Samurai, Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan (Warfare and History Series) Book

Truly exquisite book on early medieval warfare in Japan. Book is written beautifully and it is accessible to any reader - be it student of history and military or just hobbyist. Level of details is great. Interaction within the society, the way state lost the control of military apparatus and the rise of warrior class that will become answerable to no-one are all beautifully portrayed.

Some actions and consequences- like state losing control over armed forces - share great semblance to what happen in Rome prior to its fall and show what happens when monopoly on violence is given to private bodies of people [and this is subject very important for our times].

Samurai predecessors are shown for what they are, military professionals that lived their life by the sword (bow/spear). While they do have a warrior code (that will be romanticized in later centuries) it is clearly shown they were never foolish. All that warrior ethos and honor talk and social standing is OK as long as warrior is alive and to stay alive he is to use everything available in dire situation - and this means doing things that might be opposite to all the honor talk.

For all history buffs out there and Japanese military history enthusiasts in particular I highly recommend this book.