NEWS: Professor Stephen Turnbull lectures on “The Real Samurai”
Scholar of samurai history Dr. Stephen Turnbull presented a talk on “The Real Samurai: The True Story Behind the Masks” to a packed audience of students and faculty at the Pardee School on January 26, 2016.
Dr. Turnbull wove a fascinating tale of the place of samurai in Japanese traditional society, accompanied by a rich series of images of samurai armor and artifacts produced over several centuries. The talk ranged beyond traditional Japan to include both foreign ventures by samurai and the penetration of the bushido code of the samurai into the twentieth century. Punctuated by humor and amusing anecdotes dispelling myths about both samurai and ninja, the presentation led to a lively round of questions and answers.
of the samurai siege of wooden palisade Tanaka Castle on a period map.
Professor Turnbull traveled from Leeds University in the United Kingdom to present his talk at Boston University. He is also affiliated with the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and with Akita International University in northern Honshu. For the talk, he drew material from the more than seventy books and many articles he has written on Japanese and Asian history. He is noted for having attracted many students to Asian studies in the UK. His engaging talk at BU was an example of the infectious enthusiasm for which he is noted.
— Professor Grant Rhode