Description
Book SynopsisOffers historical, cultural, and political account in English of the Japanese martial art of swordsmanship. This book shows how this martial art evolved through a recurring process of inventing tradition, which served the changing ideologies and needs of Japanese warriors and governments over the course of history.
Trade Review"You'll be fascinated by this quintessential Japanese sport." -- Rashaad Jorden JQ Magazine "In this detailed study of kendo, Alexander Bennett, a highly accomplished (and foreign) practitioner himself, picks apart and analyses the roots and evolution of the martial art." TLS "Kendo: Culture of the Sword is to date the most comprehensive and accessible history of Japanese swordsmanship in any language." -- Wolfram Manzenreiter Social Science Japan Journal "A thorough, engaging, and well-written survey that will remain a classic for decades to come." Journal of Japanese Studies
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Conventions Prologue Introduction 1 * The Art of Killing: Swordsmanship in Medieval Japan 2 * The Art of Living: Early Modern Kenjutsu 3 * The Fall and Rise of Samurai Culture: Kenjutsu's Nationalization 4 * Sharpening the Empire's Claws 5 * Kendo and Sports: Path of Reason or Cultural Treason? 6 * Crossing Swords and Borders: The Global Diffusion of Kendo Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index
