Download or read book Lethal Elegance written by Joe Earle and published by MFA Publications. This book was released on 2011-03-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the "soul of the samurai," the sword is famously both the symbol and instrument of Japanese military prowess. Less known, at least in the west, is its role as a fashion accessory or status symbol. More than the weapon itself, it was the sword's metal fittings--from the hand guard to the small decorative plates on the hilt--that reflected the complexities of samurai life. Some fittings were meant to convey the honor and self-control expected of a samurai, while other, more flamboyant fittings reflected the samurai's leisure-time persona as "man about town." Later, when the wearing of swords spread beyond the samurai class, both the decorative function of the fittings and the variety of their designs increased, leading to some of the most accomplished metalwork ever created. Now in paperback for the first time, Lethal Elegance presents 150 of these remarkable sword fittings, and is one of the few books to focus on their styles and techniques. It discusses the visual effects achieved with different alloys, the evolution of fittings following changes in warfare, symbolism and standards for connoisseurship. Though these objects were created for violent ends, their variety and beauty also reveal them as wonders of self-expression.
Download or read book Cutting Edge written by Victor Harris and published by . This book was released on 2005-03-15 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published: London: The British Museum Press, 2004.
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:
Download or read book Military Swords of Japan 1868 1945 written by Richard Fuller and published by Arms & Armour. This book was released on 1993-03 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A reference/historical guide to the ""collectable"" market of Japanese military swords. Subjects covered include rebellion swords, Army, Air Force and home-defence emergency-issue swords, civil officials' swords, detail on blades, swordsmiths and markings, and collecting."
Download or read book The Connoisseur s Book of Japanese Swords written by Kōkan Nagayama and published by Kodansha International. This book was released on 1997 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Connoisseur's Book Japanese Swords is a Kodansha International publication.
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
Download or read book Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords written by Markus Sesko and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2014-09-30 with total page 554 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This completely new encyclopedic reference for the Japanese sword contains about 2,500 terms, many of them illustrated by photos and drawings. The Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords is an A-Z general encyclopedia covering each and every part of the sword: the blade, the mountings, the fittings, and all their different interpretations. Further, this encyclopedia also explains the literal or etymological meaning of each Japanese term and provides an even deeper insight into the subject.
Download or read book The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs written by and published by . This book was released on 1920 with total page 450 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Japanese Sword Fittings written by George Herbert Naunton and published by . This book was released on 1912 with total page 720 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Swords and Swordsmiths of Bizen Province written by Frederick A. Fimio and published by Barrie, Ont. : Japanese Sword Society of Canada. This book was released on 2004-01-01 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
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.
Download or read book Art of the Samurai written by 原田一敏 and published by Metropolitan Museum of Art. This book was released on 2009 with total page 358 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This extensively illustrated catalogue is published in conjunction with the first comprehensive exhibition devoted to the arts of the samurai, including the finest examples of swords - the spirit of the samurai - as well as sword mountings and fittings, armor and helmets, saddles, textiles, and paintings. The works in the catalogue, drawn from public and private collections in Japan, include 34 officially designated National Treasures and 64 Important Cultural Properties, the largest number ever to be shown together at one time. Dating from the 5th to the early 20th century, these majestic objects offer a complete picture of samurai culture and its unique blend of the martial and the refined." "Many of the greatest Japanese swordsmiths are represented in this volume, from early masters such as Yasuie (12th century) and Tomomitsu (14th century) to the Edo-period smiths Nagasone Kotetsu and Kiyomaro. The blades by these and other masters, cherished as much for their beauty as for their cutting efficiency, were equipped with elaborate hilts and scabbards prized for their exquisite craftsmanship and fine materials such as silk, rayskin, gold, lacquer, and certain alloys unique to Japan. Japanese armor is also fully surveyed, from the rarest iron armor of the Kofun period (5th century) to the inventive ceremonial helmets made toward the end of the age of the samurai." --Book Jacket.
Download or read book The Japanese Sword written by Kanzan Satō and published by Kodansha International. This book was released on 1983 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the foremost experts on the Japanese sword describes their history andppreciations in this book, with photographs and illustrations.
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
Download or read book The Art of Tsukamaki written by Thomas Buck and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-11-25 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tsukamaki, combining aesthetics, form and function, is the deceptively simple Japanese art of sword handle wrapping. Dr. Buck's work presents a general historical overview of the evolution of Japanese samurai swords and sword mounts, as well as step-by-step instructions and diagrams for 25 specific types of sword handle wrapping. It also includes a compact visual glossary of Japanese swords, general temper patterns and common signature characters. As a reference book, it is both an excellent introduction to the art of Tsukamaki, and a complete how-to guide for the beginner tsukamaki-shi, or sword handle wrapper.
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.
Download or read book Japanese Swords from American Collections Volume I written by Danny Massey and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2017-01-07 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Japanese Swords from American Collections is the first volume of an ongoing series. This effort aims to catalog some of the many swords here in the United States and share them with the world. There are 43 blades featured in this volume. Works span from the Kamakura period up to the 1940's. This book is richly illustrated with over 80 high resolution images, many of winch are full-page composites of multiple photographs. The photography in this book presents the opportunity to study jigane and hataraki in combination with detailed text explanations, creating an excellent learning resource. Those who are new to the study of Japanese Swords will find this to be an exciting introduction to the variety, wonder and beauty of Nihonto. Seasoned students of sword study will look to this series as highly useful research reference. Lastly, this series hopes to convey the typical nature and level of private collections among life-long enthusiasts here in the United States.
