Armed Martial Arts of Japan : Swordsmanship and Archery / G. Hurst I.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hurst I, G., Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Martial arts--Japan--History.

Martial arts.

Swordplay--History--Japan.

Swordplay.

Archery--History--Japan.

Archery.

Japan--Civilization.

Japan.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (256 p.) : 21 b/w illus.

Place of Publication:

New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, [2008]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This unique history of Japanese armed martial arts-the only comprehensive treatment of the subject in English-focuses on traditions of swordsmanship and archery from ancient times to the present. G. Cameron Hurst III provides an overview of martial arts in Japanese history and culture, then closely examines the transformation of these fighting skills into sports. He discusses the influence of the Western athletic tradition on the armed martial arts as well as the ways the martial arts have remained distinctly Japanese.During the Tokugawa era (1600-1867), swordsmanship and archery developed from fighting systems into martial arts, transformed by the powerful social forces of peace, urbanization, literacy, and professionalized instruction in art forms. Hurst investigates the changes that occurred as military skills that were no longer necessary took on new purposes: physical fitness, spiritual composure, character development, and sport. He also considers Western misperceptions of Japanese traditional martial arts and argues that, contrary to common views in the West, Zen Buddhism is associated with the martial arts in only a limited way. The author concludes by exploring the modern organization, teaching, ritual, and philosophy of archery and swordsmanship; relating these martial arts to other art forms and placing them in the broader context of Japanese culture.

Contents:

Frontmatter

To the memory of Professor Nakabayashi Shinji

Contents

Preface

Introduction

CHAPTER ONE. Martial Arts and Japanese Culture

CHAPTER TWO. The Early Tradition

CHAPTER THREE. From Self-Protection to Self-Perfection in the Early and Mid Tokugawa

CHAPTER FOUR. The Sporting Element in the Late Tokugawa

CHAPTER FIVE. The Way of the Bow and Arrow

CHAPTER SIX. The Quest for Records in the Tokugawa

CHAPTER SEVEN. Swordsmanship and Archery: The Modern Transformation

CHAPTER EIGHT. The Martial and Other Japanese Arts

Epilogue

Notes

Glossary

References

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Apr 2020)

ISBN:

9780300142976

0300142978

OCLC:

1024006716