The ashigaru were the foot soldiers of old Japan. Although recruited first to swell an army's numbers and paid only by loot, the samurai began to realise their worth, particularly with arquebuses and spears, until well-trained ashigaru made up a vital part of any samurai army. This book tells the story of the ashigaru for the first time, their origins, recruitment training and use in various wars, such as the Gempei Wars of 1180-1185 and the Onin War of 1467-1477. Stephen Turnbull draws on previously untranslated Japanese sources and unpublished illustrations that show the range of ashigaru activity, from sailors to catapult artillery men as well as the disciplined ranks of warriors that they had become.
| Published | Mar 25 2001 |
|---|---|
| Format | Paperback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 64 |
| ISBN | 9781841761497 |
| Imprint | Osprey Publishing |
| Illustrations | 70 black and white photographs and 10 original colour artworks |
| Dimensions | 248 x 184 mm |
| Series | Warrior |
| Short code | WAR 29 |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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