If you know anything of Japan, then you most certainly know of the Samurai! The
feared warriors of this island nation, they ruled and conquered to carve the groundwork
of Japan as we now know it. Opposition was not nonexistent, as the history of
the Ninjas well testifies, yet the Samurai usually faced and subdued all obstacles
in their path. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a famous example of the Samurai--indeed,
he was a Samurai who succeeded in unifying Japan!
Famous Samurai abound. Throughout the history of Japan there were great swordsmen,
great leaders, and wise men to progress the culture towards modern times. The
Samurai are probably one of the greatest cultural traditions of any nation!
This set positions a color theme of red against blue. With the Shogun dressed
to the 'T' in his armor and equipage, he looks the very picture of a champion
Samurai. His wife at his side presents a splendid taste of Japanese women's
dress from that era. The minor warlords, the bishops, are dressed quite well
in their armor, and display various other features of Samurai weapons and accouterments.
The leaping horse and his rider also demonstrate a little thought of aspect
of warfare of the island--horsemen. A critical part of any army, a Samurai's
horse was well-bred and wiry. The castle of the Shogun or ruler also depicts
the famous pagoda style architecture of Feudal Japan; turned up roof corners,
and many tiers to the building will indicate immediately where the building
comes from. And, finally, the rank of pawns, in this case being the martial
figures of Samurai soldiers. For the red side, the soldier is relaxing on one
knee, holding the short sword close at hand. The blue 'pawns' are upright, calmly
awaiting the onset of the conflict--but behind those calm features are keep
eyes, a great mind, and a formidable warrior!
Test your skills, with a Samurai themed battle, and see if you have the wits
to defeat the most famous warriors of Japan!
These finely made chess sets are made of poly-resin plastic. Each piece is
hand-painted using long lasting, lead-free paint. These pieces are not recommended
for children below 10 years of age since they will break if dropped or played
with roughly.
Specifications:
- King size: 3-1/4" tall, 1-1/8" bases.
- Pieces only. Chessboard not included.
- Set weighs 3 pounds.