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Alexandru's Reviews > Sengoku Jidai. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu: Three Unifiers of Japan
Sengoku Jidai. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu: Three Unifiers of Japan
by
by
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.
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Reading Progress
March 8, 2021
–
Started Reading
March 8, 2021
– Shelved as:
history
March 8, 2021
– Shelved
March 9, 2021
–
9.0%
March 12, 2021
–
19.0%
March 18, 2021
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29.0%
"Oda Nobunaga has taken Kyoto and is marching with Tokugawa Ieyasu to face Asakura Yoshikage at the Battle of Anegawa (1570)"
March 19, 2021
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39.0%
"Oda Nobunaga invades Echizen, defeats the Asakura clan and becomes shogun in all but name. In 1572 Tokugawa Ieyasu is defeated at the battle of Mikatagahara by Takeda Shingen.
In 1573 the legendary samurai Takeda Shingen 'Tiger of Kai' dies. Hi son Takeda Katsuyori takes over as daimyo of the Takeda clan but is deated in 1575 at the Battle of Nagashino by the combined forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu."
In 1573 the legendary samurai Takeda Shingen 'Tiger of Kai' dies. Hi son Takeda Katsuyori takes over as daimyo of the Takeda clan but is deated in 1575 at the Battle of Nagashino by the combined forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu."
March 25, 2021
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52.0%
"In 1582 Oda Nobunaga is betrayed and assassinated by his vassal Akechi Mitsuhide. Hideyoshi Toyotomi rallies his armies and defeats Akechi at the battle of Yamazaki.
Hideyoshi calls the conference of Kiyosu in 1583 and elects Oda's grandson Samboshi as his successor. Hideyoshi becomes the most powerful daimyo as the protector of Samboshi. He further consolidates his power after the battle of Shizugatake."
Hideyoshi calls the conference of Kiyosu in 1583 and elects Oda's grandson Samboshi as his successor. Hideyoshi becomes the most powerful daimyo as the protector of Samboshi. He further consolidates his power after the battle of Shizugatake."
March 28, 2021
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64.0%
"Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu fight out for supremacy, eventually Ieyasu bows to Hideyoshi who becomes an almost undisputed ruler of Japan. The Emperor names Hideyoshi as kampaku, which is the highest court position a non-noble like him could achieve.
Hideyoshi starts his sword hunt, reorganises Japanese society and social classes, bans movement between classes and and banishes the Jesuits priests and Christianity."
Hideyoshi starts his sword hunt, reorganises Japanese society and social classes, bans movement between classes and and banishes the Jesuits priests and Christianity."
March 31, 2021
–
76.0%
"Hideyoshi Toyotomi is mater of Japan but becomes a brutal tyrant. He organises two invasion of Korea in order to keep his restless daimyo's busy. After his death of old age in 1598 a power struggle starts between his senior retainers. Two factions are formed: the Western army of the Toyotomi clan led by Ishida Mitsunary and the Eastern army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu which clash at the famous battle of Sekigahara in 1600"
April, 2021
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Finished Reading
April 2, 2021
–
87.0%
"Tokugawa Ieyasu crushingly defeats the Toyotomi clan at battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Ieyasu becomes the first Tokugawa shogun and begins the reorganisation and unification of Japan. He builds the new capital at Edo.
Meanwhile, Toyotomi Hideyori, Hideyoshi's son and designated heir grows up and becomes a threat to Ieyasu. Hideyori starts a rebellion culminating in the two sieges of Osaka in 1615."
Meanwhile, Toyotomi Hideyori, Hideyoshi's son and designated heir grows up and becomes a threat to Ieyasu. Hideyori starts a rebellion culminating in the two sieges of Osaka in 1615."
