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Eric S
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 Posted: Tue 22 Nov, 2011 8:54 pm Post subject: Recommended books on samurai armor or samurai in general. |
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Here is a list of books, some quite old some recently written, most have a preview that allows you to read some part of the book. Most of these can be purchased used for quite a bit less than when first sold.
The manufacture of armour and helmets in sixteenth century Japan: (Chūkokatchū seisakuben), Kōzan Sakakibara
C. E. Tuttle, 1964
http://books.google.com/books?id=s2oiAQAAIAAJ...CCMQ6AEwAA
Samurai 1550-1600, Anthony J. Bryant, Angus McBride, Osprey Publishing, May 26, 1994
http://books.google.com/books?id=TPw7m2qrRloC...mp;f=false
Handbook to life in medieval and early modern Japan, William E. Deal, Oxford University Press, Oct 3, 2007
http://books.google.com/books?id=i0ni1NmbYe0C...mp;f=false
Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior, Clive Sinclaire, Globe Pequot, Nov 1, 2004
http://books.google.com/books?id=IQ3FAZG94ZsC...mp;f=false
Japans ancient armour, Hatiro Yamagami, Japan. Kokusai Kankōkyoku, Board of Tourist Industry, Japanese Government Railways, 1940
http://books.google.com/books?ei=__0JTaiBF4K0...rch_anchor
Early Samurai: 200-1500 AD, Anthony J. Bryant, Angus McBride, Osprey Publishing, May 23, 1991
http://books.google.com/books?id=FxTNBAAJaqEC...mp;f=false
Samurai: a military history, Stephen R. Turnbull, Psychology Press, Apr 11, 1996
http://books.google.com/books?id=RMBdoimD2kIC...amp;f=true
Secrets of the samurai: a survey of the martial arts of feudal Japan, Oscar Ratti, Adele Westbrook, Tuttle Publishing, 1991
http://books.google.com/books?id=ZFf9e0DmHZUC...mp;f=false
Arms and armor of the samurai: the history of weaponry in ancient Japan, Ian Bottomley, Anthony Hopson, Crescent Books, Jul 20, 1993
http://books.google.com/books?id=csUrAAAAYAAJ...CDoQ6AEwAQ
The Watanabe Art Musuem Samurai Armour CollectionVolume I ~ Kabuto & Mengu Trevor Absolon 2011
http://books.google.com/books?id=8APyY3eIONcC...amp;f=true
Samurai, warfare and the state in early medieval Japan (Google eBook), Karl F. Friday, Psychology Press, 2004
http://books.google.com/books?id=eyMYelZlKekC...mp;f=false
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William P
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| Posted: Tue 22 Nov, 2011 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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what about the book 'samurai, the story of japans great warriors
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Eric S
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| Posted: Tue 22 Nov, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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| William P wrote: | | what about the book 'samurai, the story of japans great warriors |
By all means add it to the list and any others that anyone knows about. As for Turnbull, he grinds out books, I have not read all of them, I just listed the books that I have used for references before, some I own and some I have I have read portions of online etc. I am sure that there are many more good references out there. I just thought it might be helpful for anyone who has an interest in the subject to have a list of good references available.
Samurai: The Story of Japan's Great Warriors, Stephen Turnbull, PRC Publishing, May 28, 2004
http://books.google.com/books?id=0QpjAQAACAAJ...CDQQ6AEwAA
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William P
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| Posted: Wed 23 Nov, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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one gaping critique i am making of that book and alot of his stuff on samurai equipment is how he describes the japanese sword. particularly in relation to european swords. his view on the latter being completely flawed. and one would argur his views on the former being abit exaggerated.
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Randall Moffett
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| Posted: Thu 24 Nov, 2011 6:38 am Post subject: |
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Thank you Eric! I will pass these on to a few interested students.
RPM
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Eric S
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| Posted: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 2:22 am Post subject: |
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| William P wrote: | | one gaping critique i am making of that book and alot of his stuff on samurai equipment is how he describes the japanese sword. particularly in relation to european swords. his view on the latter being completely flawed. and one would argur his views on the former being abit exaggerated. |
William, there is something special about traditionally made Japanese swords (nihonto) but its not their semi supernatural cutting ability. Everyone who studies and or collects has a different reason for admiring them, for me it is the ability of the Japanese to take iron bearing sand and through a primitive yet complex process manage to create incredible weapons that have lasted for hundreds of years. This goes for Japanese armor as well.
No one writer or historian will ever be able to completely and accurately get it all down in one book and anyone who really wants some sort of through understanding will have to read through several authors books and sift through the information provided. Besides Anthony Bryants web site I would recommend taking a look at the nihonto forum http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/index.php were some of the leading experts, collectors, dealers and researchers in the world have contributed vast amounts of valuable information and its not only about samurai swords, there is a wide variety of topics including fittings, armor, matchlocks, riding equipment etc, and anyone can take a look at the current topics or search through the past ones and learn more than they ever could by just reading any one book.
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Lafayette C Curtis
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| Posted: Tue 29 Nov, 2011 2:38 am Post subject: |
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Turnbull is generally a bit too dismissive of European arms and fighting methods vis-a-vis their Japanese counterparts. I can only hope that this has changed in his more recent works.
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