The invasion of Korea by Japanese troops in May of 1592 was no ordinary military expedition: it was one of the decisive events in Asian history and the most tragic for the Korean peninsula until the mid-twentieth century. Japanese overlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi envisioned conquering Korea, Ming China, and eventually all of Asia; but Korea’s appeal to China’s Emperor Wanli for assistance triggered a six-year war involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers and encompassing the whole region. For Japan, the war was “a dragon’s head followed by a serpent’s tail”: an impressive beginning with no real ending. Kenneth M. Swope has undertaken the first full-length scholarly study in English of this important conflict. Drawing on Korean, Japanese, and especially Chinese sources, he corrects the Japan-centered perspective of previous accounts and depicts Wanli not as the self-indulgent ruler of received interpretations but rather one actively engaged in military affairs—and concerned especially with rescuing China’s client state of Korea. He puts the Ming in a more vigorous light, detailing Chinese siege warfare, the development and deployment of innovative military technologies, and the naval battles that marked the climax of the war. He also explains the war’s repercussions outside the military sphere—particularly the dynamics of intraregional diplomacy within the shadow of the Chinese tributary system. What Swope calls the First Great East Asian War marked both the emergence of Japan’s desire to extend its sphere of influence to the Chinese mainland and a military revival of China’s commitment to defending its interests in Northeast Asia. Swope’s account offers new insight not only into the history of warfare in Asia but also into a conflict that reverberates in international relations to this day.

This book examines the invasion of Korea by Japanese troops in May of 1592. Japanese overlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi envisioned conquering Korea, Ming China, and eventually all of Asia; but Korea's appeal to China's Emperor Wanli for assistance triggered a six-year war involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers and encompassing the whole region. For Japan, the war was "a dragon's head followed by a serpent's tail" : an impressive beginning with no real ending. The author depicts Wanli not as the self-indulgent ruler of received interpretations but rather one actively engaged in military affairs--and concerned especially with rescuing China's client state of Korea. He details Chinese siege warfare, the development and deployment of innovative military technologies, and the naval battles that marked the climax of the war. He also explains the war's repercussions outside the military sphere--particularly the dynamics of intraregional diplomacy within the shadow of the Chinese tributary system.

Best historical fiction book of 2023 - Bjørn Larssen, blogger at Queen’s Book Asylum ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'So good I read it twice,' Lesley Walters, goodreads Shortlisted for the 2022 Selfies Award and the 2022 Chaucer Award; Quarter-Finalist in The Booklife Prize. Loyalty has a price the children pay In the twilight of the old gods, when the last Vikings rule the seas, two cursed orphans meet on an Orkney beach and their fates collide. Stripped of honour, facing bleak loneliness ahead, Skarfr and Hlif forge an unbreakable bond as they come of age in the savage Viking culture of blood debts and vengeance. To be accepted as adults, Skarfr must prove himself a warrior and Hlif must learn to use women's weapons. Can they clear their names and choose their destiny? Or are they doomed by their fathers' acts? The award-winning author of The Troubadours Quartet returns to the 12th century, with skalds instead of troubadours and Viking warriors instead of crusaders. Get ready for authentic medieval adventures steeped in poetry, politics and passion. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell Matthew Harffy and Madeline Miller. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A skilfully written, beautifully researched coming-of-age story set in Viking Orkney.' Lexie Conyngham, the Orkneyinga Murders series' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reads from start to finish like a saga straight from a skald's mouth.' B.A. Morton, The Favour Bank ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'All the hallmarks of a Jean Gill novel - political intrigue, action and adventure, and a love story fraught with difficulties!' Jane Davis, Small Eden

The Secret Doctrine is one of the most influential esoteric and occult books of all time. In the first part of the book the author explains the origin and evolution of the universe itself, in terms derived from the Hindu concept of cyclical development. While in the second part she describes the origins of humanity through an account of "Root Races" said to date back millions of years.

Cute Chibi Mythical Beasts & Magical Monsters features easy-to-follow instructions that can help any artist enjoy the world of chibi, incorporating dynamic expressions and poses to challenge their skills.

Adult content / Complete standalone story Prepare to get down and dirty with a spicy spin on the tale of Romeo and Juliet when a dragonslayer on a mission falls for the dragoness of his dreams. Astrid Drakenstone is a unique half-dragoness with the magical talent of the immortals and the temperament of a human. On the day she’s gifted the legendary sword Ascalon, she’s also dealt an inescapable destiny — in her hands, the sword may either save or doom their kind. Lieutenant Nathaniel Kirkpatrick lives a dual life. Among his fellow sailors, he’s a dependable Naval officer, but to the Knights of Merlin, he’s the reincarnation of Sir Galahad. As one of many old souls reborn each generation, he trains for a single purpose — to slay dragons. With orders to infiltrate the paranormal world, he meets his match when Astrid becomes the target of his next mission. While the discovery of Astrid’s existence introduces a new threat to the knighthood, Nate’s drawn to her in a forbidden attraction. They call her a monster, but he sees a woman with a compassionate soul. Torn between duty or forsaking his brothers, he soon realizes investigating the Drakenstone family for the knights will come at a price: his heart. KEYWORDS: Strong female character, dragon shifter, dragons, paranormal romance, Arthurian legend, knights, ghosts, romeo and juliet