Samurai Sword: A Handbook

by John M. Yumoto, T. C. Ford (Foreword by)

Overview

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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462907069
Publisher:	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date:	01/08/2013
Series:	NONE
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	10 MB

About the Author

John M. Yumoto is perhaps the foremost authority on the samurai sword outside of Japan. A native of California, he began his study of Japanese swordcraft during his early childhood in Japan. While in Japan he studied under many masters from different schools and learned the art of sword polishing and identification and evaluation. He has held membership in a several sword clubs and at present is an active member of the Japan Society for the Preservation of the Samurai Sword and the Northern California Sword Club. He has also been requested to serve as an advisor to the Japanese Sword Society of the United States, presently being organized.

Table of Contents

List of Plates     7
List of Figures     9
Introduction     11
Foreword     17
Acknowledgments     19
Japanese History and the Samurai Sword     21
Types of Swords     48
Parts of the Sword     54
Blade Shape, Construction, and Grain     92
The Making of the Sword     99
Inscriptions and Their Readings     111
Care and Maintenance     136
Appraisal and Value     138
Relative Point Values     141
Bibliography     171
Glossary     177
Old Provinces and Modern Prefectures     187
Index     189

Editorial Reviews

"This book, written by one of the foremost authorities outside Japan, is the first of this subject in English. it should find many readers since there are now more of these swords in America than in Japan due to United States servicemen's interest in them. —New York World Telegraph and Sun

"If you happen to have a samurai sword, John Yumoro's book will help you to determine its category. Whether you have one or not, it will give you all the romance of its background." —San Francisco Chronicle

"At long last, an American has produced a handbook on Japanese words aimed at an American market. It is a 'must' for anyone interested in Japanese blades and by far the best single reference volume for those who are not specialists." —Military Collector & Historian

From the Publisher