日本战国时代，东海道甲斐的武田信玄（中村锦之助 饰）以《孙子兵法》中的“风林火山”为军旗，征战四方，立下赫赫威名。中年浪人山本勘助（三船敏郎 饰）用计投入武田信玄帐下，在武田攻略昔日盟友诹访的过程中，山本堪助全力配合主公的背义战略，击破诹访，虏获诹访家千金由布姬（佐久间良子 饰），山本堪助劝说美丽的由布姬做杀父仇人信玄的侧室，并决心扶立二人的子嗣为武田家之主。信玄在山本等家臣的辅佐下与村上等强敌连番激战，而为了实现自己对由布姬承诺的山本堪助也在暗中为这对儿母子进行谋划……
本片改编自井上靖的同名历史小说。

清朝同治元年（1862年），日本武士高杉晋作（坂东妻三郎饰）搭乘幕府首航的交易船，来华了解大清国现状。船抵上海，高杉与同伴在旅馆主人的侄女玉瑛（李丽华饰）的陪同下，看到了被英国统治的租界，吴淞要塞炮台，以及成千上万吸食鸦片的民众，看清了英美帝国主义的居心。这时，忠王李秀成（严俊饰）率领太平军进逼上海，派遣部将沈翼周（梅熹饰）秘密潜入城内，与英国领事接洽太平军进城事宜。英国领事表示同意太平军入城。一次偶然机会，高杉晋作帮助沈翼周躲过清兵的追逐，二人由此相识并推心置腹交谈，然而在关于英美是否东亚人的朋友这一问题上，二人发生分歧并引起争论。高杉列举事实论证英美对中国有掠夺野心，沈翼周则认为这都是清廷的过错，眼前英国领事答应太平军入城是一种值得信任的友好态度。太平军进城后，李秀成首先下令禁烟。不久，英国领事即背信弃义答应清廷的求援，大举进攻太平军。沈翼周的老父被英军枪杀，妹妹桃花（王丹凤饰）险遭英军蹂躏。桃花的未婚夫周文祥（吕玉堃饰）愤而加入太平军。与此同时，日本国内爆发了反英美的攘夷运动。高杉晋作归国前，特地赶到战场，与沈翼周话别。

A humble and simple Takezo abandons his life as a knight errant. He's sought as a teacher and vassal by Shogun, Japan's most powerful clan leader. He's also challenged to fight by the supremely confident and skillful Sasaki Kojiro. Takezo agrees to fight Kojiro in a year's time but rejects Shogun's patronage, choosing instead to live on the edge of a village, raising vegetables. He's followed there by Otsu and later by Akemi, both in love with him. The year ends as Takezo assists the villagers against a band of brigands. He seeks Otsu's forgiveness and accepts her love, then sets off across the water to Ganryu Island for his final contest.

After their lord is tricked into committing ritual suicide, forty-seven samurai warriors await the chance to avenge their master and reclaim their honor.

After years on the road establishing his reputation as Japan's greatest fencer, Takezo returns to Kyoto. Otsu waits for him, yet he has come not for her but to challenge the leader of the region's finest school of fencing. To prove his valor and skill, he walks deliberately into ambushes set up by the school's followers. While Otsu waits, Akemi also seeks him, expressing her desires directly. Meanwhile, Takezo is observed by Sasaki Kojiro, a brilliant young fighter, confident he can dethrone Takezo. After leaving Kyoto in triumph, Takezo declares his love for Otsu, but in a way that dishonors her and shames him. Once again, he leaves alone.

A poor rickshaw driver finds himself helping a young woman and her son after the woman's husband dies suddenly.

Struggling to elevate himself from his low caste in 17th century Japan, Miyamoto trains to become a mighty samurai warrior.

1943 film by Hiroshi Inagaki