Few warriors are as famous as the Japanese samurai. We rememberthose beautiful swords and those fearsome helmets. Werecall, with both horror and fascination, how some chose to endtheir own lives. But no one can understand the Japanese samuraiwithout knowing Minamoto Yoshitsune.Yoshitsune's story unfolds in the late twelfth century,during the adolescence of the samurai. Yes, cultures have theiryouth, maturity, and old age, just as people do. During Yoshitsune'slifetime the samurai awakened. Their culture was bold,rebellious, and eager to flex its muscle. The samurai would ultimatelydestroy Japan's old way of life and forge a new oneusing fire and steel and pain.Yoshitsune was at the very heart of this samurai rising.Hostage, runaway, fugitive, rebel, and hero, he became themost famous warrior in Japanese history. The reason is simple:Yoshitsune was the kind of man other samurai longed to be. Excerpted from Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune by Pamela S. Turner All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.