Legends and Stories around the Japanese Sword 2

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Publisher : Lulu.com
ISBN 13 : 1300293837
Total Pages : 194 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis Legends and Stories around the Japanese Sword 2 by : Markus Sesko

Download or read book Legends and Stories around the Japanese Sword 2 written by Markus Sesko and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2012-10-11 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is now the second volume of my book ,,Legends and Stories around the Japanese Sword". Once more I try to bring the reader closer to the Japanese sword and dig deeper into the matter by the means of legends, stories and anecdotes about famous swords and their swordsmiths. Like in the first volume, I introduce several famous meito or meibutsu, for example the Kogarasu-maru, Yoshimoto-Samonji, Takemata-Kanemitsu, Kuronbogiri-Kagehide, Tsurumaru-Kuninaga and many more. And the stories deal among other things with the greatest swordsmiths in Japanese history like Masamune, Muramasa, Samonji, Kiyomaro and Kotetsu, to name only a few.

African Samurai

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Publisher : Harlequin
ISBN 13 : 1488098751
Total Pages : 518 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (88 download)

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Book Synopsis African Samurai by : Thomas Lockley

Download or read book African Samurai written by Thomas Lockley and published by Harlequin. This book was released on 2019-04-30 with total page 518 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This biography of the first foreign-born samurai and his journey from Africa to Japan is “a readable, compassionate account of an extraordinary life” (The Washington Post). When Yasuke arrived in Japan in the late 1500s, he had already traveled much of the known world. Kidnapped as a child, he had ended up a servant and bodyguard to the head of the Jesuits in Asia, with whom he traversed India and China learning multiple languages as he went. His arrival in Kyoto, however, literally caused a riot. Most Japanese people had never seen an African man before, and many of them saw him as the embodiment of the black-skinned Buddha. Among those who were drawn to his presence was Lord Nobunaga, head of the most powerful clan in Japan, who made Yasuke a samurai in his court. Soon, he was learning the traditions of Japan’s martial arts and ascending the upper echelons of Japanese society. In the four hundred years since, Yasuke has been known in Japan largely as a legendary, perhaps mythical figure. Now African Samurai presents the never-before-told biography of this unique figure of the sixteenth century, one whose travels between countries and cultures offers a new perspective on race in world history and a vivid portrait of life in medieval Japan. “Fast-paced, action-packed writing. . . . A new and important biography and an incredibly moving study of medieval Japan and solid perspective on its unification. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal (starred review) “Eminently readable. . . . a worthwhile and entertaining work.” —Publishers Weekly “A unique story of a unique man, and yet someone with whom we can all identify.” —Jack Weatherford, New York Times–bestselling author of Genghis Khan

The Medieval Crossbow

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Publisher : Pen & Sword Military
ISBN 13 : 9781526789532
Total Pages : 240 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (895 download)

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Book Synopsis The Medieval Crossbow by : ELLIS-GORMAN STUART

Download or read book The Medieval Crossbow written by ELLIS-GORMAN STUART and published by Pen & Sword Military. This book was released on 2022-05-30 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The crossbow is an iconic weapon of the Middle Ages and, alongside the longbow, one of the most effective ranged weapons of the pre-gunpowder era. Unfortunately, despite its general fame it has been decades since an in-depth history of the medieval crossbow has been published, which is why Stuart Ellis-Gorman's detailed, accessible, and highly illustrated study is so valuable. The Medieval Crossbow approaches the history of the crossbow from two directions. The first is a technical study of the design and construction of the medieval crossbow, the many different kinds of crossbows used during the Middle Ages, and finally a consideration of the relationship between crossbows and art. The second half of the book explores the history of the crossbow, from its origins in ancient China to its decline in sixteenth-century Europe. Along the way it explores the challenges in deciphering the crossbow's early medieval history as well as its prominence in warfare and sport shooting in the High and Later Middle Ages. This fascinating book brings together the work of a wide range of accomplished crossbow scholars and incorporates the author's own original research to create an account of the medieval crossbow that will appeal to anyone looking to gain an insight into one of the most important weapons of the Middle Ages.

Samurai

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Author :
Publisher : Tuttle Publishing
ISBN 13 : 146291490X
Total Pages : 613 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (629 download)

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Book Synopsis Samurai by : Mitsuo Kure

Download or read book Samurai written by Mitsuo Kure and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2014-11-25 with total page 613 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Samurai: An Illustrated History brings the violent, tumultuous, and, at the same time, elegant world of the medieval Japanese samurai to life. This book of Japanese history traces the story of a unique historical phenomenon: a period of 700 years--equivalent to the entire stretch of Western history between the reigns of the Crusader king Richard the Lionhearted and of Queen Victoria at the height of the British Empire--during which an enclosed civilization was dominated by a single warrior caste. The historical narrative of samurai history is supported by explanations of samurai armor, weapons, fortifications, tactics, and customs, and illustrated with nearly 800 fascinating color photographs, maps, and sketches, including ancient scroll paintings and surviving suits of armor preserved for centuries in Japanese shrines. From the 12th to the 19th centuries the history of Japan was effectively the history of the samurai--the class of professional fighting men. At first, they were no more than lowly soldiery employed by the court aristocracy of Kyoto, but the growing power of the provincial warrior clans soon enabled them to brush aside the executive power of the imperial court and to form their own parallel military government. Though individual dynasties came and went in cycles of vigor and decadence, the dominance of the samurai as a class proved uniquely resilient.

Katana

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1849086583
Total Pages : 170 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (49 download)

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Book Synopsis Katana by : Stephen Turnbull

Download or read book Katana written by Stephen Turnbull and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2011-01-01 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Samurai sword of Japan is probably the finest edged weapon ever made. This volume by leading Samurai expert Stephen Turnbull reveals the story of how and why it achieved this distinction. Particular attention is paid to the development of the familiar curved blade from the original straight blades, the associated development of Japan's famous steel-making techniques and the challenges from contemporary warfare. Together with the technical details of forging, polishing, mounting and testing; this volume is brought to life with details of the great swordmakers themselves. Moreover, no history of the sword would be complete without a detailed examination of its use in combat, from the greatest Samurai armies to individual duels and revenge killings. Personal accounts allow the reader to discover the art of Japanese swordsmanship in the hands of masters such as Miyamoto Musashi to the unnamed Japanese warrior defending his family's honour. This lively text is perfectly complemented by artwork reconstructions of the sword in use and colour photographs of the swords in use.

The Japanese Sword

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 136 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis The Japanese Sword by : Gregory Irvine

Download or read book The Japanese Sword written by Gregory Irvine and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing 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.

Legacies of the Sword

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Author :
Publisher : University of Hawaii Press
ISBN 13 : 0824863321
Total Pages : 248 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (248 download)

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Book Synopsis Legacies of the Sword by : Karl F. Friday

Download or read book Legacies of the Sword written by Karl F. Friday and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 1997-07-01 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Western scholars and educators are generally far less familiar with the samurai in his original-and, ostensibly, primary-role as warrior and masters of arms than in his other functions as landowner, feudal lord, literature, or philosopher. Yet, any attempt to comprehend fully the samurai without considering his military abilities and training (bugei) is futile. With verve and wit, Karl Friday combines the results of nearly two decades of fieldwork and archival research to examine samurai martial culture from a broad perspective: as a historical phenomenon, as a worldview, and as a system of physical, spiritual, and moral education.

Art of the Japanese Sword

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Author :
Publisher : Tuttle Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1462909965
Total Pages : 592 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (629 download)

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Book Synopsis Art of the Japanese Sword by : Yoshindo Yoshihara

Download or read book Art of the Japanese Sword written by Yoshindo Yoshihara and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2012-09-10 with total page 592 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In The Art of the Japanese Sword, master swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara offers a detailed look at the entire process of Japanese sword making, including the finishing and appreciation of Japanese blades. Japanese sword art stands out in many ways: functionality as a weapon, sophisticated metallurgy and metalsmithing, the shape of the blade itself--all contribute to the beauty of these remarkable weapons. The Art of the Japanese Sword conveys to the reader Japanese samurai sword history and Japanese sword care, as well as explaining how to view and appreciate a blade. With 256 full-color pages, this sword book illustrates in meticulous detail how modern craftsmen use traditional methods to prepare their steel, forge the sword and create the unique hardened edge. By gaining a good understanding of how a sword is actually made, the reader will be able to appreciate the samurai sword more fully. Topics include: Appreciating the Japanese sword History of the Japanese sword Traditional Japanese steelmaking Making the sword Finishing the sword

Hired Swords

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Author :
Publisher : Stanford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0804726965
Total Pages : 282 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (47 download)

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Book Synopsis Hired Swords by : Karl F. Friday

Download or read book Hired Swords written by Karl F. Friday and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 1996-03-01 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tracing the evolution of state military institutions from the seventh through the twelfth centuries, this book challenges much of the received wisdom of Western scholarship on the origins and early development of warriors in Japan. This prelude to the rise of the samurai, who were to become the masters of Japan's medieval and early modern eras, was initiated when the imperial court turned for its police and military protection to hired swords--professional mercenaries largely drawn from the elites of provincial society. By the middle of the tenth century, this provincial military order had been handed a virtual monopoly of Japan's martial resources. Yet it was not until near the end of the twelfth century that these warriors took the first significant steps toward asserting their independence from imperial court control. Why did they not do so earlier? Why did they remain obedient to a court without any other military sources for nearly 300 years? Why did the court put itself in the potentially (and indeed, ultimately) precarious situation of contracting for its military needs with private warriors? These and related questions are the focus of the author's study. Most of the few Western treatments see the origins of the samurai in the incompetence and inactivity of the imperial court that forced residents in the provinces to take up arms themselves. According to this view, a warrior class was spontaneously generated just as one had been in Europe a few centuries earlier, and the Japanese court was doomed to eventually perish by the sword because of its failure to live by it. Instead, the author argues that it was largely court activism that put swords in the hands of rural elites, thatcourt military policy, from the very beginning of the imperial state era, followed a long-term pattern of increasing reliance on the martial skills of the gentry. This policy reflected the court's desire for maximum efficiency in its military institutions, and the policy's succes

The Book of Five Rings

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781935785972
Total Pages : 60 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (859 download)

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Book Synopsis The Book of Five Rings by : Miyamoto Musashi

Download or read book The Book of Five Rings written by Miyamoto Musashi and published by . This book was released on 2010-09 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Miyamoto Musashi's Go Rin no Sho or the book of five rings, is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, much like Sun Tzu's The Art of War and Chanakya's Arthashastra. The five "books" refer to the idea that there are different elements of battle, just as there are different physical elements in life, as described by Buddhism, Shinto, and other Eastern religions. Through the book Musashi defends his thesis: a man who conquers himself is ready to take it on on the world, should need arise.

Samurai Sword

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Author :
Publisher : Tuttle Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1462907067
Total Pages : 208 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (629 download)

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Book Synopsis Samurai Sword by : John M. Yumoto

Download or read book Samurai Sword written by John M. Yumoto and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2013-01-08 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The samurai sword: a symbol of the spirit of old Japan, it embodies the samurai's steel discipline, unswerving devotion and peerless skill. With its creation, a feat of craftsmanship passed down by generations of artisans, the samurai sword is generally considered to be superior even to the famed blades of Western Damascus and Toledo. The Samurai Sword Handbook is a precise exploration of the samurai sword designed for sword collectors as well as anyone intrigued by these ancient blades. Detailing the origins and development of the samurai sword, its historical background, styles, famous schools and differences in construction, this revised edition of the classic reference outlines methods of identifying and researching the sword, as well as caring for it properly. This must-have for sword lovers is sure to be a bestseller. Topics of this Samurai book include: Japanese History and the Samurai Sword Types of swords Parts of the sword Blade shape, construction, and grain The making of the sword Inscriptions and their readings Care and maintenance Appraisal and value Relative point values

The Craft of the Japanese Sword

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Author :
Publisher : Kodansha International
ISBN 13 : 9780870117985
Total Pages : 176 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (179 download)

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Book Synopsis The Craft of the Japanese Sword by : Leon Kapp

Download or read book The Craft of the Japanese Sword written by Leon Kapp and published by Kodansha International. This book was released on 1987 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From raw steel to tempered blade, this text presents a visual account of thencient craft of swordmaking as practiced in modern Japan.

Arms and Armor of the Samurai

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Author :
Publisher : Salamander Books
ISBN 13 : 9781862220027
Total Pages : 192 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis Arms and Armor of the Samurai by : Ian Bottomley

Download or read book Arms and Armor of the Samurai written by Ian Bottomley and published by Salamander Books. This book was released on 1996 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The history of arms, armor, and weaponry of the Samurai in ancient Japan.

By the Sword

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Author :
Publisher : Modern Library
ISBN 13 : 030743074X
Total Pages : 562 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (74 download)

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Book Synopsis By the Sword by : Richard Cohen

Download or read book By the Sword written by Richard Cohen and published by Modern Library. This book was released on 2007-12-18 with total page 562 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Like swordplay itself, By the Sword is elegant, accurate, romantic, and full of brio—the definitive study, hugely readable, of man’s most deadly art.”—Simon Winchester With a new Preface by the author Napoleon fenced. So did Shakespeare, Karl Marx, Grace Kelly, and President Truman, who as a schoolboy would practice fencing with Bess—his future wife— when the two of them returned home from school. Lincoln was a canny dueler. Ignatius Loyola challenged a man to a duel for denying Christ’s divinity (and won). Less successful, but no less enthusiastic, was Mussolini, who would tell his wife he was “off to get spaghetti,” their code to avoid alarming the children. By the Sword is an epic history of sword fighting—a science, an art, and, for many, a religion that began at the dawn of civilization in ancient Egypt and has been an obsession for mankind ever since. With wit and insight, Richard Cohen gives us an engrossing history of the world via the sword. Praise for By the Sword “Touché! While scrupulous and informed about its subject, Richard Cohen’s book is about more than swordplay. It reads at times like an alternative social history of the West.”—Sebastian Faulks “In writing By the Sword, [Cohen] has shown that he is as skilled with the pen as he is with the sword.”—The New York Times “Irresistible . . . extraordinary . . . vivid and hugely enjoyable.”—The Economist “A virtual encyclopedia on the subject of sword fighting.”—San Francisco Chronicle “Literate, learned, and, beg pardon, razor-sharp . . . a pleasure for practitioners, and a rewarding entertainment for the armchair swashbuckler.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

兵法家伝書

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Author :
Publisher : Kodansha International
ISBN 13 : 9784770029553
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (295 download)

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Book Synopsis 兵法家伝書 by : 柳生宗矩

Download or read book 兵法家伝書 written by 柳生宗矩 and published by Kodansha International. This book was released on 2003 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a translation of an important classic on Zen swordfighting. Yagyu's Buddhist spirituality is reflected in his central idea of the life-giving sword' - the notion of controlling an opponent by the spiritual readiness to fight, rather than during the fight. This is a translation of an important classic on Zen swordfighting. Yagyu Munenori was so widely renowned that he was appointed official sword instructor to two Tokugawa shoguns. (The position was always coveted by Miyamoto Musashi, but he never succeeded in gaining the post). Yagyu's'

Japanese History: Explore The Magnificent History, Culture, Mythology, Folklore, Wars, Legends, Great Achievements & More Of Japan

Download Japanese History: Explore The Magnificent History, Culture, Mythology, Folklore, Wars, Legends, Great Achievements & More Of Japan PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Thomas William
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 104 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Japanese History: Explore The Magnificent History, Culture, Mythology, Folklore, Wars, Legends, Great Achievements & More Of Japan by : History Brought Alive

Download or read book Japanese History: Explore The Magnificent History, Culture, Mythology, Folklore, Wars, Legends, Great Achievements & More Of Japan written by History Brought Alive and published by Thomas William. This book was released on 2022-08-02 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Japan Has Seen The Rise & Fall of Emperors, Samurai Warriors, Isolation, Expansion, Defeat, Rebirth & much more.. In this book we explore the magnificent history of Japan from it’s early origins to its rise as a modern super power. Japanese history is rich in culture, legends, characters, mythology and remains one of the most interesting histories in the world. In this book you will understand why the Japanese are so proud, how Japan came to be and much more. While there are many books that explore Japan’s unique history, few are enjoyable. These books can also be hopelessly dry, overly academic, and just downright difficult to follow. Fortunately, this isn’t one of those books. In the pages that follow, you’ll find well written and accurate information without bias. This concise history will respect your time by getting right to the point and giving you what you came to learn. Inside you will discover: Samurai - Who were they, their code + why their legacy lasts to this day The Evolution of Buddhism in Japan & Spiritual Insights Classical Japan (Nara and Heian Periods) & Other Famous Periods Famous Castles - Nagashino Castle, Inabayama Castle & Warrior Monks! A Dark Chapter, Japan and the Axis Powers in World War 2 The Curse of Masakado & The Haunted Grave of a Samurai's Head in Tokyo The Genpei War - The Rise of The Samurai & Battles with Mongol Invasions Colourful Myths & Legends - learn these to truly understand the Japanese people & their culture And much, much more… Whether you're a history enthusiast or just a curious reader..inside you will discover a wealth of Japanese cultural history, mythology and more. So if you want to find out more about Japanese History then this is The Book for You

One Hundred Masterpieces from the Collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 332 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis One Hundred Masterpieces from the Collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton by : Sebastian Izzard

Download or read book One Hundred Masterpieces from the Collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton written by Sebastian Izzard and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: