DOC Teaching Novels: Lord of the Flies; The Cement Garden; The Buddha of Suburbia (EXPLORATIONS) by Matthias Merkl in History

Description

The 8;100 swords manufactured in the grounds of the Yasukuni Shrine between 1933 and 1945 are an exceptional legacy; as artifacts that preserved not only time-honored forging methods but the aesthetic and spiritual traditions of the samurai warrior.No other weapon in the world can boast of possessing such a high spiritual quality as the Japanese sword. For over a thousand years the sword was revered as the very soul of the samurai warriors who wielded it; commanding awe; respect; and an almost religious devotion. The tumultuous events of modern Japanese history and the nation's relentless drive toward technological advancement; however; irrevocably sealed the sword's fate; and; along with the samurai class; the sword became an anachronism; both culturally and militarily.As Japan entered a period of unprecedented Imperial expansion in the early twentieth century; the Japanese sword; despite its limited practical effect; became a feature of the soldier's arsenal-an echo of the mythical status it enjoyed in feudal times. The Yasukuni swords emerged during the build-up to World War II; in part to help meet the huge demands of the Imperial Army; but more importantly out of a desire to preserve time-honored forging methods; and to revive the spirit of the samurai. For these reasons; they were notably distinct from so-called "Showa-to;" which were mass-produced and inferior in quality and artistry.All swords were banned in the immediate aftermath of World War II; and the decades that followed have seen a decline in the popularity of Yasukuni swords; largely because of their associations with that war and the military. Another factor has been the stigma attached to Showa-to; which has helped to stereotype wartime swords in general.Recent years; however; have seen a renewed interest in the surviving Yasukuni swords. Many collectors and appraisers have acknowledged the workmanship of these swords as displaying a perfect blend of technology and tradition; and a quality that can rival even that of the great classical smiths.In his tribute to the Yasukuni smiths; acclaimed photographer and sword enthusiast Tom Kishida has compiled an extensive study of these rare and exceptional swords; drawing on a variety of sources to shed light on this often little-understood chapter of Japanese sword history. With his unique eye for capturing the beauty of the blades in his photographs; he has provided the reader with the most lavishly detailed book on Yasukuni swords to date. This will be an important addition to the libraries of specialists and connoisseurs; and to those who wish to deepen their understanding of these fascinating wartime weapons.