Essential books

[Clement]

Hi,

 

For the motivated nihonto young student, what books will you recommend ?

(i tried to search on the board but it won't work, the word 'book' is too common)

 

What do you think, by order, of :

- The Connoisseur's Book of the Japanese Swords de Kokan Nagayama - Kenji Mishina

- Nihonto Koza - H.Watson

- Nihon Toko Jiten - H.Watson

- Hawley's Japanese Swordsmiths - V.M. Hawley

 

The three last books are difficult to find but still, they are essential according NMB, what else should i get ?

[paulb]

Hi Clem,

Look for any of the books by Markus Sesko. The are all available from Lulu.com Good value and a lot of information form excellent sources.

Good luck on the beginning of your journey

Best Regards

Paul

[Markus]

Thank you Paul!

I don´t want to rush in here just to advertize my books but the 30% off coupon of Lulu.com

is now available up to Sunday 9th and there might be some "surprise offers" coming. Please

see link below.

 

http://www.lulu.com/home

 

Sorry for my blunt advertising.

[Clement]

Nice books indeed, abundant but nice

 

Do you have a special one to recommand Paul ?

[paulb]

Hi Clem,

It really depends what stage you are at in your study. I think the vast majority here will have started with The Connoisseurs book by Nagayama. When it was translated in to English it was probably the most comprehensive reference available in a single volume. I still refer back to it.

I use Markus' Kantei volumes a lot. These are translations of NBTHK kantei questions and are of great value. There are 4 volumes in all but the Koto and Shinto volumes are a good starting point and the supplements can always follow later.

 

Another interesting work much discussed here is Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords by Nakahara. I think is well worth reading but would recommend it after you have taken in the information from the others.

 

With those as a start I think you wil get a decent foundation. You can then add to it looking at the more specific works on schools or periods that you find of particular interest.

hope this helps

[Clement]

Ok, thank you for your advices.

 

I just read the FAQ.. and the exact answer to my question...

Any staff member can close this topic..

 

and sorry

[Mikevorn]

Clem,

 

As a fellow newbie I would suggest skipping Hawley's. Markus has an index which is very good and if you buy it as an ebook with a lulu coupon it is like $50. Much cheaper than $500 for Hawley's. If you are looking for the Nihonto Koza, Grey has a complete set for sale for $800. I made the mistake of buying it piecemeal and have paid more and am still missing pieces. It is a great reference. The connoisseur's guide is my choice for a starting point. If you don't have a decent base knowledge the rest won't help. I have read and bought most of the recommended reading PM me if you want my suggestions for the best route to go cost verse knowledge value.

 

Cheers,

[b.hennick]

Don't forget "the Samurai Sword" by John Yamoto. It was my first reference and I re-read it every once in a while. I still pick up things. (Got mine in 1970s)

[Clement]

  Mikevorn said:

Clem,

 

As a fellow newbie I would suggest skipping Hawley's. Markus has an index which is very good and if you buy it as an ebook with a lulu coupon it is like $50. Much cheaper than $500 for Hawley's. If you are looking for the Nihonto Koza, Grey has a complete set for sale for $800. I made the mistake of buying it piecemeal and have paid more and am still missing pieces. It is a great reference. The connoisseur's guide is my choice for a starting point. If you don't have a decent base knowledge the rest won't help. I have read and bought most of the recommended reading PM me if you want my suggestions for the best route to go cost verse knowledge value.

 

Cheers,

I just bought Grey's Nihonto Koza 2 days ago, the set is quite rare and the price of Mr Doffin, comparing to other dealers, was very reasonnable.

I will follow his advise : "Get yourself one of the Japanese books with lots of oshigata. Fujishiro's Nihon Toko Jiten would be an excellent candidate because it is a book you need to have in any case. Sit yourself down and create an English index for the 2 volumes.

If you take the time to translate the smiths' names, provinces, time of production, and relative quality ranking you will learn gobs of stuff that eventually you'll need to know. This will take months of spare time but when you're done you'll be able to read many sword signatures and you'll have some understanding of relationships between smiths and schools."

It looks like a great trainning to me.

 

I just found a good price for The Connoisseur's Book of the Japanese Swords.

 

I'm going step by step, the list a quite long.

(Maybe it's a bit too soon to get the Nihonto Koza but this deal seems a one shot to me.)

[Robert Janssen]

  b.hennick said:

Don't forget "the Samurai Sword" by John Yamoto. It was my first reference and I re-read it every once in a while. I still pick up things. (Got mine in 1970s)

 

I agree here with Barry, I just got my copy of " the Samurai Sword", and it looks like a neat little handbook to quickly look something up that you forgot or forgot the name of...

[takakage]

Hi,

For the francophone, don't forget Serge DEGORE and his trilogy, les sabres koto, shinto and shin shinto.

[Clement]

Yes, those ones have much details on every school, smiths and analyse every differences between them.

 

With Milhau Laurent, Pierres et sabres - Stones and Swords, a book on the art of polishing, this is pretty much all books we have in French language...

6 books only...

 

Better know reading english.

[John A Stuart]

A handy little reference book. John

[Brian]

I have the 3 Degore books thanks to Jean, and they are superb, even if you cannot understand French.

 

Brian