Arms and Armor of the Samurai

Rating:
Summary: Chi
Review: A completely fascinating look at one of the most intriguing periods of history, the Ancient Japanese period equivilent to Medieval Europe. This book details the arms and armor of the Samurai class that dominated the battles, protecting their aristocratic interests, the Samurai were the champions of their era, always following the code of Bushido. This book is superb in it's presentation of rare photographs of authentic weapons and clothing worn by the Samurai, imcluding the beginnings with archery and weapons of hand to hand combat. The novice historian will be fascinated by the intricate breastplates made of leather, often embellished to the point of art. The helmets are elegant displays of fine tooling and craftsmanship . The arms themselves are exquisite. The blades of the swords or daggers are hammered with fine details that was only fitting of the Samurai class but the fine craftsmanship continues to this day. The similarities to the arms and armor of Europe are interesting and when taken as individual pieces they are at times hardly distinguishable. The Japanese culture however is reflected in the terrifying masks worn to frighten their opponents. The face plates are beautiful representations of a wonderful culture. The ornate wormanship involved in all facets of the "war gear"can only be considered art now as it is so intricate and detailed that it amazes the senses. An example is the display of delicate tsuba or sword guards that have intricate patterns or designs that are nothing less than inspirational pieces of art. The totality of the outfits are mind boggling in terms of sheer beauty. This book is an excellent addition to the novice historian's library or collector of books relating to Japanese culture or what I call art. The excellent glossary is ideal for the novice who desires to know more than just what a katana is. Every piece of arms or armor is given in the language of the Samurai and explained in English. An extremely useful tool for a middle or high school instructor to compliment his course on World or Japanese history. This book is a treasure of text and photographs of one of the most colorful periods in history.

Rating:
Summary: a classical and best one in peers
Review: i think this is the best book i ever met focused on samurai arms and armor. the pictures qualities are beyond expectation. the price is low comparing to the book's quality. hesitate no more to buy it!

Rating:
Summary: Top notch book for any lover of the samurai
Review: I've run a feudal Japan SIG for 12 years now, and have quite a library on the samurai and Japanese culture. This is by far one of my favorites. The book begins with an overview of the warrior culture in Japan, reviewing the eight points of Bushido (the Way of the Warrior) and the periods in Japanese history.

It then begins with photos and descriptions of early history armor and weapons, back in the 800s when Japan was just forming its culture. It then moves into the more and more elaborate outfits and armor, with drawings, photos and historical illustrations explaining how the items were put on and used.

The helmet and armor photos are simply gorgeous, with all details showing up clearly and then described in full detail. I could look at the photos of the swords and tsuba, or guards, for quite a while. The glossary at the back helps explain any terms with which you are unfamiliar.

Highly recommended for any fan of this fascinating culture.

Rating:
Summary: Very Nice piece of work.
Review: This book is an excellent primer on the forms and construction of Samurai arms and armour. There are detailed illustrations of the different sections of armour, including correct terminology in both English and Japanese. There are also diagrams of the cording techniques used to connect pieces together. Lavish color illustrations and a glossary of terms makes this work a real find. A top reference work on the subject.

Rating:
Summary: The ultimate book on its subject
Review: This is a large book full of excellent photographs and drawings which would, on their own, make the book an exceptional coffee table book for leisurely thumbing through. It is also an extremely well researched, incredibly in-depth textbook on the design, function and history of samurai armament. If you have an interest in the subject, there is no substitute for this book.

Rating:
Summary: The ultimate book on its subject
Review: This is a large book full of excellent photographs and drawings which would, on their own, make the book an exceptional coffee table book for leisurely thumbing through. It is also an extremely well researched, incredibly in-depth textbook on the design, function and history of samurai armament. If you have an interest in the subject, there is no substitute for this book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Photographs, a good resource in general
Review: _____This book is good for a flip-through as well as an involved read. It covers much of Samurai weapons and armor hustory, from the beginnings of Japanese history right up to the modern times. There are plenty of excellent quality photographs as well. _____Unfortunately, I had a few problems with this book. First, sometimes an item pictured did not fall into place with the historical period in the text on the same page. Second, the book was about 75% armor, 25% arms. There was a brief discussion of Naginata, and quite a bit on Katana/Tachi, but not much on Kyudo and very very little on Tanegashima. If these areas were covered a little more, then I would have rated this book a 4 or 5.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Photographs, a good resource in general
Review: _____This book is good for a flip-through as well as an involved read. It covers much of Samurai weapons and armor hustory, from the beginnings of Japanese history right up to the modern times. There are plenty of excellent quality photographs as well. _____Unfortunately, I had a few problems with this book. First, sometimes an item pictured did not fall into place with the historical period in the text on the same page. Second, the book was about 75% armor, 25% arms. There was a brief discussion of Naginata, and quite a bit on Katana/Tachi, but not much on Kyudo and very very little on Tanegashima. If these areas were covered a little more, then I would have rated this book a 4 or 5.