Essential books and related questions

[Kronos]

While I have read the FAQ regarding beginner and intermediate books and found it helpful there's one or two that I thought may of been included that haven't and am not sure if any on the beginner list would be surplus to requirements if one were to dive in and head straight for the likes of Nihonto Koza.

 

The thing is I'm not much of a reader so ideally want a small concise library and now that I'm in a position to save enough to get the books and head towards my first Nihonto purchase I'd humbly request some guidance in what more experienced collectors would consider their essential list of books to have, maybe 5-10.

 

Hawley's Japanese Swordsmiths and Nihonto Koza would be the first two on my list but beyond that I'm a little lost. Some information on a decent price to aim for when getting these books would be very much appreciated as well if possible. I'm particularly interested in the Koto era and Soshu/Mino dens if that is significant.

 

P.S. While I'm asking questions I'd be interested to know how much you'd consider a good price range for a novice to buy a first Nihonto that would make a good study piece that I could learn alot from. I'm lead to believe that getting a lower end Wakizashi for maybe £1000/$1500 may not be as beneficial as say saving £3000-£5000 and getting a very decent Koto Hozon or maybe just a Tokubetsu Hozon although the risk is always poorly buying on the first attempt.

 

Thank you for humouring what may be silly questions from a beginner.

[paulb]

James

These are

impotant questions that deserve a more detailed response than I am giving you but let me at least start.

Regarding books I would suggest The Connoiseurs book of Japanese swords by Kokan Nagayama as a first buy. Kanzan's Shinto Oshigata dictionary and Nihonto Koza are good next steps. At the risk of offending many I would not necessarily go for Hawley's as a starting place .I waited many years to obtain a copy which I only managed when the centenary addition came out and in reality tend to use it very little compared to the others previously mentioned.

Regarding the right amount to pay for a sword; only you can decide that. You are right that as with all other areas of collecting you should go for the best qulaity piece you can afford. 1 good piece is a better purchase than several lesser works is a mantra you will hear from many fields of collecting and this one is no different.

Please do not fall in to the trap of buying papers. your comment about buying a Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon is setting the wrong priority. First decide what period you are interested in, then the school and style. Or just find a sword that you like regardless of age and who made it, then worry about what attribution it has.

I have seen (and at times bought) some beautiful work with no or low level papers. I have also seen some with much higher level that I would not look at twice. Buy a sword because you like what you are seeing not the paper that it has.

[nagamaki - Franco]

essential list of books

 

"Nihonto Newsletter", by Albert Yamanaka, over 1900 pages in four volumes http://www.ncjsc.org/ncjsc_publications.htm

 

also, Comptoms Hundred Masterpieces

 

I have seen (and at times bought) some beautiful work with no or low level papers. I have also seen some with much higher level that I would not look at twice.

 

ditto. The challenge of being a nihonto student is recognizing and knowing a good sword when you're holding one, and not just thinking you are.

[Kronos]

Thank you for the suggestions Paul and Franco. I shall definately be picking up a copy of The Connoiseur's book of Japanese swords and keep a look out for 100 masterpieces at the earliest convenience at a reasonable price. If I find Hawleys while browsing a used bookstore I'll probably pick it up but won't be going out of my way to get it on your advice. I'm not sure on the merits of Nihonto newsletter so I'll probably leave that for now until I've looked into it's content more and try and work on getting Nihonto koza, or atleast the Koto volumes.

 

I was using the papers more as a rough estimate of the quality available and would hope I wouldn't be daft enough to buy something based on that alone, although I have been known to do online shopping while drunk on occassion :lol:

[Rich Thomas]

Hi James,

As a relative newbie I would agree with the direction your being pointed by the guys. Personally I would go with...

 

The craft of the Japanese sword

Authors: Leon and Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo Yoshihara.

A must have for the nihonto student, detailing the forging and polishing craft of the sword, plus the making of habaki and shirasaya.

An invaluable reference to understand the "how and why" of hamon, hada, & activities.

 

The connoisseurs book of Japanese swords

Originally in Japanese called; To-Ken Kantei Dokuhon, by Nagayama Kokan. Translated by Kenji Mishina.

Following an in-depth consideration of the history of the sword in Japan, the five traditions of workmanship and some outstanding Edo period examples, Nagayama's guide to sword appreciation expands on criteria to judge sword quality, identify flaws, and ultimately make a correct attribution. English, 560 b&w illustrations. 256 pages, 71/2 x 101/8" hardcover

 

Nihonto Koza

Translator: Harry Afu Watson

First published in Japan in the mid-thirties, then re-edited and re-issued in the late sixties in the form of a ten volume set. This series has been translated to English and includes all of the pictures and captions from the Japanese version. The translated volumes are 8½ x 11 inches, hardbound, included a glossary, and approximately 500 pages each. Set consists of 3 Koto, a Shinto, a Shinshinto, (not pictured) and a kodogu volume. This is a huge collection of information on the greatest smiths and artisans of their respective times. Definite must have.

 

100 Masterpieces form the collection of Dr W. A. Compton (can be expensive)

Editor: S.Izzard, Published: 1992

This is the well-known reference of important blades and kodogu from the Christie's auctions of Dr. Compton's collection. These one-hundred extraordinary examples are shown in color and b&w plates with super close up of hada and hamon. Descriptions in both English and Japanese.

321 pages, 10¾ x 14¾" hardcover with slipcase

 

Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords

Nobuo Nakahara (translated by Paul Martin) for some interesting perspectives

 

As per the others I wouldn't worry too much about Hawleys at this stage .....

some pics etc here

http://www.bushidoboutique.net/books.html

 

cheers

Rich

[Grey Doffin]

To what has been said already I would add:

 

If you can find a set, "Token Bijutsu", the 59 English volumes from the NBTHK. This is by far, I think, the best information on the subject in English, and very comprehensive to boot. Sets are difficult to find and cost north of $1K, but worth the price and effort.

 

And: Join the organizations that are putting out periodicals. NBTHK American branch, JSS/US, Northern California, who am I forgetting. You'll get material you can learn from and help to keep our community vibrant.

 

Grey

[paulb]

Fully agree with Grey, the NBTHK journals if you can get them (I havent ) are a great resource. memebership of the organisations he mentions will enhance and accelerate your learing.

good luck

[Kronos]

Thanks for all the help, I'm just about to order Connoisseur's and am presently searching for a cheap copy of 100 Masterpieces from the compton collection.

 

I was wondering about a pair of books I saw with similar names: Nippon-to: Art Swords of Japan" and "Nippon-to: the Japanese Sword" and was wondering what a fair price for these might be as at Satcho they were priced $325 and $175 respectively and about that at other places but much cheaper in a local used book shop near me. Are these books any good?

 

Another question I had was on different editions of Hawley's, Fujishiro and Nihon-To Koza and how the different editions rate against one another?

 

Edit: Also any information on Japanese Art and Handicraft by Joly as that looked interesting?

[Toryu2020]

James et al -

 

One thing that needs to be considered is to what end are we studying? This will guide what books you want to invest in.

 

Yumoto, Inami, Robinson, Sato and dare I say it Sinclair are must haves for beginners to get a basic grasp of the subject.

 

As mentioned the books by Kapp and Yoshihara are for folks who want to know detailed info on the construction and restoration of a sword.

 

Where to go next?

 

If you expect to be seeing lots of swords in the field and want to read and understand the signatures you will need Hawley's. At least until you can read Japanese when you can switch to the Nihonto Meikan. Hawley's is basically a translation of an older edition of this. If you are only looking at and interested in better swords then you need Fujishiros, the two volume set features only the best makers and oshigata that are unquestioned. The Meikan is a phone book with every possible name included, Fujishiro includes only the top smiths.

 

The connoisseur's book is a translation of a handbook for kantei. This is the traditional exercise followed in Japan for teaching the study of swords and is meant to accompany the viewing of examples of the makers mentioned. You need this book if you are regularly seeing good swords and especially if you are attending kantei sessions. It is an overview of the study of swords, the best in print really. However it is full of terms and explanations that are near impossible to understand without having first seen real world examples. I say buy it but keep it mind it can be a lot to take in as a beginner.

 

If you can get the NBTHK English editions or the reprint that came out some time ago that, I think is a better next step. There you are seeing oshigata of blades and can see what the text is describing.

 

Along the same lines and often over-looked is the Shin Nihonto Kantei Nyumon. Also a handbook for kantei but not as in depth as Nagayama Sensei's book but with one feature not found in the former. This terrific little book has kantei exercises in the back that describe a sword, let you try to decide who made the blade and then gives very detailed answers as to why the work described is by a particular artist. This really helps to connect written descriptions to swords as pictured in the magazines. Which in turn will help you if you decide to do the monthly kantei in the publications of the NBTHK and the NTHK. Harry Watson has translated the "nyumon" and I cannot stress just how useful I think it can be to the new student of kantei.

 

Which of course brings up the NTHK and their publication To-Ken to Rekishi, which I feel is still your best bargain for sword info as it is the only Japanese sword magazine that sends out regular translations of the monthly kantei and featured swords. If recognizing good swords is your goal this is the way you should head.

 

That covers beginner and intermediate study, next the student (or collector) needs to decide where to go with his hard won knowledge - if you specialize then there are all sorts of monographs on particular artists and particular schools. You can spend a fortune collecting books that will support your focus and hopefully improve your understanding and your collection. Others want to know it all and (unlike me) have the mental capacity to grasp all that knowledge, also the pocket book to acquire the best examples of the best artists - at this level we are talking about the large tomes or "Taikans" and at the highest level the Juyo To-ken Nado Zufu and Tokubetsu Juyo nado Zufu which are collections of oshigata and detailed descriptions of the very best swords by the very best makers. This information being all in Japanese you'll have a whole nother collection of books on language study to get you here. Rare air but a place I should someday like to be myself.

 

in the end you really only need the first four or five books mentioned but after reading those I would be surprised if anyone stops there, enjoy...

-t

[paulb]

Tom

A small correction. The NBTHK also produce English translations for their monthly journal. The swords translation can be obtained from the Japanese website. The fittings section is translated by Markus and emailed to members

This is without doubt (in my view) the single most valuable resurce available to us currently.

[cabowen]

Tom

A small correction. The NBTHK also produce English translations for their monthly journal. The swords translation can be obtained from the Japanese website. The fittings section is translated by Markus and emailed to members

This is without doubt (in my view) the single most valuable resurce available to us currently.

 

As does the NTHK-NPO.....