The Japanese Sword: A Comprehensive Guide

This volume on Japnese swords, containing color and black and white plates as well as line drawings, has been prepared as an introduction to history and appreciation of the Japanese sword. Its author, until his death in 1978, was one of Japan's foremost sword experts, and his wide knowledge is here brought to bear on every aspect of sword lore, including forging techniques and problems of appraisal. The centerpiece of this book, however, is a detailed examination of over a dozen of Japan's most revered blades including the O'Kanehira and the Dojigiri by Yasutsuna; perhaps the two finest blades in Japan. The discussion of what makes these blades special and how they have been passed down for generations offers the reader a wealth of insight into the sword in Japan as heirloom and cultural treasure. Harcover.