About this Product
The fierce loyalty and self-sacrificing attitude of the Samurai have made them both a legend and a cult. Yet although their military prowess and skills in the martial arts have been studied exhaustively, an understanding of their belief system still eludes many. This original and exciting work examines the spiritual world of the samurai, from their attachment to Japan's mainstream religions of Shinto and Buddhism, to their involvement in Confucianism, Christianity and folk religion. Samurai expert Stephen Turnbull examines important topics such as Zen and the martial arts, modern militarism, the cult of the sword, revenge and suicide, hara kiri and the kamikaze pilots - the suicide bombers of their day. He also looks at the fascinating issue of Japanese religious terrorism, as well as the growing cult status of the Samurai both in Japan and in the West.
Biographical Note
Stephen Turnbull took his first degree at Cambridge University, and received a PhD from Leeds University for his work on Japanese religious history. He has travelled extensively in Europe and the Far East and also runs a well-used picture library. His work has been recognised by the awarding of the Canon Prize of the British Association for Japanese Studies and a Japan Festival Literary Award. He currently divides his time between lecturing in Japanese Religion at the University of Leeds and writing.
Contents
Introduction - Religion in Samurai History
The two faces of Shinto
Buddhism in samurai history
Religion goes to war
Beyond belief
Onward Christian Samurai!
Religion and social control under the Tokugawa
Zen - the religion of the samurai?
Bushido - the soul of the samurai?
Heaven, hell and hara-kiri
Cults, crazes and poison gas
The two faces of Shinto
Buddhism in samurai history
Religion goes to war
Beyond belief
Onward Christian Samurai!
Religion and social control under the Tokugawa
Zen - the religion of the samurai?
Bushido - the soul of the samurai?
Heaven, hell and hara-kiri
Cults, crazes and poison gas
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