Williamsburg Regional Library

African samurai, the true story of Yasuke, a legendary black warrior in feudal Japan, Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

individual biography

illustrationsmaps

no index present

non fiction

African samurai

bibliography

1091716966

Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard

the true story of Yasuke, a legendary black warrior in feudal Japan

Kidnapped as a child, Yasuke had ended up a servant and bodyguard to the head of the Jesuits in Asia, with whom he traversed India and China learning multiple languages as he went. His arrival in Kyoto, however, literally caused a riot. Most Japanese people had never seen an African man before, and many of them saw him as the embodiment of the black-skinned Buddha. Among those who were drawn to his presence was Lord Nobunaga, head of the most powerful clan in Japan, who made Yasuke a samurai in his court. In the four hundred years since, Yasuke has been known in Japan largely as a legendary, perhaps mythical figure. In telling his story, Lockley and Girard offer a new perspective on race in world history and a vivid portrait of life in medieval Japan. -- adapted from jacket

Prelude: Yasuke de gozaru -- Warrior. A welcome to Japan ; Only the grace of God ; The ghosts of Africa ; Seminary life ; The terms of employment ; The Witch of Bungo ; Pirates and choir boys ; A riot on Monday ; Tenka Fuba ; Feats of strength -- Samurai. Guest of honor ; Treasures old and new ; The way of warriors ; His Lord's whim ; Oda at war ; The dead are rising ; Collecting heads ; Fuji-san ; Battle cry ; The Honnō-ji incident -- Legend. Japan, tomorrow ; The guns of Okitanawate ; Possible paths ; Yasuke through the ages -- Afterword

adult