Samurai Sword. John M. Yumoto
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THE
SAMURAI
SWORD
A HANDBOOK
THE
SAMURAI
SWORD
A HANDBOOK
John M. Yumoto
TUTTLE PUBLISHING
Tokyo • Rutland,Vermont • Singapore
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, Vermont 05759 U.S.A.
Copyright © 1958 by Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Co., Inc.
Introduction © 2008 by Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Co., Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
LCC Card No. 58007497
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0706-9 (ebook)
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Contents
List of Plates | 7 | |
List of Figures | 9 | |
Introduction | 11 | |
Foreword | 17 | |
Acknowledgments | 19 | |
1 | Japanese History and the Samurai Sword | 21 |
2 | Types of Swords | 48 |
3 | Parts of the Sword | 54 |
4 | Blade Shape, Construction, and Grain | 92 |
5 | The Making of the Sword | 99 |
6 | Inscriptions and Their Readings | 111 |
7 | Care and Maintenance | 136 |
8 | Appraisal and Value | 138 |
9 | Relative Point Values | 141 |
Bibliography | 171 | |
Glossary | 177 | |
Old Provinces and Modern Prefectures | 187 | |
Index | 189 |
List of Plates
1. | A collection of swords | 43 |
2. | Daito (long sword) | 43 |
3. | Three types of wakizashi | 44 |
4. | Tanto (short sword) | 44 |
5. |