn’t just a story of the three unifiers, but Chaplin describes Japanese society at the time. He includes a staggering amount of detail, and as I want to learn as much as I can, I tried to absorb it all. Even so, Chaplin often doesn’t know when to restrain himself, like he tells us, “Rice cultivation began each year with the seeding of nursery beds,” and proceeds to tell us even more aspects of rice farming. In a politico-military history like this, this is kind of like detailing wheat farming in a history of the Eastern Front, or corn farming when describing the battle of Antietam.
One might think that the three unifiers themselves would provided a natural organizing structure for such a history. That is true with Chaplin’s work to some degree. However, if there is an interesting anecdote or aside about some retainer, lady, or minor lord, Chaplin can’t seem to help himself and tells it. He also does not stick with one of the three unifiers in sections, which makes some kind of sense because they were contemporaries. Yet, for a newcomer to this history, it can be quite baffling to be diverted from a chapter on the young Nobunaga, into one about a noble boy named Takechiyo. Only with a Google search did I put together that this boy would later become Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of several names he would (confusingly) adopt throughout his life. Chaplin owes it to readers to establish this connection early, or perhaps simply to just name him Ieyasu all the while as a narrative convenience and footnote the man’s actual name.
Yet, Chaplin’s book does have some standout chapters, ones that have more to do with the cultural and political spectacle of the times. He writes with sparkling clarity on background issues like the arrival of Christianity to Japan around this time, Hideyoshi’s authoritarian measures, and the various aspects of the tea ceremony. These are some of his best chapters and display Chaplin’s strengths, more so than the rest of the book. The military and biographical sections pale in comparison, and those fill most of the book, as one would expect.
Despite the ups and downs in his prose, the history itself is fascinating on its own, enough to have kept my interest, and Chaplin packs a lot of it in here. However, it lacks any kind of thesis or over-arching theme. Much of the action is difficult to follow in detail, because the book lacks tactical and operational maps, which would help understand the challenges and decision-making commanders faced. Chaplin also does not offer detailed footnotes or a robust bibliography, leaving the impression when reading it that this is a downstream translation and synthesis of secondary Japanese sources.
While the events and people make the period intriguing, as a contribution to Western popular understanding of the period, it is rather lacking, though it may be the best we have for now.
April 23, 2021
Did not finish. Very, VERY dry. Might try again at another date, but it was putting me to sleep.
May 13, 2021
This book Is very awesome.
June 24, 2021
A great book that focuses on the events of the Sengoku Jidai. Highly recommend!
May 5, 2022
5 for content, 2 for editing/proofreading
June 3, 2024
Very detailed, but it does help paint a good picture of the sengoku period.
June 22, 2024
Great content, sometimes devolves into parade of names you'll never see again
August 9, 2024
Amazing book really comprehensive and well written. This also cemented my love for ieyasu and hatred for hideyoshi. Amazon book 5/5⭐
January 6, 2021
Amazing book. Incredibly dense. Sometimes found myself glazed over the names of all the different vassals.
But the small anecdotal stories are so compelling, the characters/people are presented so thoughtfully in this book. I came out of the book with such a deep appreciation for Ieyasu and Hideyoshi as historical figures and competent strategic leaders.
The descriptions of battles, heroics, the numerous familial dramas that led to ordered suicides... just an incredibly compelling era full of wonderful stories that are put together so well in this book. awesome.
But the small anecdotal stories are so compelling, the characters/people are presented so thoughtfully in this book. I came out of the book with such a deep appreciation for Ieyasu and Hideyoshi as historical figures and competent strategic leaders.
The descriptions of battles, heroics, the numerous familial dramas that led to ordered suicides... just an incredibly compelling era full of wonderful stories that are put together so well in this book. awesome.
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