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Secrets of the Samurai: The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan
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Synopsis
Traces the history of the martial arts of Japan from the feudal period, illustrating implements and characteristic dress.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
The military class (buke) began to play a determinant role in the history of Japan during the tenth and eleventh centuries (the late Heian period) as the power of the emperor, the nominal head of the Yamato clan, slowly but irresistibly began to disintegrate in the wake of the nobility's constant internecine struggles. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The military class (buke) began to play a determinant role in the history of Japan during the tenth and eleventh centuries (the late Heian period) as the power of the emperor, the nominal head of the Yamato clan, slowly but irresistibly began to disintegrate in the wake of the nobility's constant internecine struggles. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Secrets of the Samurai" is the a great book for both the marital arts history novice and the expert. It combines excellent writing with exhaustive research. The book chronicals the development of Japanese martial arts throughout Japan's turbulent history. It provides not only exstensive information about the many kinds of martial disciplines but also about the political and social context in which they developed. It is also fascinating to read and to look at, having many excellent illustrations. This book is perfect for the military history buff or anyone interested in the martial arts.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is truly an impressive attempt to cover all of the martial skills that the fuedal warriors of Japan studied. Unfortunately, their section on Aiki-jujitsu and Aikido has some serious errors. First, they claim that Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido was the only legitimate heir of the Daito Ryu school of aiki-jujitsu. This is incorrect. Tokumine Takeda, son of Sokaku Takeda (Ueshiba's Daito Ryu teacher for over a decade), was the heir of Daito Ryu. The current headmaster is Katsuyuki Kondo. There are also several other branches of Daito Ryu: Kodokai, Roppokai, and Takumakai, which were started by students of Takeda Sokaku who were actually senior to Ueshiba. Ratti and Westbrooke also stated that Daito Ryu no longer exists, and that we have no way of knowing today the techniques of the the Daito Ryu. Again, untrue. Daito Ryu is one of the most widely practiced traditional styles of martial arts (Koryu Budo) in Japan. Finally, they state with some authority that Daito Ryu descended from Prince Sadasumi. This cannot be verified, even by Daito Ryu practitioners. Like many oral tales, it is a history that people accept in the absence of confirming or contradicting evidence.
What is disturbing is that after twenty years, this information was never updated. Perhaps this was because Ratti and Westbrook did not use any original source, i.e. Japanese, material (at least I did not see any when I glanced through the glossary). Perhaps it was because they felt some need to promote aikido at the expense of Daito Ryu. It does not matter, really. Writing a traditional Japanese martial art out of any book that purports describe the history of Japanese martial arts is a gaffe that makes me wonder what else about the book they have gotten wrong.
I give the book three stars for effort, but let the buyer beware. When reading, don't believe anything until you verify, verify, verify.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is essentially what it says in the introduction - an overview of the history and techniques of bushido. Many reviewers criticise particular aspects of the book - I believe a little unfairly. Yes, it has a emphasis towards Aikido but then it is written by two Aikido adepts . Also it is not accurate in every minutae - but then show me a text that covers this much ground that is. It is a general introduction not a history of every school of bu-jitsu.
For any student who wants to know how the samurai were - what they were about - how they lived - how they were influenced by society, history and religion this is the book for you. It debunks a lot of the myth and the false thinking that characterises a lot of 'samurai ideology'. It dares to look beyond the veneer of the samurai and Japanese society at that time. It is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the tradition of bushido.
For any student who wants to know how the samurai were - what they were about - how they lived - how they were influenced by society, history and religion this is the book for you. It debunks a lot of the myth and the false thinking that characterises a lot of 'samurai ideology'. It dares to look beyond the veneer of the samurai and Japanese society at that time. It is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the tradition of bushido.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very good for study!
I purchased this book on reccomendation from my Sensei. I am currently studying for my first Dan Black Belt in Jujitsu and on asking my Sensei where I could find out more... Read more
Published 3 months ago by bekibird
Facts abundant, but can it be trusted?
Well, at first the book seems quite splendid, an enourmous amount of information presented in an academic, no-nonsense way (even if the language can be a bit dry at... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2004
BRILLIANT BOOK!
Borrowed this book from a fellow sensei; read it, then re-read it, then tried to get it. It's taken me the best part of a year to locate it. Read more
Published on 22 Sep 1999 by Howard Grundey
GREAT INSIGHT INTO FEUDAL JAPAN
GOOD BALANCE OF ARMS, ARMOUR,EARLY COMBAT FORMS THROUGH TO TODAYS MARTIAL ART STYLES. IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN BUDO THIS IS A GEM OF A BOOK. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 1998
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