Sunstruck Giant Volume 1

Sunstruck Giant: The Sino-Japanese War of 1894–95 presents a thorough military history of the conflict, detailing its campaigns, battles, and key figures. Drawing on previously untranslated Chinese sources, it is the first English-language work to provide a truly comprehensive view of both sides in this often-forgotten war.

Marking the death rattle of one empire and the rise of another, the First Sino-Japanese War is frequently portrayed as the ultimate contrast between a “backward” China and a fully modernized Japan. This nationalistic lens has led many to overlook both the redeeming qualities of the Chinese military and the serious failures of the Japanese. Sunstruck Giant, by contrast, examines in detail the specific strategic, tactical, and individual actions and decisions of both combatants. The text is richly illustrated with rare photographs and artwork, many published here for the first time.

Volume 1 lays the essential foundation for understanding the conflict, analysing the organisation, leadership, doctrine, and equipment of the Qing and Imperial Japanese armed forces on the eve of war. It examines the structure, development, and performance of the principal Chinese and Japanese armies and navies, reconstructing their uniforms, ranks, and weapon systems in unprecedented detail. The volume includes extensive colour artwork of Chinese uniforms, flags, and equipment, many reconstructed from private and museum collections, together with detailed coverage of Imperial Japanese Army uniforms.

Volume 2 narrates the course of the war itself, from the Korean crisis and opening naval engagements to the major land battles in Korea, Manchuria, and the Liaodong Peninsula, culminating in Japan’s victory and China’s humiliating peace. It analyses the strategy, tactics, and logistics of both sides, assessing the human and political dimensions of the conflict and its long-term consequences for East Asian geopolitics.

Previous works on this period have been limited by their lack of access to Chinese- and Japanese language sources, but Sunstruck Giant bridges that gap.

"...Overall, this is a very readable and surprisingly gripping account of a short, sharp war that changed a lot more than people tend to realise. Informative without being heavy, and interesting without trying too hard. If this conflict has ever felt like a blind spot, Sunstruck Giant is a very good place to start." carryingsonupthedale Blog