The Samurai Sword is one of, if not the, most iconic weapons in all of martial arts.
They don’t just represent a sharp and blood soaked death but the Samurai Sword also represents discipline, respect, honor and even a sense of class as the Samurai themselves were considered a class above the normal peasants way back in the old days of Japan.
As I learned reading this book, there are swords out there over a thousand years old that have seen conflict, killed on the battlefield and are still around today being kept in the best condition possible by avid and highly knowledgeable collectors.
I was sent this book by Tuttle Publishing and I have to say, my knowledge on Samurai swords is pretty slim at best, but I’ve always found the mystique and charm of these weapons intriguing, and saw it as a good chance learn more about them.
So as a complete beginner on the topic, here’s what I have to say about the book “Samurai Swords – a Collector’s Guide”
You know what the book is about…
The title says it all, my introduction also tells that story pretty quickly but this on a deeper level, this book is a nice overall guide on the world of Samurai Sword collecting.
The author of this book shares his expertise in the Samurai Sword collecting and highlights the incredible depth of knowledge that comes with the interest, more than just the simple ability to wield thew sword (which is complex and difficult in itself).
What this book does is takes an overview of the Samurai sword, and introduces you to the different areas there are to learn.
We get a brief History..
It’s starts with a basic history of the the sword as well as the rise and fall of samurai. It covers some really interesting levels to the weapon’s history as it evolved and changed due to war and defeat to become a vastly superior sword, to it’s retirement after the age of the Samurai and the transition to more artistic and aesthetic merits being applied.
It’s quite intriguing to read about the various events that shaped the Samurai sword, the main difficulty though is the simply trying to organise the information you’re reading. As someone relatively unfamiliar with Japanese language, it’s easy to get lost and have to read and re-read certain sections in order to get a clearer idea of the information you’re being presented with.
The development of the sword itself is explored in detail and much like a cheap knockoff of a Rolex watch – the Samurai Sword had it’s imitators and low quality markets that cost the lives of many Samurai in Battle. The very craft of creating a sword seems to be quite difficult and requires much skill – this book goes into this with great detail and is quite interesting.
You’re then primed for the rest of the book.
It’s hard to gain perspective on modern day enthusiast collecting items hundreds or a thousand+ years old without knowing some of the history. So after getting introduced to the Samurai and the development of the sword, the exploration begins within this book into the world of collecting
You get to learn about the modern day Japanese collectors and the Western Persepctive too. By drawing on the history we’re able to better explore the types of swords this book discusses and there’s plenty to learn about here. From the age, types of swords to the prestige of a certain swordsmith, there are highly varying levels of sword value out there for the modern day collector be on the lookout for. This book explores and breaks down some of these factors quite well.
One thing this book surprised me with is the culture of the Samurai Sword. Even the level of etiquette required to simply view a sword are meticulous, and we get to learn why these rules are in place not only to honor and respect but to protect the sword and preserve it for the future – as the process of maintaining an older sword requires a high level of skill to do effectively.
My thoughts on the book
Some terrific, eye catching artwork
It’s a detailed read but also carries a visual impact that really livens up the experience, showcasing rare blades and illustrating the history with stunning Japanese artwork throughout.
I enjoy the book personally almost just for the art contained within it – and check out the size of the damn thing!
It reads well, although can get a bit hard to follow due to the Japanese names and terms that must be used to accurately get the information across to the reader. But if you take it a small piece at a time, it’s quite enlightening. I learned a lot reading this book.
Whose the book for?
If you’ve just started collecting or are looking to collect swords, this book is the perfect window to peer into the culture and world of collecting Samurai Swords. As for the more advanced collector – I don’t know enough to comment.
As a beginner I feel as if I have somewhere to start if I were to buy a sword as a collector’s item and I definitely would be less likely to contribute to the decay of the sword as I’ve been quite surprised by what seems to cause rust and damage to a sword – as explained in the book.
Overall, it seems to be a pretty solid book and a great item to have on the shelf. if you’re looking to expand your knowledge on Samurai Swords, give this one a look!
Thanks for reading this review, check back soon as more movie info will be going up!
This book seems like the perfect choice for anyone interested in swords.
It is amazing how much one can learn about the history of the swords and how interesting it can be.
Thanks for the awesome share.
Yeah it’s a pretty interesting read. I’m not a collector but I definitely feel like I have a few steps in front of me if I was to start.
This book tells the story behind the sword and how they are made. The pictures are very nice too!
I loved the art. It sounds shallow but its my favourite part of the book haha