Voyage to the Land of Blue Mists

Voyage to the Land of Blue Mists PDF Author: Peter Bishop
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
ISBN: 1786290375
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Get Book Here

Book Description
Nobody ever suspected that a secret lay hidden in the picture that Zivilia had inherited from her mother. That it had been painted in the land of Blue Mists, a strange hermit kingdom that lay on the other side of the world, had been long forgotten. Besides, Zivilia knew nothing of the country’s blood-splattered history, or the disruption caused by the League of Ausburg and their traders in the brief period when they were there many years ago. Thus learning her painting held clues as to where to find a lost relict came as a total surprise to her. People in the know seemed to think that it was buried somewhere in that mysterious island archipelago. There was astonishment that her religious order should decide to commission her to locate and then retrieve it. The task could have easily be given to another deemed to be more suitable. How then was she to travel there with her flying fox animal companion Fluffy? Had one of the Divines known that she would need one day to make the voyage there? The answer surely must be ‘Yes.’ Why else would she have made friends with the crew of the small trading ship ‘The Dark Sun’ years ago? Like many things the long journey to solve the mystery and recover the relict wasn’t that straight forward. But then life never is! Is it?

Voyage to the Land of Blue Mists

Voyage to the Land of Blue Mists PDF Author: Peter Bishop
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
ISBN: 1786290375
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Get Book Here

Book Description
Nobody ever suspected that a secret lay hidden in the picture that Zivilia had inherited from her mother. That it had been painted in the land of Blue Mists, a strange hermit kingdom that lay on the other side of the world, had been long forgotten. Besides, Zivilia knew nothing of the country’s blood-splattered history, or the disruption caused by the League of Ausburg and their traders in the brief period when they were there many years ago. Thus learning her painting held clues as to where to find a lost relict came as a total surprise to her. People in the know seemed to think that it was buried somewhere in that mysterious island archipelago. There was astonishment that her religious order should decide to commission her to locate and then retrieve it. The task could have easily be given to another deemed to be more suitable. How then was she to travel there with her flying fox animal companion Fluffy? Had one of the Divines known that she would need one day to make the voyage there? The answer surely must be ‘Yes.’ Why else would she have made friends with the crew of the small trading ship ‘The Dark Sun’ years ago? Like many things the long journey to solve the mystery and recover the relict wasn’t that straight forward. But then life never is! Is it?

Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art

Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art PDF Author: Stephen K. Hayes
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462901832
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 159

Get Book Here

Book Description
Look past the legends and learn about the REAL ninjas of feudal Japan with this entertaining, illustrated ninjutsu guide. Ninjutsu, the least understood of the Japanese martial arts, is an ancient fighting style emphasizing natural movement, responsiveness to adversaries, and absolute practicality. In feudal Japan, ninja were feared for their skill in espionage and, particularly, assassination. Masters of weaponry, stealth, and martial techniques, ninja were credited with supernatural powers because of the near-invincibility of their unique and deadly art. In The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art, Black Belt Hall of Fame member, Stephen K. Hayes, reveals the secrets that lead to the perception of the ninja as warriors of almost sorcerous skill--the art of invisibility, special tools and weapons, and psychological training enabling the ninja to gain advantage in any situation. Chapters include: Perspective--Origin; Organization; Training; At the Height of Power; The Decline; Ninjutsu in the Modern World Search for the Ninja Unarmed Combat--The Ninja Fists; Fighting Postures; Other Factors Weaponry--Chains and Cords; Sticks and Staffs; Canes with Concealed Weapons; The Ninja Sword; Throwing Blades The Way of Invisibility--Sense Deception; Phantom Steps; Reconnaissance; Blending with the Night; Attacking the Eyes; The Art of Disguise Shadow Warriors--Espionage; Commando Tactics The Realm of the Spirit--Psychological Warfare; The Force of the Killer; The Great Harmony

Mists of Iga

Mists of Iga PDF Author: Kyle Mortensen
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category : Japan
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
Real people and events that delve deep into the culture of an epic era, packaged into an entertaining story of adventure and mystery. 1581, In the midst of Japan's warring states, a group of four shinobi have just become some of the few survivors of a scattered tribe. The legendary warlord, Nobunaga Oda, a man obsessed with the unification of Japan, is responsible for the devastation upon the shinobi's home village. In order to avenge their clan, two young brothers make a pact with the former comrades of their father. Unaware, the shinobi are dragged into a mysterious journey in search of a legacy left by their departed mentor that will change the destiny of a nation.

Taro

Taro PDF Author: Blue Spruell
Publisher: Out of the Blue Productions, LLC
ISBN: 1735729205
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 244

Get Book Here

Book Description
A B.R.A.G. MEDALLION HONOREE. Award-winning author Blue Spruell reimagines classic Japanese folklore in an historical fantasy adventure of warlords, swords & mythical beasts from old Japan – Banzai! Lost in the mists of Mount Fuji . . . but no one can escape destiny. Orphaned by a rival warlord and bewitched by a ghost, young Taro must discover his birthright and destiny as the legendary boy samurai and hero of Japan. Accompanied by Tanuki, his shape-shifting badger sidekick, Tarō embarks on a quest of self-discovery and revenge, falls for Kamehime, the teenage samurai daughter of a powerful warlord, and ultimately becomes embroiled in the political struggle for the imperial throne. Along the way, Tarō and his allies face fearsome yōkai, the ghosts, goblins, and ghouls of Japanese folklore. "A riveting tale of betrayal, honor, and revenge that instantly hooks you in and just refuses to let go." - READER'S FAVORITE, Five Stars Review

Essence of Ninjutsu

Essence of Ninjutsu PDF Author: Masaaki Hatsumi
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
ISBN:
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 200

Get Book Here

Book Description
Looks at the history of the ninja and their martial arts, demonstrates the use of various weapons, and clears up misconceptions about the ninja.

War and State Building in Medieval Japan

War and State Building in Medieval Japan PDF Author: John A. Ferejohn
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 0804774315
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 194

Get Book Here

Book Description
The nation state as we know it is a mere four or five hundred years old. Remarkably, a central government with vast territorial control emerged in Japan at around the same time as it did in Europe, through the process of mobilizing fiscal resources and manpower for bloody wars between the 16th and 17th centuries. This book, which brings Japan's case into conversation with the history of state building in Europe, points to similar factors that were present in both places: population growth eroded clientelistic relationships between farmers and estate holders, creating conditions for intense competition over territory; and in the ensuing instability and violence, farmers were driven to make Hobbesian bargains of taxes in exchange for physical security.

The Book of Yokai

The Book of Yokai PDF Author: Michael Dylan Foster
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520271017
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 330

Get Book Here

Book Description
Monsters, ghosts, fantastic beings, and supernatural phenomena of all sorts haunt the folklore and popular culture of Japan. Broadly labeled yokai, these creatures come in infinite shapes and sizes, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water spirits to shape-shifting foxes and long-tongued ceiling-lickers. Currently popular in anime, manga, film, and computer games, many yokai originated in local legends, folktales, and regional ghost stories. Drawing on years of research in Japan, Michael Dylan Foster unpacks the history and cultural context of yokai, tracing their roots, interpreting their meanings, and introducing people who have hunted them through the ages. In this delightful and accessible narrative, readers will explore the roles played by these mysterious beings within Japanese culture and will also learn of their abundance and variety through detailed entries, some with original illustrations, on more than fifty individual creatures. The Book of Yokai provides a lively excursion into Japanese folklore and its ever-expanding influence on global popular culture. It also invites readers to examine how people create, transmit, and collect folklore, and how they make sense of the mysteries in the world around them. By exploring yokai as a concept, we can better understand broader processes of tradition, innovation, storytelling, and individual and communal creativity. Ê

Gaijin Samurai

Gaijin Samurai PDF Author: Jergus Stevko
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 88

Get Book Here

Book Description
A young samurai named Maku sails to Japan from his far away homeland to pursue destiny. His long sail, which he survived only on dried fish and hard liquor, led him to a small part of Kobe, where his tedious walk to the north begins. Challenges await him on every corner, as he is trying to blend into a culture that is just not his, while mastering one of its most complex aspects, the way of the samurai. On his journey, Maku meets people from various social standings and locations, who together paint a mosaic of Edo era Japan and its nuances.If you like a shorter read accompanied by amazing illustrations, tales of adventure, saké, katanas, unforeseeable plot twists, and of course samurais, you will enjoy Gaijin Samurai. Maku's journey from the small port of Kobe to Tokyo is turbulent and full of battles, trickery, and stealth. The story follows an actual journey, just set into a different period, of the author during his time in Japan, who met Masayatz Murasame, a local illustrator and jack of all trades. Together they bring you a stimulating and fused experience of a samurai's journey through the land of the rising sun.Why did Maku come to Japan? What was his true destiny? Who is even Maku?All this is to be revealed in this exciting tale. If you like the Kindle version and would like to have an appealing piece of art at home, please consider our paperback copies, which contain some extra design features. Just take a peek!

Ninja

Ninja PDF Author: Stephen Turnbull
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1473850436
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 361

Get Book Here

Book Description
This history of the ninja uncovers the truth behind the image—from the exploits of medieval ninjas to their modern incarnation as pop culture icons. The ninja is a legendary figure in Japanese military culture, a fighter widely regarded as the world’s greatest expert in secret warfare. The word alone conjures the image of a masked assassin dressed in black, capable of extraordinary feats of daring; a mercenary who disposes of enemies by sending sharp iron stars spinning towards them. This is, of course, a popular myth, based on exaggerations and Hollywood movies. But the truth, as Stephen Turnbull explains in Ninja, is even more fascinating. A leading expert on samurai culture, Turnbull presents an authoritative study of ninja history based on original Japanese sources, many of which have never been translated before. These include accounts of castle attacks, assassinations and espionage, as well as the last great ninja manual, which reveals the spiritual and religious ideals that were believed to lie behind the ninja’s arts. Turnbull’s critical examination of the ninja phenomenon ranges from undercover operations during the age of Japan’s civil wars to the modern emergence of the superman ninja as a comic book character. The book concludes with a detailed investigation of the ninja in popular culture.

The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East

The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East PDF Author: Charles Francis Horne
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : English literature
Languages : en
Pages : 432

Get Book Here

Book Description