Download or read book The Grass cutting Sword written by Catherynne M. Valente and published by Wildside Press LLC. This book was released on 2006 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Asian American Folktales written by Thomas A. Green and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2009-03-20 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing upon the traditions of their native lands, Asian Americans have developed an extensive cultural tradition. At the heart of that tradition are some of the world's most colorful folktales. These reflect the traditional beliefs of the East, as they have been passed down among generations of Asian Americans. But they also reflect the struggles, successes, and experiences of Asian immigrants in the New World. Written expressly for students and general readers, this book is a fascinating introduction to Asian American folktales.This book gathers together a selection of more than 30 Asian American folktales and groups them in thematic sections on origins; heroes, heroines, villains, and fools; society and conflict; and the supernatural. These tales reflect the traditional beliefs of the East as well as the new experiences of Asians in America. Each tale is accompanied by a headnote, and the book closes with a selected, general bibliography. Students studying literature and language will learn much about these tales, while students in social studies and history courses will gain greater insight into the experiences and traditional beliefs of Asian Americans. The volume includes a healthy sampling of tales grouped in topical sections on origins; heroes, heroines, villains, and fools; society and conflict; and the supernatural.
Download or read book The Desert and the Blade written by S. M. Stirling and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2016-09-06 with total page 850 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In his Novels of the Change, New York Times bestselling author S.M. Stirling presents “a devastated, mystical world that will appeal to fans of traditional fantasy as well as post-apocalyptic SF” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Continuing their quest that began in The Golden Princess, two future rulers of a world without technology risk their lives seeking a fabled blade… Reiko, Empress of Japan, has allied herself with Princess Órlaith, heir to the High Kingdom of Montival, to find the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the Grass-Cutting Sword, a legendary treasure of an ancient dynasty that confers valor and victory to its bearer. Órlaith understands all too well the power it signifies. Her own inherited blade, the Sword of the Lady, was both a burden and a danger to her father, Rudi Mackenzie, as it failed to save the king from being assassinated. But the fabled sword lies deep within the Valley of Death, and the search will be far from easy. And war is building, in Montival and far beyond. As Órlaith and Reiko encounter danger and wonder, Órlaith’s mother, Queen Mathilda, believes her daughter’s alliance and quest have endangered the entire realm. There are factions both within and without Montival whose loyalty died with the king, and whispers of treachery and war grow ever louder. And the Malevolence that underlies the enemy will bend all its forces to destroy them.
Download or read book Kendo written by Alexander C. Bennett and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2015-07-31 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Kendo is the first in-depth historical, cultural, and political account in English of the Japanese martial art of swordsmanship, from its beginnings in military training and arcane medieval schools to its widespread practice as a global sport today. Alexander Bennett shows how kendo evolved through a recurring process of Òinventing tradition,Ó which served the changing ideologies and needs of Japanese warriors and governments over the course of history. Kendo follows the development of Japanese swordsmanship from the aristocratic-aesthetic pretensions of medieval warriors in the Muromachi period, to the samurai elitism of the Edo regime, and then to the nostalgic patriotism of the Meiji state. Kendo was later influenced in the 1930s and 1940s by ultranationalist militarists and ultimately by the postwar government, which sought a gentler form of nationalism to rekindle appreciation of traditional culture among JapanÕs youth and to garner international prestige as an instrument of Òsoft power.Ó Today kendo is becoming increasingly popular internationally. But even as new organizations and clubs form around the world, cultural exclusiveness continues to play a role in kendoÕs ongoing evolution, as the sport remains closely linked to JapanÕs sense of collective identity.
Download or read book Holy Grail Holy Grail Quest East Quest West written by Gary Corseri and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2001-10-31 with total page 393 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Set in King Arthurs Britain, medieval Japan and modern Atlanta, Holy Grail, Holy Grail: Quest East, Quest West is a rich blend of fantasy-adventure, historical-romance and swords and sorcery--a transformative myth for our times. Suppose all the legends of the Holy Grail were smoke screens to draw attention from the Grails real meaning. Suppose its message of male and female reconciliation could only be grasped by our own age. Not only that, but suppose the true Grail was lost not in Glastonbury, not in Avalon, but in the East; and its recovery required the interaction of Merlin's magic, Japanese shamans, and warriors trained in Sun Tzu's Art of War. Youve heard only Galahad was pure enough to see the Grail? Nonsense! Only Lancelot--near forty, still guilt-ridden over his affair with Guenevere--has the gut-wrenching need for redemption. Diamonds are created under enormous pressure over eonsso are shamans! Where is this true Grail anyway? Through a series of accidents, it has traveled from the Holy Land, over the Silk Road, through China, across the Sea of Japan, to become one of the sacred treasures of 5th Century Yamato (Japan). Accompanied by his page, Wee Willie, Lance is transported by Merlin to the ancient kingdom of pomp, magic and barbarism. A Japanese shaman-warrior agrees to help Lance capture the Grail if Lance will help him adjust the course of history. Lance and Willie are enmeshed in the assassination of the giggling, sadistic boy-Emperor. The only escape is through time. The two travelers are reconfigured in the Golden Age of 10th century Japan, where Lance falls passionately in love with Sagami. He would linger in this idyll, listening to the rustle of Sagamis silk kimonosbut Hes blinded by the Blue Man--the assassinated boy-Emperors time-traveling angel of death. Through the shamans magic, Lance and Willie are transported again to the last days of Heian Japan, a time of warrior-shoguns. Two great families squeeze the nation in a vise. Willie, now a handsome, young man in his twenties, distinguishes himself in love and war, changing the outcome of a famous battle. The debt to the shaman should be paid Buthistory has other plans. Or at least the Kami do. Spirit-beings who inhabit the winds; sparks of good and evil that fire the forge in the shaman's workshop, the Kami shape history in ways even the shaman cannot comprehend. Blind, maddened with fury, pain and shame, Lance is transported again--to modern Atlanta. It's springtime, the dogwoods are blooming, and the world is about to plunge into a millennial orgy of madness and self-destruction. Only Lance can save civilization. The problem is, Lance is now a homeless, hopeless amnesiac working as a mud-wrestler at the Renaissance Fair; and, the Blue Man, now transformed into a Yakuza thug, is obsessed with killing him. Nubile, clueless, vulnerable Lorrie latches onto Lance, drags him to a public session of life-regressionists, and--poof--epiphany!--our hero recalls his quest. A charismatic, leviathan-buttocked TV hostess helps; a mysterious black quilting lady helps. Digesting the lessons of 2000 years of Western and Eastern thought, only Lance can get the spiritual chiropractic just right. Only a climactic battle between good and evil magic can restore the balance of the world. Only the one who masters the Self can possess the wisdom of the Grail.
Download or read book The Greenwood Library of World Folktales 4 volumes written by Thomas A. Green and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2008-02-28 with total page 1922 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Amazon to the Arctic, the world is teeming with diverse cultures. There's no better way for students to explore the world's cultural diversity than through its folktales. Presenting tales from the foundations of the world's traditions, literature, daily life, and popular culture, The Greenwood Library of World Folktales: Stories from the Great Collections gathers together a vast array of folktales and arranges them according to region or cultural group, thus allowing students to quickly and conveniently learn about the tales of particular cultures. Some of these stories have been told for centuries, while others have emerged only in recent times. The four-volume set includes introductory essays in addition to explanatory headnotes, and provides bibliographies on particular regions as well as a selected, general bibliography. The most comprehensive work of its kind, this set gives students and general readers a guided tour of the world's folktales. Each volume of the set is devoted to a particular broad geographic region: Volume 1: Africa, The Middle East, Australia and Oceania Volume 2: Asia Volume 3: Europe Volume 4: North and South America Accessible, informative, and entertaining, this book will help literature students learn how to analyze texts and understand the traditions at the heart of many of the world's literary masterpieces. It will also help social studies students learn about the world's cultures and respect ethnic diversity.
Download or read book Mythological Swords written by Rocky Pendergrass and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2015-06-22 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mythological Swords provides a collection of curated articles detailing mythological swords.
Download or read book Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan written by Richard Gordon Smith and published by . This book was released on 1908 with total page 624 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Far East written by and published by . This book was released on 1915 with total page 678 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Fortune and Glory A Treasure Hunter s Handbook written by David McIntee and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-01-20 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: So you have decided to give up the rat race for the life of an international treasure hunter, but you are not quite sure where to start. Well then, this book is for you! Fortune and Glory tells you all you need to know in order to set off on an epic quest for the great lost treasures of history. Starting with a quick exploration of the history of treasure hunting and a look at the gear that you will need, it then delves into a survey of the 'lost' treasures that are out there just waiting to be claimed. Continent by continent, the book covers the legends of hidden locations like El Dorado and King Solomon's Mines, as well as covering the most illustrious lost artifacts such as the Holy Grail, the Hanjo Masamune, and the Irish Crown Jewels. If your interest lies with the loot rather than the history, the book also discusses Nazi gold, pirate treasure, and the treasure hordes of the Copper Scrolls. This book is your first step towards becoming the pistol-toting, fedora-wearing international tomb robber and treasure hunter you've always dreamt of being!
Download or read book Fallen Angel written by Jolene D. Campbell and published by Jolene D. Campbell - Author, LLC. This book was released on 2023-11-09 with total page 611 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Almost seventeen years have passed since Tenshi has earned his mortality, and the realms are falling apart. Unaware that his existence is tied to the fragile veil of reality, Tenshi has spent his time as a mortal painting and raising his family. Where the hardest challenges of his days have been keeping his angelic past a secret and making amends with his teenage son. During a family outing to the Sanja Matsuri festival, tragedy strikes with the reanimation of the gods, Raijin and Fujin. These tragic events not only expose Tenshi’s past and the raw feelings of a hurt son, but also a plot from the god Tsukuyomi to force Tenshi back into servitude to save the realms. Desperate to stay with his family and find favor in his son's eyes, Tenshi begins the search for the sword of Susanoo, Kusanagi no Tsurugi. Will the sword be enough to satisfy the realms and Tsukuyomi’s demands, or will the world and a son’s love fade into eternity?
Download or read book The Book of Bushido written by Antony Cummins and published by Watkins Media Limited. This book was released on 2022-02-08 with total page 422 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This detailed exploration of medieval Japan and the samurai is a must-have for anyone with a love of martial arts or Japanese history This is the go-to volume on bushido ("the way of the warrior"), drawing on a wide range of historical sources to paint a vivid picture of the samurai in action and separating the truth from the myth of samurai chivalry. It offers a long-overdue update to the attractive but inaccurate portrait of the samurai painted in Bushido: The Soul of Japan, which has been a bestseller ever since its publication in 1905, and the equally idealistic Hagakure (c.1716). In The Book of Bushido, Antony explores the reality of warrior behavior versus the idealistic depiction created for an Edwardian audience by the author of Bushido: The Soul of Japan. He reveals the truth of how the samurai really behaved and of what they considered to be a warrior ethos. He replaces the image of the perfect eastern warrior with the much more interesting reality of hardened, bloodstained military leaders with human failings and a complex set of ideas about the world, who engage in ritual, magic and ceremony, who lead their followers in war and peace and who, above all, are fighting a battle between addiction to power and morality. This is the story of bushido – the way of the samurai.
Download or read book Usagi Yojimbo Saga Volume 3 written by Stan Sakai and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 618 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Usagi Yojimbo is one of the longest running and best-loved comic adventures of all time. Running from 1984 to the present day, and showing no sign of diminishing in popularity, the rabbit ronin is now seen as a figurehead of the comic book scene, and crucial to bringing the ideas of feudal Japan to a wider western audience. Roaming an anthropomorphic version of feudal Japan, the rabbit samurai has no master, but takes on tasks from any aggrieved animals he encounters - always ensuring he sticks to the noble way of the samurai.
Download or read book Usagi Yojimbo Saga Volume 3 Second Edition written by Stan Sakai and published by Dark Horse Comics. This book was released on 2022-01-04 with total page 620 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Stan Sakai’s epic series continues in the third volume of the definitive Usagi Yojimbo compilations featuring brand new original cover art by Stan Sakai! Usagi faces a terrifying new foe who wears a demon mask, the Eisner-winning “Grasscutter” storyline receives a sequel, pickpocket Kitsune’s history is revealed, fan-favorite character Sasuké the Demon Queller makes his debut, and a beloved ally long thought dead returns! Collects Usagi Yojimbo Volume Three #31–#52, along with stories from Dark Horse Presents and more!
Download or read book The History of the Katana written by Hermann Candahashi and published by tredition. This book was released on 2024-05-14 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Katana, a symbol of Japanese culture and martial arts, is not merely a simple sword but a reflection of Japan's history, philosophy, and craftsmanship. in this book, we will delve into the fascinating world of the katana, explore its origins, trace its evolution over the centuries, and understand its significance for Japanese culture up to the present day. The history of the katana stretches far back into japan's past, to a time when the sword was not just a tool of combat but also held spiritual significance. the earliest ancestors of the katana can be traced back to the heian period (794-1185), when Japanese warriors began to use swords resembling the katana's present form. The katana is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and has assumed various meanings over the centuries. it is a symbol of honor, bravery, and discipline, but also an object of reverence and admiration.
Download or read book Disciple of the Wind written by Steve Bein and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2016-03-01 with total page 530 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tokyo’s only female detective fights to keep her city safe in the third novel in the fantasy series that “combines the best parts of police procedurals, buddy-cop films, historical fantasy, and intrigue-laden adventure.”* After a deadly terrorist attack in Tokyo, Detective Sergeant Mariko Oshiro urges her commanding officers to arrest an insane zealot who was just released from police custody. When her pleas fall on deaf ears, she loses her temper and then her badge. Armed with only her cunning and her famed Inazuma blade, Mariko must work outside the system to stop the terrorist. But going rogue draws the attention of the Wind—an underground syndicate that has controlled Japanese politics for centuries, using mystical relics to achieve their nefarious ends. Now, Mariko is left with a perilous choice: join an illicit insurgency to thwart a deadly villain, or remain true to the law. Either way, she cannot escape her sword’s curse. As sure as the blade will bring her to victory, it also promises to destroy her…
Download or read book The Samurai Swordsman written by Stephen Turnbull and published by Frontline Books. This book was released on 2008-02-20 with total page 523 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Samurai tells the story of the courageous and highly disciplined fighting men of this time, showing how they evolved from the primitive fighters of the seventh century into an invincible military caste with a fearsome reputation. In the early seventh century, the samurai rose to prominence during the struggles between the emperor and the military leaders (shogun). They took part in the invasion of Korea, as well as helping to keep Japan free from foreign influence. From the Heian period through to the Onin wars, the history of the samurai is replete with tales of heroism and bloodshed. Although the samurai is most famous for his use of the sword, he also used a wide variety of other weapons, such as the crossbow, the dagger and the spear. Samurai armour and costume were constantly evolving, and by the twelfth century most samurai were wearing the box-like yoroi armour. Samurai examines samurai fighting tactics, as well as acts such as ritual suicide (hari-kiri) and the taking of enemy heads as trophies.
