De Re Militari | Book Reviews
Stephen Turnbull
The Mongol Invasions of Japan in 1274-1281
Campaign 217. Oxford: Osprey 2010. 96 pp. $19.95. ISBN 978-84603-456-5.
Although the Mongols defeated most of the military powers they encountered, the Japanese samurai standout as the rare exception. Khubilai Khan’s attempts to conquer Japan receive justified scrutiny not only because they appear as an aberration to Mongol military success, but also because of the so-called kamikaze or Divine Winds that demolished the Mongol fleets and thus, at least according to legend, saving Japan from the Mongols.
Stephen Turnbull is a prolific writer of the Osprey books in all of their series. As a prominent scholar of medieval Japanese warfare and well-acquainted with the Mongols, he is truly in his element with The Mongol Invasions of Japan in 1274-1281. His narrative of the events leading to the invasions and then the invasions combine multiple perspectives and use the more current scholarly literature. Indeed, the author has included much of the archaeological evidence and scholarship that came out only in the previous year, thus making The Mongol Invasions of Japan one of the more update to date Osprey books this reviewer has seen.
The book is organized with an introduction that summarizes the events prior to the actual invasion, including the Mongol campaigns in China and Korea, and how they were tied to the invasion of Japan. Turnbull describes the invasions of Korea and China succinctly yet lucidly and connecting all events in a coherent manner.
The introduction is followed by a comprehensive chronology that begins with the birth of Khubilai Khan. Most of the events are marked by year, with the exception of when the invasions occurred when events are broken down by the day. Turnbull ends the chronology in 1368 with the collapse of the Mongol domination of East Asia. Although the invasions ceased after 1281, the extension of the chronology into the fourteenth century demonstrates that the fear of another invasion lurked in the minds of the Japanese for decades.
The next section discusses opposing commanders. For the Mongols, Khubilai Khan receives the most attention although he was not present at the invasions. Although Khubilai ultimately ordered and envisioned the invasion, it is somewhat lamentable that more attention is not given to the Mongol and Korean commanders actually involved in the invasions. Turnbull simply notes that no prominent names were among the Mongol commanders (whether Mongol or Korean). He does list one Song general, Fan Wenhu, but only that he was a defeated Song general who was then placed in charge of the Chinese troops for the invasion. A few more details about the commanding officers could have been attempted, particularly with the publication of James Delgado’s Khubilai Khan’s Lost Fleet. His discussion of the Japanese commanders is more nuanced and detailed with a focus on Hojo Tokimune, the regent of Japan, and the positions of shugo (constables) and jito (steward) and the role those who held the position played in defending Japan.
In the following section, Opposing Armies, Turnbull examines both sides in terms of tactics, arms, and armor. In this he discusses the sources, including archaeological, art, and documentary evidence. This section in particular is commendable not only for the detailed discussion of the mechanics, advantages, and disadvantages of using the respective armor and weapons, but also the differences and similarities of the two armies in terms of how they engaged in warfare. One weakness of this section, however, is that with the Mongols, Turnbull does not discuss how the Korean or Chinese troops were equipped or how they fought.
The core of the book is, of course, the two attempted invasions which Turnbull describes vividly with a breakdown of each battle or stage. Included in between is a section on what happened in the years between the invasions. The accompanying maps give clear reference to the narrative and adequately display the course of events. Turnbull also provides anecdotes from the sources that add a personal touch to the course of action. Finally, Turnbull does not simply provide a narrative of the battle but analyzes why the Mongols and the samurai conducted certain actions. It his here that Turnbull’s expertise in medieval Japanese warfare becomes particularly important as he views the event in the context of how the samurai fought in the 13th century, with an emphasis on archery, as opposed to the sword emphasis of the later periods.
The final section of the book discusses the aftermath. Here the author discusses the myth of the kamikaze, but also how the myth ties back to the role of Shintoism and Buddhism in thirteenth century Japanese culture. Turnbull also includes a brief section on the battlefields and their current situation—useful information for anyone who wants to visit the sites.
As with all Osprey books, this one is lavishly illustrated with photographs--many taken by or including the author in the photograph--, maps, illustrations from the period, modern art work, as well as renditions of the battle vividly painted by Richard Hook. All of the artwork serves its purpose in illustrating certain points as well as providing the reader with a better grasp of medieval warfare.
In summary, The Mongol Invasions of Japan is one of best and useful Osprey books in terms of content. While not necessarily providing new information, which indeed is not the purpose of the Osprey books, this one does provide a nuanced account of the Mongol invasions using current scholarship that while written for the general public, scholars will also find it a useful work.