Buy new:
-20% $17.59
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$17.59 with 20 percent savings
List Price: $21.95

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Wednesday, May 15. Order within 12 hrs 34 mins
Only 11 left in stock (more on the way).
$$17.59 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$17.59
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$12.63
Very Good Condition - May show some limited signs of wear and may have a remainder mark. Pages and dust cover are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. Very Good Condition - May show some limited signs of wear and may have a remainder mark. Pages and dust cover are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. See less
FREE delivery May 21 - 22. Details
Or fastest delivery May 15 - 20. Details
Only 2 left in stock - order soon.
$$17.59 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$17.59
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by bellwetherbooks.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

The Taiheiki: A Chronicle of Medieval Japan - Translated With an Introduction and Notes (Tuttle Classics) Paperback – March 15, 2004

by Helen Craig McCullough (Translator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$17.59","priceAmount":17.59,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"17","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"59","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"B71UJIstLAQpERghJVgMb%2BlUt1vBjqsGmySJRv7QIcBeLZkVzLsdbjtq3ca1d%2BWQMX9VK%2FNKkeIDcyQTxiFUoI4VIWIQc4HQw2cRIbZ%2B53jECxd1EbYEynjY3bWvzl1L9N4BVG3qzJ0%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$12.63","priceAmount":12.63,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"12","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"63","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"B71UJIstLAQpERghJVgMb%2BlUt1vBjqsGDMxzUXL9xcEAlTcH0F7jZIaGYZXbMrXGXv0sERGG8lMBHmxd0%2BcZomv8PsGByysVkeOg4JFOkpL%2Fzj6tAxl%2Bli9EhPdtHtS0RZtyVgU%2F%2FIsH0YJPYugPrXpVZupKVGKxanB0%2Fp5zXVgK8amVAc%2FqNg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

An epic saga of samurai warfare in medieval Japan

This celebrated literary classic has delighted generations of Japanese. In its pages, you will find a vivid contemporary description of the fourteenth-century intrigues and battles that led to the destruction of the Hojo family, the military overlords of the nation, and made it possible for the Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339), one of Japan's most remarkable sovereigns, to reassert the power of the throne. Go-Daigo's first hesitant attempts to overthrow the Hojo, the early defeats suffered by his supporters, his dethronement and exile, the legendary exploits of his generals, the growing strength of his arms, and his ultimate return to the throne are all recounted in engrossing detail.

The anonymous authors of The Taiheiki diversify their narrative through the skillful use of the rich treasure house of the Chinese dynastic histories, the verse of the Six Dynasties and T'ang, and the Confucian teachings underlying the strict warrior code of loyalty and filial piety. They write with a deep sense of the inevitability of karma—determined fate and the impermanence of man and his works—but the spirit of the age is reflected in their praise of valor and military prowess, their taste for descriptions of the trappings of war, and their frequent irreverent asides. Considered a part of the gunki monogatari, or war tales canon in Japan, The Taiheiki celebrates martial adventure and can be seen as a prose counterpart to the Homeric epics of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    452 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tuttle Publishing
  4. Publication date
    March 15, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    5.13 x 1 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0804835381
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0804835381
  8. See all details
Next page
All the Little Raindrops: A Novel
"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

Frequently bought together

The Taiheiki: A Chronicle of Medieval Japan - Translated With an Introduction and Notes (Tuttle Classics)
$17.59
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
Only 11 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Tale of the Heike (Penguin Classics)
$18.99
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Tale of the Heike
$23.05
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

About the Author

Helen Craig McCullough (1918-1998) was a well-known American Orientalist. She received her doctoral degree from the University of California and studied at Tokyo University on a Fulbright grant. She was the editor and translator of numerous works from the Japanese and Chinese classic tradition.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tuttle Publishing; First Edition (March 15, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 452 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0804835381
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0804835381
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.06 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.13 x 1 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
33 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Rob, the budding historian
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent tale of war
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2013
Verified Purchase
Fantastic story and engrossing characters. This classic is always an entertaining read, and gives a deep dramatic insight to Japanese royalty and the samurai who follow them. if you like books similar to the tale of genji, then this action packed tale will fit beautifully in your collection.
Helpful
 Report
Alaska Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars What did you expect, it's a history text.
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
It's a History text. A really good one.
Helpful
 Report
Daniel
4.0 out of 5 stars For anyone serious about Japanese history and martial arts
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
Phenomenal primary source on Kusunoki Masashige, and the war between the Hojo regents and Emperor Go-Daigo. This is required reading for

-Anyone who is serious about Japanese martial arts
-Anyone who is serious about Japanese history.

Reading this book, you will obtain an in-depth knowledge of Japanese medieval warfare tactics and strategy, as well as gain insight into the Medieval Japanese culture of the 14th century.

This is one of the 4 Great Gunki Monogatari (Military Tales) of Japanese literature. (Actually there are 5 "Great" Gunki Monogatari, however the 4th one (in chronological order) is not available in English.

The 4 Great Gunki Monogatari are :

Heiji Monogatari
Hogen Monogatari ( I might have the order switched on these two)
Heike Monogatari, also known as the House of Taira.
and lastly: this one- the Taiheiki: The Great Pacification (often times translated as The Great Peace, which makes no sense to me because the book is about a war)

There are only two negatives from me:

1. Helen Craig McCullough does not elaborate which nouns are used, in the original text was the word Bushi? Samurai? Tswuamono? When she talks about Outlaws, Brigands or Bandits, she doesn't mention which nouns she is translating, are they Nobushi? Akuto? Something else? There is no way to know from the text. Instead she elaborates on various religious terms which are of little interest to me because my research is in the military terms.

2. It is not a full translation, this is a translation of the first 12 scrolls (Chapters). In total, there are 40 scrolls (Chapters) in the original Japanese, unfortunately these have never been translated into English aside for the 13th chapter which is supposedly floating around on the internet somewhere. So we never get to see what comes of Ashikaga Takauji or Kusunoki Masaashige, so it really feels like the story was cut off short, which is very sad for me.

Heads up: This caused some confusion for me, but apparently, after the Minamoto Shogunate, the Taira retook control of power of Japan via a branch of Hojo regents at the beginning of the book. This is important to understand at the beginning of the book so this isn't a spoiler.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
sookie
4.0 out of 5 stars good resource if no others available.
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2017
Verified Purchase
this is a good book translation is good enuff for most any one searching for a piece of history of samurai and such should have this n some from hers isnt bad. not a text book but still nice to have.
Helpful
 Report
T. Hooper
4.0 out of 5 stars Samurai Adventure
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2006
The Taiheiki covers a period of Japanese history when there was a struggle between the emperor and the shogun for power. In this tale, the emperor notices that the shogun has amassed more power than he should have, and the emperor laments the days gone by when emperors held power. To remedy this, the emperor starts a rebellion to destroy the shogun's power. However, the shogun controls most of the military, so the emperor's struggles to gain control take on a rebellion or guerilla nature. It's a really fascinating read for those who are interested in samurai, but be warned--there are enough names to make your head spin. If you try to keep up with all of the people in this novel, it could be more of a chore than a pleasure to read. If you just focus on a few of the main characters, then it will be an interesting window into the world of the samurai.
27 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
kazenouta
5.0 out of 5 stars recensione libro
Reviewed in Italy on February 6, 2014
Verified Purchase
Libro giunto in ottime condizioni e in breve tempo. Sono completamente soddisfatto dal servizio. Anche il prezzo era ottimo. bellissima cronaca del giappone antico di cui consiglio la lettura.
Report