Japanese history books

[Matus]

Hello,

which books on Japanese history would you recommend? I came across the Cambridge history series (rather costly) or the three-volume Samson work.

Thank you,

Matus

[DirkO]

Although not so extensive, I use A dictionary of Japanese History by Joseph Goedertier. On the upside - I think you can get it at a fraction of the ones you mention.

[Ford Hallam]

I picked this up last week in a second hand book-shop. While not strictly a history as such it does provide a good overview of the evolution of the warrior class over a 700 year period. Lots of relevant images of period paintings and screens etc provide a good feel of what their world looked like. At as cheap as $2.65 I don't think you can go wrong on this one.

http://www.amazon.com/What-Life-Among-Samurai-Shoguns/dp/0783554621

 

"A Brief History of the Samurai" by Johnathan Clemments is also an easy and reliable read. Clemmnets writes in a very engaging way and is not at all dry and overly academic in style. He provides a picture of the warrior class that is devoid of romanticism and is harshly realistic. Copies available for as little as $ 3.10

 

Stephen Turnbull's books are reliable and very thorough but personally I find his writing style to be a bit dull. He's a remarkably knowledgeable researcher and historian but his books tend to feel a bit dry, to me anyway.

http://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Military-History-Stephen-Turnbull/dp/1873410387/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309768986&sr=1-2

[estcrh]

Hello,

which books on Japanese history would you recommend? I came across the Cambridge history series (rather costly) or the three-volume Samson work.

Thank you,

Matus

Matus, there is a great post here by forum member ERazer titled "Books from the 19th & Early 20th Centuries" and supposedly they are all in the Public Domain and can be printed off or converted to disc. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7983&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

[IanB]

Matus, A rather simplistic book but one which is very easy to read and contains some surprisingly useful information is:

C. J. Dunn; Everyday life in Traditional Japan, B.T. Batsford Ltd, LOndon, G.P. Putnam's Son, New York, 1969.

 

It was in this book that I learned that in Tsuyama in 1665 were 1000 houses occupied by the military with about 4000 other houses. In the town were 3 'blacksmiths', 8 sword polishers, 4 'silversmiths', 3 scabbard makers, 2 lacquerers, 2 makers of shafts for spears ... etc. One 'blacksmith' seems to have been a swordsmith. It also looks as if the Han also made their own yari. All fascinating stuff.

Ian Bottomley

[Matus]

Many thanks for all your suggestions!

 

Matus