From his seat in Xanadu, the great Mongol Emperor of China, Kubla Khan, had long plotted an invasion of Japan. However, it was only with the acquisition of Korea, that the Khan gained the maritime resources necessary for such a major amphibious operation. Written by expert Stephen Turnbull, this book tells the story of the two Mongol invasions of Japan against the noble Samurai. Using detailed maps, illustrations, and newly commissioned artwork, Turnbull charts the history of these great campaigns, which included numerous bloody raids on the Japanese islands, and ended with the famous kami kaze, the divine wind, that destroyed the Mongol fleet and would live in the Japanese consciousness and shape their military thinking for centuries to come.

The Mongol Invasions of Japan 1274 and 1281

The Thirteenth Century was witness to one of the greatest military conflicts. On one side were the Mongols, builders and rulers of the largest empire the world has ever known, and on the other side the samurai of Japan, skilled and disciplined warriors with battle in their blood. This is the story of the only occasion on which a full strength Mongol army was ever defeated.

The Mongol Invasions of Japan

Kamikaze: A Novel of the Mongol Invasions of Japan is an action-packed historical romance set against Kublai Khan's bloody thirteenth-century attempts to invade Japan. Off the battlefield, tensions also run high as aristocrat Atsuko and Ichirō, a swordsmith, fall in love. Forbidden by their families from being together, they find themselves on a path toward destiny that is challenged not only by social norms but sword-wielding samurai, pirates, and even a zealous monk. Award-winning historical fiction author Jeanne Blanchet, PhD, has written the only English-language novel about the Mongol invasions of the Land of the Rising Sun. Blanchet spent five years after earning her doctorate in Asian studies continuing her research in Japan. Perfect for history buffs, aficionados of action and adventure novels, and those interested in Japan's fascinating culture, Kamikaze will be a welcome addition to many home libraries.

Kamikaze

Timeline of Chinese, Japanese and Korean dynasties and periods -- Prologue : A divine wind -- Hakozaki -- Asian mariners -- Enter the Mongols -- Khubilai Khan -- The song -- Tsukushi -- The Bun'ei War -- The Mongols return -- Kamikaze -- Takashima -- Broken ships -- Distant seas, distant fields -- The legacy of Khubilai Khan's navy.

Khubilai Khan's Lost Fleet

In The Origins of the Lost Fleet of the Mongol Empire, Randall Sasaki provides a starting point for understanding the technology of the failed Mongol invasion of Japan in 1281 CE, as well as the history of shipbuilding in East Asia. He has created a timber category database, analyzed methods of joinery, and studied contemporary approaches to shipbuilding in order to ascertain the origins and types of vessels that composed the Mongol fleet. Although no conclusive statements can be made regarding the origins of the vessels, it appears that historical documents and archaeological evidence correspond well to each other, and that many of the remains analyzed were from smaller vessels built in China's Yangtze River Valley. Large, V-shaped cargo ships and the Korean vessels probably represent a small portion of the timbers raised at the Takashima shipwreck site.

The Origins of the Lost Fleet of the Mongol Empire

The Mongol invasions of Japan, which took place in 1274 and 1281, were major military efforts undertaken by Kublai Khan to conquer Japan after the submission of Korea to vassaldom. Ultimately a failure, the invasion attempts are of historical importance because they set a limit on Mongol expansion and rank as nation-defining events in the history of Japan. With illustrations and maps

The Mongol Invasion of Japan (Illustrated Edition)

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Ghenko, the Mongol Invasion of Japan

Karl Friday, an internationally recognised authority on Japanese warriors, provides the first comprehensive study of the topic to be published in English. This work incorporates nearly twenty years of on-going research and draws on both new readings of primary sources and the most recent secondary scholarship. It overturns many of the stereotypes that have dominated views of the period. Friday analyzes Heian -, Kamakura- and Nambokucho-period warfare from five thematic angles. He examines the principles that justified armed conflict, the mechanisms used to raise and deploy armed forces, the weapons available to early medieval warriors, the means by which they obtained them, and the techniques and customs of battle. A thorough, accessible and informative review, this study highlights the complex casual relationships among the structures and sources of early medieval political power, technology, and the conduct of war.

Samurai, Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan

What was the representation of the Mongol invasions in Japan, and what role did it play as a repertoire of cultural identity before the rise of hyper-nationalism? The Historical Writing of the Mongol Invasions in Japan points to the continuities and ruptures that marked the emergence of a national culture after the Meiji Restoration of 1868.

The Historical Writing of the Mongol Invasions in Japan

War played a central part in the history of Japan. Warring clans controlled much of the country. The wars were usually about land, the struggle for control of which eventually gave rise to perhaps the most formidable warriors of all time: the Samurai. Ancient Yayoi warriors developed weapons, armour and a code during the ensuing centuries that became the centrepiece for the Japanese Samurai. Anthony Bryant chronicles the history, arms and armour of these truly élite warriors, from the rise of the Yayoi through the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans to the Mongol invasions of the 13th century.

Early Samurai AD 200–1500

Beginning in the early days of Japanese history, this book traces the rise and fall of the warrior class over the space of a millennium, from the days of the birth of the Japanese nation through centuries of feudalism to the establishment of the western model of democracy in the late nineteenth century. Focusing on major battles fought by these warriors over a thousand years of Japanese history, the book covers the major engagements of the Heian period; the battles of the Kamakura bakufu and the Mongol invasions of Japan; the medieval period of divided Japan; the Warring State's period; Toyotomi Hideyoshi's two invasions of Korea; and the Meiji restoration and the Boshin War. Brilliantly illustrated with maps and period illustrations of the battles and people concerned, this book will inform and elucidate the complexities of Japanese history.

Samurai Battles

The Mongol Invasions of Japan, comprising two failed campaigns in 1274 and 1281, were pivotal events in Japanese history. Led by Kublai Khan's Yuan Dynasty, these military expeditions aimed to conquer Japan. However, the formidable Japanese defenses, including typhoons (kamikaze) that destroyed the Mongol fleets, thwarted their efforts. These invasions not only highlighted Japan's resilience but also played a crucial role in shaping its national identity and military strategies, leaving a lasting legacy on the island nation's history and culture.


HistoryShelf

Mongol Invasions of Japan

HistoryMap available:

Visit Shop