Samurai History----resp ProfMurf: -------Bryant vs Turnbull

Welcome aboard to samurai history. The best books as introduction are those
by our Anthony Bryant at Indiana University, clearly written and factual.
Dr. Turnbull has a high reputation in the field, but I deem only so because,
until the advent of Tony B. he was the only one who wrote in the field in
English. I have found Turnbull to be distressingly contradictory about the Battle
of Nagashino, in that an important raid that Oda Nobunaga launched against
Takeda Katsuyori Turnbull said in one book the raid was launched the night
before the battle. In another book, he said it was the morning of the battle.
Also, his research on Japanese castle sieges seems way out of line with the
contemporary battle screens which depicted such sieges! Therefore, go by Bryant
in your research, and keep Turnbull for the supply train. Regards, Prof
Murphy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I think Paul Varley's "Warriors of Japan" and Wayne Ferris "Heavenly
Warriors" are two other crucial works. "Japan Before Tokugawa" (edited
by Hall) has a lot of great stuff as well. Of course, it all depends on
what aspect of the samurai history one is interested in.
Cepo, Honolulu

On Nov 20, 2003, at 7:39 AM, murphymurphyjohn@... wrote:

> Welcome aboard to samurai history.  The best books as introduction are
> those
> by our Anthony Bryant at Indiana University,  clearly written and
> factual.���
> Dr. Turnbull has a high reputation in  the field, but I deem only so
> because,
> until the advent of Tony B. he was the only one who wrote in the field
> in
> English.  I have found Turnbull to be distressingly contradictory
> about the Battle
> of Nagashino,  in that an important raid that Oda Nobunaga launched
> against
> Takeda Katsuyori  Turnbull said in one book the raid was launched the
> night
> before the battle.  In another book, he said it was the morning of the
> battle. 
> Also,  his research on Japanese castle sieges seems way out of line
> with the
> contemporary battle screens which depicted such sieges!  Therefore, go
> by Bryant
> in your research,  and keep Turnbull for the supply train.  Regards, 
> Prof
> Murphy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]