Having emerged in the 10th century as an elite fighting class, the samurai went on to dominate the conduct of warfare in Japan for more than 500 years. While the katana, the samurai sword, has come to be seen as the iconic weapon of the samurai, in reality it was just one element in an evolving array of different arms employed by these warriors, whether at close quarters or as missile weapons. These included the yumi, the asymmetrical war bow; the yari (spear); the odachi, the extra-long sword; a wide variety of polearms, such as the naginata and teiko; maces, clubs and rakes; and latterly firearms, at first modelled on Chinese designs and then based on European precedents (the teppo). Over centurties of warfare culminating in the Sengoku period (1467-1615), these weapons evolved as the functions and composition of the samurai class changed, with some arms being adopted by other combatants such as lower-class troops, rebels and pirates. Drawing upon previously untranslated primary texts and the latest research, Stephen Turnbull places these formidable weapons in their proper context, whether single combat, small skirmishes, pitched battles, set-piece sieges or covert 'special operations'. Featuring carefully selected illustrations and specially commissioned artwork, this study reveals the full range of weaponry employed by the samurai in combat. Book jacket.