THE SAMURAI AND THE SACRED
Osprey Publishing Ltd 2006. 224 pp. Very fine. Richly illustrated. Publisher's hardcover with dustjacket. The fierce loyalty and self-sacrificing attitude of the samurai have made them both a legend and a cult. However, although their military prowess and skill in the martial arts have been studied exhaustively, an understanding of their belief system still eludes many. The original work examines the spiritual world of the samurai, from their attachemnt 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 kamikaze pilots - the suicide bombers of their day. He also lokks at the fascinating history of Japan´s Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christians). as well as the growing cult status of the samurai both in Japan and in the West.
