Table of Contents

List of Figures. Acknowledgements. 1. Masakado and His Legacy. Masakado's Legacy. The First Samurai. 2. Masakado's World. The Court and the Countryside. Premise, Reality and Adjustment. Tax Farmers, Princes and Bandits. Alliances and Immigrants. The Taira in the East. 3. Masakado and His Uncles. The Alliance. The Battle at Shimozuke Capital. Yoshikane's Revenge. 4. New Enemies and New Friends. The Feud with Sadamori. The Quarrel in Musashi. Ambushes and Raids. Rainbows, Earthquakes and Bandits. Conclusion. 5. Insurrection. The Incident at the Hitachi Capital. Lord of the Kant. The Court's Response. "Insurrections East and West". Conclusion. 6. Apotheosis. The Letter to Fujiwara Tadahira. Rebellion or Redemption? Miscreancy & Misfire in Hitachi. Fujiwara Hidesato. Blunder, Mishap and Rout. The Final Reckoning. Conclusion. 7. Epilogue. Seeking Sumitomo. And to the Victors. Posterity. Conclusion. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

About the Author

Karl Friday is a professor of history at the University of Georgia. A renowned expert on the samurai and early Japanese history, he is the author of four books and has appeared on numerous A&E, History, and Discovery Channel programs.