BOOK REVIEW: The Japanese Sword - The Soul of the... -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 1/26/2006
Last Visited: 10/3/2008
by Gregory Irvine
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Mr. Gregory Irvine is a curator in the Far Eastern Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum in west London, where he is obviously well placed to study the Japanese art in the museum's collection.In this book he has used well-produced photographs of a number of swords from the V & A's collection, whilst he has also been able to access a number of further photos of well-known swords from the Tokyo National Museum at Ueno.As well as swords from the V & A collection, Mr. Irvine has reproduced in full colour, a number of wood-block prints from the V & A's prestigious ukiyo-e collection.These illustrate legendary swordsmiths at work and armoured samurai in combat and compliment the text in an interesting manner.
The book's purpose is to describe the historical context in which the Japanese sword in particular and other arms and armour in general, developed from the earliest time beginning with the excavated swords from the Kofun period (AD 300-600) continuing through to the post Pacific war and into modern times.Photographs of swords illustrate most periods.The fact that the characteristics (shape, construction etc.) of each type of sword are accurately and clearly described, shows that Mr. Irvine has a good understanding of this difficult subject.
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For instance, Mr. Irvine shows an impressive suriage Nambokucho period tachi that has a kinzogan-mei (gold inlay inscription) attributing the blade to Tomomitsu as the maker and the date as Kemmu Ninen (1335).
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I am not sure that a hira-zukuri tanto signed Kanemoto, complete with fully developed sanbon tsugi hamon and an elaborate horimono of bodhisattva Monju standing on a shishi, can possibly be as early as the 1530 date Mr. Irvine gives it, but this is speculation.I also question the wisdom of including swords with obvious fake signatures such as the Bizen Kanemitsu blade dated 1362 which, Mr. Irvine quite rightly I think, believes to be a 19th century piece from the Bizen Yokoyama school.This is another example of how the study of Japanese swords has progressed since this sword was acquired by the museum and what were previously readily accepted as genuine blades, with the benefit of better study and education, are now obvious fakes.Further I doubt that I would not have used a Kanefusa tanto, the genuineness of which Mr. Irvine admits is questionable and the quality of which is not immediately apparent, both inside the book and as an illustration on the outside back cover.