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TaikoOverview
SynopsisSet in 16th century feudal Japan, amidst the backdrop of civil war following the decline of the shogunate, "Taiko" is the story one man's humble beginnings as a poor farmer's son and his rise to unite and later rule all of Japan in the Emperor's name. Table of ContentsBook 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Book 6
Book 7
Book 8
Book 9
Book 10
PraisesThe author admirably describes the character traits of the various warlords and generals, such as Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, Ieyasu, Mitsuhide, and Katsuie. Of course, it is left as an exercise for the reader to compare and reflect on the differences in their respective command style, personalities, and their effects in different situations. Those interested in war will not be disappointed by the attention given to battles, betrayal, and the forming of alliances. Also, as a study of Japanese culture, "Taiko" gives some insight into seppuku, self-sacrifice, and "The Way" of the samurai. CriticismsAs a novel or recreational reading, "Taiko" is a little disappointing. I found the ending extremely abrupt, terse, and hurried, as hinted at by the progressively shorter chapters. Similarly, as a factual account of historical events, the author largely glosses over Hideyoshi's marital infidelity and says nothing of the personal interaction with the Emperor. Maps showing troop movements and terrain would have helped to frame the strategic and tactical decisions made in the various battles. Final AnalysisFrom the many flawed characters, "Taiko" is an observation of human nature. You won't find any pithy quotes. And while "Taiko" contains numerous examples of leadership skills and techniques in recruiting/retaining staff, readers must remember the cultural and temporal context of these situations (i.e., in terms of applicability). CopyrightCopyright © 2003 Anthon Pang. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". |