CompleteMartialArts.com - Soldiers of the Dragon: Chinese Armies 1500 BC-AD 1840 (General Military)
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List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $16.47
Your Save: $ 8.48 ( 34% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 355.00951
EAN: 9781846030987
ISBN: 1846030986
Label: Osprey Publishing
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 248
Publication Date: 2006-06-27
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Release Date: 2006-06-27
Studio: Osprey Publishing
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Editorial Reviews:
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The turbulent history of China has seen many dynastic struggles over the centuries, ever since the semi-nomadic tribes of ancient China were unified under the first emperor, Cheng. From the Great Wall to the terracotta army at Xian, monuments to China's many wars, and the men who fought them, litter the landscape. This book tells the incredible story of China's armies form the first documented civilization over 3,000 years ago to the outbreak of the first Opium War with Britain in the middle of the 19th century. Written by an acknowledged expert on Chinese armies, this volume offers details of their colourful uniforms and fascinating weaponry with colour and black and white photographs, artwork, maps and diagrams.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Nice book but keep in mind it's a digest of existing books.
Comment: This is a nice book as an introduction into chinese armies, weapons, uniforms, etc. throughout the ages. It doesn't go indepth so it's nor for historical scolars. It's well suited for scale modelers and other hobbists.
For those who already have the Osprey books Men-at-arms 218, 284, 295, 251 and 307 will have most of the books already since this is these books bundled together. I've not read the whole book yet but the text looks largely the same. Many illustrations are the same, though many of the photos are now in colour and not all pictures appear in both versions. The colour paintings from the Men-at-arms have been reprinted in this book but more like illustrations to go with the text as opposed to uniform diagrams like in the men-at-arm series. The text description is not as extensive as in the original and many of the pictures have been printed smaller.
Would I recommend this book? Yes for those looking for an introduction and who do not yet have the original series. Otherwise, no.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Bland artwork - great price
Comment: This book is a compilation of 5 previous related titles on Chinese history. The disappointment here is in the quality of the illustrations. Whilst their accuracy can be somewhat overlooked due to the fragmentary archaelogical evidence available, the execution of the art by David Sque, Angus Mcbride and Christa Hook are disappointing, especially the latter two given their standing as prominent military illustrators. The artwork by Michael Perry is adequate, even if his figures have a dwarfish look to them. However, the amount of collected info and line illustrations is probably worth the price.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Leaves a lot to be desired
Comment: I am writing a military novel that is set in the Qing period and bought this book in order to get a clear visual grasp of Qing miltary garb, weapons, and tactics, including the endemic terms used to denominate such things. Much to my disappointment, these expectations turned out to be rather high. There are a few pictures, but no terms given for the objects described therein, and a minimum of historical context. There is a grand total of one sentence describing Qing troop formations. The Qing banner armies were arguably the most colorful, most visually striking armies ever to take to the field, with their tall banners and heavy damask battle gowns, yet the author conveys no description of these things. Rebel Han armies of the period, such as the White Lotus Society, are known to have used astonishing martial arts techniques during this period, yet there is no description of this. There is not even a single mention of the famous Shaolin monks who clashed with the Qing at this time. In the end, I was able to take away only two valuable tidbits that I hadn't already gleaned from other Chinese history books.
The book is really more of a sumary of the main military events of each dynastic period, listing names and dates, and outlining things in a very broad and circumspect way. It may have considerable value as a crib sheet or a quick reference for lay readers who just want to get a general idea of Chinese history, but it does not achieve what it purports to do.
Customer Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER GREAT REPRINT FROM OSPREY BOOKS
Comment:
This recent book from Osprey publishing is another in the series of previously published material from softcover now being re-released in hardcover.
This wonderful hardcover book is comprised of the following previously individual books:
Men At Arms 218: Ancient Chinese Armies 1500-200 BC
Men At Arms 284: Imperial Chinese Armies (1) 200 BC-AD 589
Men At Arms 295: Imperial Chinese Armies (2) 590 - 1260 AD
Men At Arms 251: Medieval Chinese Armies 1260 - 1520 AD
Men At Arms 307: Late Imperial Armies 1520 - 1840 AD
This listing above is the exact table of contents for this magnificient book, all being written by C. J. Peers, an author who "studied Oriental history at Cambridge University and is now an acknowledged expert on ancient Chinese armies". While reading another reviewer's opinion that some of Mr. Peers' books are suitable for the lay reader and not the academic may be true, this particular book is more than adequate for someone such as myself not well versed in Chinese military subjects. And for me that is part of its value, it gives me more than I will ever need to know concering this subject. One book does it!
As with every recent oversized book from Osprey, included as standard are maps, illustrations, pictures, paintings, and a very good chronology; and for a book of only 248 pages, it is a real treat for any reader's eye and mind.
As I've stated before when reviewing both THE NORMANS AND THE VIKINGS from Osprey, someone at that publishing house is very wise; wise in reissuing previously published softcover material into a more durable hardcover edition.
If a reader has any interest in the subjects covered by these reprints, be it B-17s, U-Boats, Normans, Vikings, and now, Chinese armies, no better books at an afforable price exist. Anywhere. At any price!
Recommended.
Semper Fi.
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