Books, books ....... and more books

[Guest Simon R]

You often see newbies receiving the very wise advice "spend your first $1,000 on books" - which, of course, most of them then totally ignore.

 

Nonetheless, I myself have always been a book lover and especially of those which provide me with deeper insight into a subject; even if only by their beautiful photography.

 

Anyhow, I've been buying far more books than I realised in the past 12 months and I sat down today to go through them and put them in sealable plastic bags (the only thing which holds Japan's unforgiving humidity at bay).

Even I was rather surprised. 😳

 

[Guest Simon R]

Last two shots.

 

I know the Nakadai Tatsuya book isn't about swords but it's signed and he is a legend.

[george trotter]

Nice collection Simon. Any books there about WWII Rikugun Jumei Tosho?

I'd be interested ...

Regards,

George.

[Jussi Ekholm]

I see several really good books in there

[Okan]

Just a light coat of oil will be fine! No need for bags.  

[1kinko]

When's your exam?

[Shuko]

why so few books .....................................................

[nulldevice]

I've been scanning my first book, Connoisseur's Guide nearly religiously the last month or so.

 

I just got my 2nd and 3rd "swords" in the mail today! 

- Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords - Markus Sesko

- The Art of the Japanese Sword: The Craft of Swordmaking and its Appreciation  - Yoshindo Yoshihara

 

I'm excited to study them.

[The Blacksmith]

Obviously in this respect, a man after my own heart! Great selection! You can never have too many that is certain.

 

I catalogued my arms and armour book collection, which was a great surprise, and a fun thing to do, and once done it is so easy to update when a new tome is added. Just a thought.

[Bugyotsuji]

Fabulous.
And… you’ve got one that I translated there.
(Pats self on head.)

[Guest Simon R]

14 hours ago, 1kinko said:

When's your exam?

Every time I look at a sword.

[Alex A]

Its great that folks collect books, especially beginners. The thing about books though..........

 

Folks can have a library of books yet still not be able to give a reasonably accurate opinion on who made or when a sword was made..  Seen folks known for having many books state the totally wrong era for a sword in Kantei, easy kantei.

 

To be honest, i find some books can be misleading as they only mention textbook type swords. As a quick example, they may just talk about a particular school hada being itame with masame, nothing of the oddball swords you may come across just in itame. Its the putting things in Boxes.

 

Personally. prefer just looking at blades in online stores and reading their descriptions. Sometimes i think folks don't do this enough. 

 

You see this in their replies here, they just haven't seen enough outside of books to form their own opinions, missing an important perspective. 

 

 

[Guest Simon R]

On 1/13/2024 at 11:39 PM, george trotter said:

Nice collection Simon. Any books there about WWII Rikugun Jumei Tosho?

I'd be interested ...

Regards,

George.

Hi George,

 

I have to rely on my wife's help to translate passages from each book but I will definitely keep an eye out in the military themed books!

[Guest Simon R]

5 hours ago, Alex A said:

Its great that folks collect books, especially beginners. The thing about books though..........

 

Folks can have a library of books yet still not be able to give a reasonably accurate opinion on who made or when a sword was made..  Seen folks known for having many books state the totally wrong era for a sword in Kantei, easy kantei.

 

To be honest, i find some books can be misleading as they only mention textbook type swords. As a quick example, they may just talk about a particular school hada being itame with masame, nothing of the oddball swords you may come across just in itame. Its the putting things in Boxes.

 

Personally. prefer just looking at blades in online stores and reading their descriptions. Sometimes i think folks don't do this enough. 

 

You see this in their replies here, they just haven't seen enough outside of books to form their own opinions, missing an important perspective. 

 

 

Totally agree - but mucho, mucho pretty pictures!

(And where else am I going to see three solid volumes of Muramasa blades?)

[george trotter]

1 hour ago, Simon R said:

Hi George,

 

I have to rely on my wife's help to translate passages from each book but I will definitely keep an eye out in the military themed books!

Thanks Simon. I don't know of any recent book themed specifically on RJT but if you come across one, I would be interested....so let us know if you do.

Thanks.

[nulldevice]

8 hours ago, Alex A said:

Its great that folks collect books, especially beginners. The thing about books though..........

 

Folks can have a library of books yet still not be able to give a reasonably accurate opinion on who made or when a sword was made..  Seen folks known for having many books state the totally wrong era for a sword in Kantei, easy kantei.

 

To be honest, i find some books can be misleading as they only mention textbook type swords. As a quick example, they may just talk about a particular school hada being itame with masame, nothing of the oddball swords you may come across just in itame. Its the putting things in Boxes.

 

Personally. prefer just looking at blades in online stores and reading their descriptions. Sometimes i think folks don't do this enough. 

 

You see this in their replies here, they just haven't seen enough outside of books to form their own opinions, missing an important perspective. 

 

 

Maybe this is something for a different thread altogether but, is there a typical order in which you look at a sword and determine its origin? Is it the same as the general "order" in which you appreciate a sword? That is, overall shape, sori, kissaki, ubu/suriage, etc etc.? 

 

I'll read that "The ___ school typically uses mokuma-hada" but then find a blade attributed to that school that uses itame-hada.

 

I've started looking at the Aoi Art Appraisal quizzes. So far I'm 0 for 4 as far as attributions go, but I'm able to now identify the basics of the blade such as hada, hamon, etc. 

[Alex A]

Yes, look at the blade characteristics you mention, shape and condition of the nakago, etc etc. You will pick it up.

 

Welcome to the club, you will see a lot more swords like that. Just remember that it is often the case where you find variation in hada between a line of smiths in a school, even the same smith. Itame/mokume can often get somewhat muddled, explanation here which makes it more clear.

https://markussesko....i-2-jigane-jihada-2/

 

Think about the number of blades a smith made over a long career. I think a another good thread could be which smiths deviated the least with their work over a career or vice versa.

 

Read books and look at swords, in hand and online as much as possible. You will often question what is written, sometimes end up confused lol

 

Learn a lot here by reading old conversations. 

 

Remember there are always exceptions to the rules, surprising what can turn up.

 

Sorry Simon, gone off on one here., agree about the Muramasa book

 

Back to books.

 

 

[Toryu2020]

The Northern California Japanese Sword Club hosts a monthly Kantei session on Zoom. We discuss the artist in question as well as variations in his work and possible alternate bids for the sample blade. It is a great way to connect what you read with real world examples. We encourage students of all levels to join us.

 

Chandler - one frustrating point for beginners is that sword schools are described in generalities - so mokume for Bizen - but when discussing individual pieces certain authors may assign itame to what he is seeing in person. One learns that the hints need to be taken in total and youre careful not to eliminate someone based on a single point that may differ.

 

Hoping this makes sense...

-t

[Schneeds]

Does anyone have a recommendation as an alternative to something like the Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords: A Collector's Guide?  Something with quality pictures as opposed to illustrations?  Facts and Fundamentals is a bit hard to get right now.  

[nulldevice]

14 minutes ago, Schneeds said:

Does anyone have a recommendation as an alternative to something like the Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords: A Collector's Guide?  Something with quality pictures as opposed to illustrations?  Facts and Fundamentals is a bit hard to get right now.  

 

I enjoyed reading "The Art of the Japanese Sword" by Yoshindo Yoshihara. It covers the basics with very good quality photos and shows Yoshihara forging a katana the traditional way with high quality photos and goes into the step by step details from iron sand to polished sword. The printing quality is also very high. However, it is not a book for kantei. It doesn't go in to the details of the differences between schools and smiths except at a very surface level.  But if you want a great book with pictures describing the forging of a traditional Japanese sword and the different aspects of the sword (hamon, shape, curvature, grain, etc.), I really enjoyed it as a beginner. 

 

That's my novice 2c. I'm still looking for my first sword but I'm in no rush as I figure out what I want and what I can get for my budget as I keep reading and learning more each day.