In Western literature about samurai and their armies during the peak period of the 16th and early 17th centuries, a detailed analysis of the armies themselves has been lacking until now. How were they composed, what hierarchies existed, what roles did warriors of different weapon types play, and what were the actual differences compared to European warfare? How did these armies, which numbered up to and sometimes over 100,000 men, function, what tactics did they employ, and lastly - of interest to figure collectors - where did each individual samurai stand in the battle formation? This work, structured in two volumes, is largely based on the evaluation of Japanese sources and Japanese-language secondary literature.