Learning about samurai

jkid · Postby **jkid** » November 16th, 2006 2:34 pm

Hi all,
I want to learn more about the samurai class in Japan. Any book recommendations?

Thanks.

Bueller_007 · Postby **Bueller_007** » November 16th, 2006 5:15 pm

jkid wrote:Hi all,
I want to learn more about the samurai class in Japan. Any book recommendations?

Thanks.

I've not read any of them, but from what I know, these are the standard samurai books:

Book of the Five Rings
Bushido
Hakagure
Musashi

Otherwise, I'm sure Wikipedia has a ton of information.

jkid · Postby **jkid** » November 16th, 2006 10:42 pm

I will look into these. I didn't even think of Wikipedia *wow* how very ばか of me!

Thanks Buellerさん　

Bueller_007 · Postby **Bueller_007** » November 17th, 2006 9:11 am

Oops. It's "Hagakure", not "Hakagure".

The 47 Ronin Tale might also be a good thing to read.

Ben · Postby **Ben** » November 19th, 2006 11:29 pm

Stephen Turnbull has written some excellent books on the history of the samurai.

jkid · Postby **jkid** » November 21st, 2006 5:31 pm

Thanks for that, his book are sure to be very helpful.

Ben · Postby **Ben** » November 22nd, 2006 1:56 am

No problem, glad to be able to help! ^^

Yoshiko · Postby **Yoshiko** » December 18th, 2006 8:45 pm

I read 'Taiko' by Yoshikawa.

asahi_nysurf · Postby **asahi_nysurf** » December 25th, 2006 3:55 pm

Death in Midsummer by Mishima. :wink:

Jordi · Postby **Jordi** » March 25th, 2007 1:31 am

I'm reading Musashi by Yoshikawa right now and I must say, it's really informative!

Yoshiko · Postby **Yoshiko** » March 25th, 2007 7:00 pm

Great! I bought Musashi in a second hand bookstore. Not read it yet.

What do you think of Haruki Murakami? I read 'Umibe no Kafuka'. Well, in dutch (Kafka op het strand) ... I think in English it is 'Kafka on the beach'.
I also saw a documentary about him, 'Dinner with Murakami'.

debito · Postby **debito** » April 1st, 2007 3:27 am

Murakami-san does not write about Samurai.

If you want to learn the true ways of the bushido warrior, watch the movie "The Last Samurai"

Yoshiko · Postby **Yoshiko** » April 1st, 2007 10:11 pm

I know Murakami doesn't write about samurai. OK, maybe its a bit off-topic.
I've got the DVD of The last samurai and also saw it in the cinema. But I think Tom should have died. :evil:

and it's too Hollywood. If you want to know something about samurai, this movie is just a start.
I recommend 'Gohatto' :lol:

Anyway, the books mentioned above are much more useful, like 'Go rin no sho', like Bueller-san said. (Book of five rings)

debito · Postby **debito** » April 2nd, 2007 7:34 am

Gohatto? I wouldn't recommend such a homo-erotic pretty boy film for anyone learning about Samurai. Check out Akira Kurosawa's films. Thanks.

Yoshiko · Postby **Yoshiko** » April 2nd, 2007 5:51 pm

Did you see the smiley? I said it because The Last Samurai is this 'great hero' epic kind of movie.

Learn Japanese - JapanesePod101.com

Learning about samurai

Learning about samurai

Re: Learning about samurai

you believe the movies? :wink: