Describes the Japanese way of life during the samurai eras through information about the politics, military, culture, and the belief system; also indicates the legacy of the period.
History
Chapter One LIVING GODS AND WARRIORS
Divine Rulers
Birth of the Samurai
Mongol Invasions
Two Warring Courts
The Country at War
Japan's Feudal System
The Path to Unity
The Great Peace
Opening the Doors
Map
Cultural History
Chapter Two ARTISTIC TREASURES
Literature
Paint and Ink
Flowers and Gardens
Everyday Art
Samurai Castles
Belief System
Chapter Three "LAND OF THE GODS"
Shinto: "The Way of the Gods"
Buddhism: The Path to Enlightenment
Confucianism: The Key to Harmony
Christianity: The Persecuted Faith
Beliefs and Society
Chapter Four A CULTURE SHAPED BY FAITH
The Gods in Government
Buddhism and the Arts
Zen and Samurai Ideals
The Cultured Confucian Warrior
The Legacy of the Samurai
Chapter Five ThE LIVING SAMURAI SPIRIT
Dreams of Empire
Business Warriors
Surviving Traditions
The Spirit in Martial Arts