The sword of no-sword : life of the master warrior Tesshu / John Stevens.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Stevens, John, 1947-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Yamaoka, Tesshū, 1836-1888.

Yamaoka, Tesshū.

Swordsmen--Japan--Biography.

Swordsmen.

Japan.

Japan--Officials and employees--Biography.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xii, 169 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Boston, Mass. ; London : Shambhala, 2001.

Summary:

This is the only biography in English of Yamaoka Tesshu, a figure well known in Japan as the founder of the No-Sword school of Kendo, the "Way of the sword." A master of swordsmanship, Zen, and calligraphy, Tesshu embodied the samurai ideal of the warriorship. He lived during the turbulent political time in the nineteenth century when the Tokugawa Shogunate was in its death throes and the old samurai order was being replaced with the modern Meiji government. An important statesman and minister under the Shogun, Tesshu was instrumental in negotiating a peaceful transfer of power when Tokyo was under siege by the Meiji supporters. He then became a close aide to the Emperor and was a powerful figure in the Imperial Household until his death. John Stevens tells the story of this extraordinary life with a masterful blend of insight, knowledge, and perceptive understanding of Eastern culture.

ISBN:

1570620504

OCLC:

47776064