Author: SASANO, MASAYUKI
Title: Early Japanese Sword Guards: Sukashi Tsuba (New Enlarged Edition)
Description: Robert G Sawers Publishing, London. 1974, 2nd Edition. (ISBN: 0903697009). Hardcover, with dust jacket. Book, English text.; Hardcover (with dust jacket).; 19 x 26.5 cm.; 1.2 Kg.; 292 pages with black and white illustrations.; Used with signs of wear on the exterior and interior. The dust jacket has edge wear and a chip on the top of the back cover. Previous owner signature on the rear of the front cover.; The tsuba is a protective guard placed on Japanese swords between the blade and the hilt. It stops the sword of the opponent and thus prevent injuries to the hand. Such at any rate was its purely practical function, but since samurai of old drew swords for combat much less frequently than might be thought, the tsuba inevitably served its true major role while the sword itself was in the scabbard and thrust under the warrior's sash in its customary place. Furthermore, when the sword was in position, the tsuba, at all times the most important part of the blade mounting, was placed at the center of the samurai's body, where it became a vital contributing factor to the dignity of his appearance. The samurai often referred to his sword as his soul, and the tsuba, because of its importance to the sword, naturally become a concentration of many elements. It revealed the standing of the warrior, showed something of his prowess and dignity among other samurai, and frequently told his family background. In addition to being a source of information, the tsuba was a concentration of the aesthetics of the warrior class. Many different patterns symbolizing the ideas, emotions, and hopes of the warriors gradually emerged in their designs, but all of them were essentially and deeply related to the way of the life of the warriors who used and loved them. One major category of tsuba is characterized by inlay and incrustation of gold or silver on iron or copper, but the one discussed in this book is a style employing open-work patterns only. The author had further narrowed his field to open-work tsuba made of iron because he feels that they are most truly Japanese and best reveal the kind of beauty required by the samurai. The major aim of the book is to present clearly and accurately the beauty of open-work tsuba arranged according to design school and historical period. To this end, the author has selected 216 outstanding works, each of which is shown in actual dimensions printed in gravure. Detailed information including school, period, artist, dimensions, etc. are presented too. Fifty especially outstanding tsuba are shown in full-color illustrations. Twenty-one major schools of tsuba production are explained in categories from the standpoints of spiritual and military backgound. As the first research work of its kind, the book is an important source of reference. At the same time, however, it is a revolutionary art book in that it boldly underscores the aesthetics of work in iron and offers many splendid examples of brilliant design. The author's abundant experience and accurate research had resulted in fresh descriptions and comments that surpass anything done in the field before. Furthermore, the photographer's work is technically and artistically excellent. Good/Dust Jacket Included.

Keywords: 0903697009 japan,japanese art,tsuba,sword guards Japanese Art


See more books from our catalog: Asian Art