The Japanese Sword: The Soul of the SamuraiDrawing on the V&A's magnificent collection, this illustrated survey examines the development of the Japanese sword in an historical and social context from the 8th to the 12th century. The development of the sword from its origins as one of the world's most effective cutting weapons in seen in the context of the emergence and development of Japan's ruling military class, the samurai, to whom it was indispensable both as a weapon and symbol of power. The book also deals with the techniques used in the making of the sword and the associated terminology. In addition to weapons from the V&A's own collections, illustrations include comparative materials from Japan's Tokyo National Museum, as well as prints showing graphic depictions of swords in action. |
Contents
Acknowledgements | 6 |
Development in the Heian Period AD 7941185 | 20 |
The Muromachi and Momoyama Periods 13331600 | 40 |
Copyright | |
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armour arts Ashikaga Bakufu battle became Bizen blade signed Buddhist Buke Sho-Hatto carried carved castle century chōji chokutō clan culture curvature curve cutting edge dagger daimyō daishō decorated deity developed distinctive early Edo period emperor fighting forging Gassan gatsu Gift Gokaden gold Gotō grain gunome Heian period Hideyoshi hilt Hōjō Hon'ami honour horimono Ieyasu imperial inscriptions itame Japan Japanese sword jihada Kamakura period Kami katana kissaki known Kyoto Kyūshū lacquer loyalty manufacture martensitic Masamune Meiji meitō merchants metal fittings metalworkers military class Minamoto Mino Momoyama mounted Muromachi period Musashi Myōju naginata nakago Nara nioi Nobunaga notare numbers omote Osafune Osaka particularly plate polearms produced province rōnin Sagami samurai Sankin Kōtai Satsuma scabbard shape shinogi Shintō shōgun shōgunate shortened signature smiths steel style suguha sword fittings swordsmiths tachi Tachi blade Taira tang tantō Tokugawa family Tokyo National Museum traditional tsuba wakizashi warrior weapon worn Yamashiro Yamato yari