Their name means “one who serves,” and the samurai were the most skilled elite group of combatants the world has ever seen. Their legendary prowess inspired some of Japan’s finest films and literature: years of training, discipline, and self-sacrifice, combined with advanced weaponry and unprecedented tactical acumen, created a force unmatched over centuries of history. This remarkable illustrated volume reveals the essence, truth, and wisdom of these unique warriors. Meet the most renowned of them, see their weapons, explore their military strategies, and even follow their daily lives. Above all, this sublime work illuminates the samurai’s unwavering Bushido philosophy—the strict code of honor that required absolute loyalty to their master above all else, and ritual suicide in preference to dying a dishonorable death.

这是一本英文书，文字与图片相接合，描述了日本古代的武士道起源、著名的武士平生、武士惯用的兵器介绍、盔甲的穿着方法、盔甲的样式以及剖腹的方式等。里边的大部分图片均为江户时期的浮世绘作品，适合喜爱绘画和对日本武士感兴趣的朋友们阅读。