Matt -
That would be spelt "iai". In our alphabet, anyway. The sword would be an
iaito, or sword for iai practise. Was (is) she studying iaido or an
iai-jutsu style, d'you know?
To expand on someone else's response to this: apparently (someone
knowledgeable correct me if I'm wrong, please) after DubyDubyaAyeAye the
Allies prohibited the making of swords for several ('seven' comes to mind?)
years. (Part of the prohibition on military manufacturing, probably with a
side order of suppressing a popular national symbol of martial prowess.)
When the ban was lifted, the Japanese government wanted to be sure that the
old standards of sword quality were maintained. (Hear, hear.) They went
around asking some of the surviving masters how many swords they could make
in a month. Consensus was "Two." So there's a limit, by law, of two katana
(over 24" as I recall) per month. I think they can make three wakizashi in
a month instead, which are shorter.
(This tends to raise the price of such blades through the ceiling, as a
moment's thought may lead you to imagine. And that in turn has a great deal
to do with the reason my own pair of katana were made by Chen Chao-po of
Hanwei, China, a smith for whose studio's work I hold considerable
fondness.)
But I digress. (Again.)
Now there are probably blessed few smiths left in Japan today who still use
entirely, completely, no-compromises-not-even-a-little-bit, traditional
methods for crafting a katana - from collecting the iron sand to the old
smelting process, etc. Machines are available today that make some of those
steps produce irresistibly consistent results. So if it doesn't take you
all month to make those two swords... well, it's a shame to waste that nice
forge and all that smithying skill. Those apprentices are sitting around
looking mighty lazy, too. Eat you out of house and home. What to do to get
them moving...?
Gereg
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 16:50:30 -0800 (PST)
From: Matt Bowes <
yeomanforbes@...>
Subject: Re: Re: Japan Eras
Mr. Gabriel:
Impressive. Your English is excellent. Are you sure you're not a "ringer"
posting from middle Ohio? You made me look up "concatenates." I think I
heard the word used ONCE back in 1992.
To the crowd at large, not just our erudite Romanian, I could be wrong, but
my ex-wife's aiee (sword) teacher (no, dear reader, I have no idea how it is
spelled, since I have never ever seen it in print) told me that the great
sword makers had stopped making katanas and moved into making kitchen
knives, since that's where the money is. Now, I can see perhaps where it
would be extra handy to have a ginsu knife for chopping garlic instead of
your trusty katana, but maybe that's just me. Some of you might enjoy the
garlic chopping with a larger blade. Some of you might be a little unhinged
if you do, since that strikes me (ha) as a foolish approach. So, is there
any truth to this rumor that the great swordmakers are still out there, just
making steak knives for Williams Sonoma? (Incidentally, the ex and myself
are on excellent terms, so no need to fear for my safety. Thank you for
your concern.)
Your most obedient,
Matt
Dodu Gabriel <
dodu_gabriel@...> wrote:
--- In
samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Nate Ledbetter
wrote:
>
> Newbies are welcome unless they make themselves
> unwelcome. As for English not being your native
> language--YOU are the one that all these other people
> must be learning to hate. Your writing skills were
> QUITE good--if it's not your native language, then
> THEY have no excuse. WELCOME!!!! (and so that we know,
> what is your native language?)
My native language is romanian. I am from Romania, and please don't
start with the Dracula stuff, because I hate Bram Stoker. It did
wonders for our Travelling Industry, but it crippled our history...:(
> http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/kanji/nengo.htm
>
> That only begins in year 1201, but does give the kanji
> for each period, and the alternate periods. I'll see
> if I can dig up anything prior to that. As for
> changing the period name, it was the Emperor who did
> that--not the daimyo, Shogun, or any military person.
> Someone else may have "suggested" to the Emperor that
> it would be a good time for a name change, but it was
> the Emperor who actually did it. Reasons for changing
> included a portentous sign, a natural disaster, a
> particularly good event, or just because they'd gone
> long enough.
Thank you for the information, it's good to know things as they
were. About that site, I wish I had a sword, so that I could properly
use it by reading what is signed on it...no, no, don't fear, I don't
intend to ask for information about purchasing a katana and about
the "Samurai Way of the Sword" & Stuff :)). I like the site,
though...
By the way, if you get to check out EDICT, maybe you can find out
how to search for expressions, because I couldn't. Even if I
select "full regular expression", it concatenates my words into a
single one, which, of course, the server can't understand. This is
the exact link of one of the mirrors:
http://www.df.lth.se/cgi-bin/j-e/dict
Other than that, thank you for your time and I hope we get to chat
some more.
Respectfully,
Gabriel
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 10:59:48 +0700
From: "Michael Peters" <shdwstel@...>
Subject: Re: Re: Japan Eras
Matt wrote,
"the great sword makers had stopped making katanas and moved into making
kitchen knives, since that's where the money is. "
More likely good extra money. There is a limit on how many swords they are
allowed to produce annually.
M.J. Peters
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 08 Dec 2004 23:25:55 -0600
From: Anthony Bryant <ajbryant@...>
Subject: Re: Japan Eras
Nate Ledbetter wrote:
> Tony, I have to give recommendations for someone else
> every once in a while.
Okay... I can live with that.
> At least until I'm on commission.
So is ginko furikomi fine by you, or would you prefer a personal check? :)
Tony
--
Anthony J. Bryant
Website: http://www.sengokudaimyo.com
Effingham's Heraldic Avatars (...and stuff):
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/avatarbiz.html
Grand Cross, Order of the Laurel:
http://www.cafepress.com/laurelorder
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 20:55:09 -0800 (PST)
From: Nate Ledbetter <ltdomer98@...>
Subject: Re: Japan Eras
--- Anthony Bryant <ajbryant@...> wrote:
> So is ginko furikomi fine by you, or would you
> prefer a personal check? :)
If you can do ginko furikomi, I can give you my
realtor's account--whatever you put in will go towards
my rent!
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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 01:36:45 EST
From: burker1@...
Subject: Re: Movies on Imjin War
Changsub,
I often get fascinated by obscure periods of history and start to
research them.
I got interested in the Imjin War (which is what I've read is the
Japanese name for the invasion of Korea in the 1590s) because of two things.
One is
the availabilty of 15mm Korean cavalry and infantry figures from Eureka
miniatures in Australia.
The other is a seven part series on the Korean army by Rob Morgan which
was published in the Arquebusier (a British journal dedicated to the
Renaissance period).
I have collected a list of references on the Imjin War, which is below.
I actually need to add to it, which I will do over the holidays and then
I'll
post them to the group's archives.
I did find a reference on the Internet to an upcoming Korean movie about
the Japanese invasion. Here is what the blurb said:
"SOLDIERS OF HEAVEN. ("Cheon-gun") A group of soldiers from North and South
Korea are caught in a timewarp and swept back to 1592 and find themselves in
the middle of the Imjin War. The cast includes Park Jung-hoon, Kim
Seung-woo, Hwang Jeong-min and Kong Hyo-jin. The production company, Sidus,
has budgeted around 8 million dollars on this project which will be filmed
by new director Min Jun-gi. Filming began on July 20 and there is an
estimated release sometime in April 2005."
I just hope it gets released with English subtitles. If it shows a lot
of Korean soldiers I could use it as a painting guide for when I finally buy
my
Korean army.
If you know of any other references in English about this war, please
let
me know.
I'm especially interested in finding colour illustrations of Korean troops.
I've listed a booklet by the Korean Defense Department below that I
would
especially like to get a copy of.
Bob Burke
References for Japanese Invasion of Korea
窶弋he Book of Corrections, Reflections on the National Crisis During
the
Japanese Invasion of Korea, 1592-1598窶�, by Yu Songnyong (translated by
Choi
Byonghyon), Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California,
Berkeley,
California, 2002.
窶廬n the Field as a Kitten - In the Castle as a Tiger窶�, by Rob
Morgan,
published in various issues of the Arquebusier.
Part 1: 窶弋he Signal Gun? A 16th Century Korean Hand Gun窶�, Vol XXV,
#1
Part 2: 窶弋he Hand-Bomb窶�, Vol XXV, #2
Part 3:
Part 4: 窶弋he Reclining Moon Knife窶�, Vol XXVI, #1
Part 5: 窶弋ridents and Long Spears窶�, Vol XXVI, #2
Part 6: 窶弋he Korean Bow窶�, Vol. XXVI, #3
Part 7: 窶廣 Korean Volley Engine窶�, Vol XXVII, #1
窶廳orean Weapons and Armour窶�, by John L. Boots; presented to the
Royal
Asiatic Society Korean Branch, Feb 13, 1931.
窶弑niforms of the Yi Dynasty Era窶�, Time Portal Passages, Winter 2003.
窶廸orth Korean Archery窶�, by Douglas Elmy, Journal of the Society of
Archer-Antiquaries, c. 1970 or 72.
OSPREY BOOKS:
窶廡ighting Ships of the Far East (2), Japan and Korea AD 612-1639窶�,
by
Stephen Turnbull, Osprey Publishing Ltd, 2003.
Plate D shows Korean artillerymen in 1592.
Plate E shows Korean artillerymen, archers, and commander 1592
窶彜iege Weapons of the Far East (2), AD 960-1644窶�, by Stephen
Turnbull,
Osprey Publishing Ltd, 2002.
Plate B shows wheeled rocket launchers, Korean artillerymen and
commanding officer.
Plate F shows mobile mortar, Korean artillerymen and commanding officer.
窶弩ar in Japan 1467-1615窶�, by Stephen Turnbull, Osprey Publishing
Ltd,
2002.
窶廣shigaru 1467-1649窶�, by Stephen Turnbull, Osprey Publishing Ltd,
2001.
STEPHEN TURNBULL:
窶彜amurai Invasion, Japanâ(tm)s Korean War 1592-98窶�, by Stephen
Turnbull,
Cassell & Co, 2002.
page 17 shows black and white illustration of Korean officer.
page 19 shows black and white illustration of Korean heavy cavalry with
flail.
page 50 shows Korean infantry attacking the Japanese.
page 51 shows Korean officer in single combat with samurai
page 52 shows Korean heavy and light infantry.
page 89 shows Korean naval gun.
page 97 shows Korea archers and Korean Admiral.
page 109 shows Korean civilians fighting Japanese.
page 111 shows Korean guerrilla leader.
page 112 shows Korean sailors.
page 114 shows Korean guerrillas (infantry).
page 120 shows Korean infantry and mounted officers.
page 121 shows Korean infantry and warrior monks.
page 122 shows Koran infantry.
page 132 shows Korean infantry and Korean general.
page 133 shows Korean guerrillas.
page 149 shows Korean hwachâ(tm)a (fire wagon). Fired 100 steel tipped
rockets or 200 thin arrows.
page 150 shows Korean infantry.
page 174 shows Korean officer.
page 175 shows Korean foot soldier.
page 176 shows Ming general and troops.
page 194 shows Korean mounted commander and Korean infantry.
page 198 shows Korean guerrillas.
page 277 shows Korean archers (on a ship).
窶彜amurai, the Way of the Warrior窶�, by Stephen Turnbull, Osprey
Publishing Ltd, 2003.
page 158 shows a painting from the Namwon Memorial Museum depicting the
fall of the town of Namwon to Japanese troops in 1597. The painting shows
Korean mounted heavy horse archers and other heavy cavalry, and Korean
infantry
armed with pole weapons and tridents.
窶彜amurai Warriors窶�, by Stephen Turnbull, Blanford Press, 1987.
pages 104-105 show Japanese and Korean infantry (the Koreans are in red
and are armed with flails {fighting sticks} and pole weapons).
BOOKS AND ARTICLES I NEED TO FIND:
Korean Defense Department booklet on history of Korean Army (date
unknown). This booklet is supposedly in both Korean and English and has
illustrations of the Korean army throughout the centuries, including
illustrations from
the 16th century.
窶廱apanese Savagery窶�, by Stephen Turnbull, Military Illustrated #150.
窶弋he Organization of a Samurai Army. Matsuura Army, 16th and 17th
Centuries, Military Illustrated #91.
窶廬MJIN WAERAN, Les invasions japonaises en CorÃ(c)e窶�, Vae Victis
#53.
窶廰ate Imperial Chinese Armies 1520-1840窶�, by Chris Peers,
OSPREYâ(tm)S
Men-At-Arms Series 307.
窶廨uns, Guts, and Glory: Notes on Military Technology in the Japanese
Invasion of Korea, 1592-1598窶�, by Kenneth Swope, presented at the New York
Conference on Asian Studies 1592-1598 held Oct. 26-28, 2002, in Saratoga,
N.Y. (this
article is being revised and will be published in a future issue of The Jour
nal of Military History).
窶弋urning the Tide: The Strategic and Psychological Significance of the
Liberation of Pyongyang in 1593窶�, by Kenneth Swope, published in War &
Society, Vol 21, #2, October 2003 <warsoc@...>.
This article focuses on the battle that marked the turning point in the
Japanese invasion of Korea, which lasted from 1592-1598. Up to this point
the
outgunned Korean defenders had suffered defeat after defeat and been forced
to
abandon all of Koreaâ(tm)s major cities and fortresses and seek refuge
along the
Chinese border. They requested help from Ming China, Koreaâ(tm)s tributary
overlords and even though a small Ming expeditionary force was defeated in
the summer
of 1592, the Ming promised to send more aid. This arrived in early 1593 and
together with Korean troops and volunteers, the Ming overwhelmed the
Japanese
with superior firepower and recovered the city of Pyongyang, Koreaâ(tm)s
auxiliary
capital. Within months Seoul was also recovered and the Japanese never
regained
their early momentum.
窶弋he Three Great Campaigns of the Wanli Emperor: Court, Military, and
Society in Late Sixteenth Century China窶�, Dissertation by Kenneth Swope,
available from UMI (#3022033).
窶廳orean Boats & Ships窶�, by Horace Underwood, Transactions of the
Royal
Asiatic Society of Korea, 23 (1934), pp 1-99.
窶弋he Celestial Warriors: A Drama of Military Aid and Corruption in the
Korean War, 1592-98,窶�, by Nam-lin Hur, in Dimensions of Koreaâ(tm)s Imjin
War,
1592-98, ed. The Oriental Institute, University of Oxford, Article is under
revision (currently 47 pp.).
窶弋he International Context of Toyotomi Hideyoshiâ(tm)s Invasion of
Korea, in
1592: A Clash between Chinese Culturalism and Japanese Militarism,窶� by
Nam-lin Hur, Korea-Observer 28-4 (Winter 1997), pp. 687-707.
窶弋he Record of the Black Dragon Year (the Japanese Invasion of Korea,
1592 to 1598), by Peter H. Lee, Institute of Korean Culture 2000.
窶彜ize Matters: International Military Technology in Toyotomi
Hideyoshiâ(tm)s
Invasion of Korea, 1592-1598窶�, presented at the Midwest Conference on
Asian
Affairs, October 7, 2000 (unpublished).
Papers presented at the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), March 4-7,
2004, San Diego, CA:
窶廨unpowder Technology, Qi Jiguang, and the Japanese Invasion of Korea
(1592-1598), by Kenneth Laichen Sun (California State University,
Fullerton).
窶彜natching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory: Yang Hao and the Siege of
Ulsan, 1597-98窶�, by Kenneth Swope (Marist College).
revised: 12/8/04
In a message dated 12/8/04 5:01:43 PM, knorr31@... writes:
<<
Dear Bob:
As I know that you already read an English version of
'book of correction' by Yu who was a prime minister
then, I am wondering what drew your attention to the
Japanese crossing of the Imjin river.
The commander in chief of the Chosun Dynasty was not
competent, who should have held such a high military
command, only thinking about running away. There was
no significant milarty event worthy of a record except
for one incidence when a low rank officer of Chosun
dynasty scrared off some Japanese soldiers who shot
muskets for fun by shooting several arrows across the
river.
I also don't remember seeing any movies on the Imjin
crossing although I was in Korea only until 1998.
Sincerely,
Changsub Lee
--- burker1@... wrote:
> Does anyone know of any Samurai movies about the
> Imjin War, Japan's invasion
> of Korea in the 1590s?
>
> If so, where can I find a copy with English
> subtitles? I live in the US
> (near San Francisco).
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bob Burke
>
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Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 16:07:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Movies on Imjin War
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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 10:19:15 -0000
From: "Dodu Gabriel" <dodu_gabriel@...>
Subject: Re: Japan Eras
--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Nate Ledbetter
wrote:
>
> Were you interested, we do have a few sword experts
> (I'm not one of them). Swords can be cool as long as
> you don't get all freaky.
>
> Nate
>
Thank you, Nate, I am interested in swords, can't say that I'm not.
I don't know much, so an expert's opinion would be most welcome. I
like the www.toledoswords.com site, mostly because it's one of the
few I have visited (so I only know about their opinion). Is it ok?
Oh, and don't be afraid, as I have no intention on getting freaky, I
just like to learn about the historical events that have taken place
throughout the world, and in that matter the Discovery Channel has
been of great help ;)
I am also very interested in sailships, but that does not make the
object of this forum, so sorry I've mentioned it.
Respectfully,
Gabriel
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 9
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 10:23:10 -0000
From: "Dodu Gabriel" <dodu_gabriel@...>
Subject: Re: Japan Eras
--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Anthony Bryant
wrote:
> Nate Ledbetter wrote:
>
> > Ooh, that's a toughie. You are referring to year
> > periods, I assume? There are a lot of them. The best
> > list I know of is here:
> >
> > http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/kanji/nengo.htm
> >
> > That only begins in year 1201, but does give the kanji
> > for each period, and the alternate periods. I'll see
> > if I can dig up anything prior to that.
>
>
> In English:
> http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/yearsinnihon_e.html
> In Japanese:
> http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/yearsinnihon_j.html
>
> Linked from http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/calendar.html
>
> Tony
> --
>
> Anthony J. Bryant
> Website: http://www.sengokudaimyo.com
>
> Effingham's Heraldic Avatars (...and stuff):
> http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/avatarbiz.html
>
> Grand Cross, Order of the Laurel:
> http://www.cafepress.com/laurelorder
________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 10:05:25 -0000
From: "Dodu Gabriel" <dodu_gabriel@...>
Subject: Re: Japan Eras
Hello Matt!
Funny garlic thingy there...:)) I think there should have been a
cross also. But leaving this aside (I hope this type of utterance is
permitted in english), the katana stuff was only inteded as a joke,
as I was reading a lot of "bollocks" (as Mr. Bryant said once) on
other forums regarding the Samurai matter.
By the way, are you familiar with the Toledo Swordmasters (the
spanish Toledo, because there are others)? They have some very nice
replicas (is that the word?) of historical swords.
Respectfully,
Gabriel
--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Matt Bowes
wrote:
>
> Mr. Gabriel:
>
> Impressive. Your English is excellent. Are you sure you're not
a "ringer" posting from middle Ohio? You made me look
up "concatenates." I think I heard the word used ONCE back in 1992.
>
> To the crowd at large, not just our erudite Romanian, I could be
wrong, but my ex-wife's aiee (sword) teacher (no, dear reader, I have
no idea how it is spelled, since I have never ever seen it in print)
told me that the great sword makers had stopped making katanas and
moved into making kitchen knives, since that's where the money is.
Now, I can see perhaps where it would be extra handy to have a ginsu
knife for chopping garlic instead of your trusty katana, but maybe
that's just me. Some of you might enjoy the garlic chopping with a
larger blade. Some of you might be a little unhinged if you do,
since that strikes me (ha) as a foolish approach. So, is there any
truth to this rumor that the great swordmakers are still out there,
just making steak knives for Williams Sonoma? (Incidentally, the ex
and myself are on excellent terms, so no need to fear for my safety.
Thank you for your concern.)
>
> Your most obedient,
>
> Matt
>
> Dodu Gabriel wrote:
> --- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Nate Ledbetter
> wrote:
> >
> > Newbies are welcome unless they make themselves
> > unwelcome. As for English not being your native
> > language--YOU are the one that all these other people
> > must be learning to hate. Your writing skills were
> > QUITE good--if it's not your native language, then
> > THEY have no excuse. WELCOME!!!! (and so that we know,
> > what is your native language?)
>
> My native language is romanian. I am from Romania, and please don't
> start with the Dracula stuff, because I hate Bram Stoker. It did
> wonders for our Travelling Industry, but it crippled our history...:
(
>
> > http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/kanji/nengo.htm
> >
> > That only begins in year 1201, but does give the kanji
> > for each period, and the alternate periods. I'll see
> > if I can dig up anything prior to that. As for
> > changing the period name, it was the Emperor who did
> > that--not the daimyo, Shogun, or any military person.
> > Someone else may have "suggested" to the Emperor that
> > it would be a good time for a name change, but it was
> > the Emperor who actually did it. Reasons for changing
> > included a portentous sign, a natural disaster, a
> > particularly good event, or just because they'd gone
> > long enough.
>
> Thank you for the information, it's good to know things as they
> were. About that site, I wish I had a sword, so that I could
properly
> use it by reading what is signed on it...no, no, don't fear, I
don't
> intend to ask for information about purchasing a katana and about
> the "Samurai Way of the Sword" & Stuff :)). I like the site,
> though...
>
> By the way, if you get to check out EDICT, maybe you can find out
> how to search for expressions, because I couldn't. Even if I
> select "full regular expression", it concatenates my words into a
> single one, which, of course, the server can't understand. This is
> the exact link of one of the mirrors:
>
> http://www.df.lth.se/cgi-bin/j-e/dict
>
> Other than that, thank you for your time and I hope we get to chat
> some more.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Gabriel
>
> ---------------------------------
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 13:19:45 -0000
From: "Thomas Davidson" <tom.davidson@...>
Subject: Re: Japan Swords - was Eras
Hi Gabriel -
The toledo sword site looks a bit too commercial for my liking - marketing
what 'looks
good' and will sell, rather than what is correct.
As a one-time iaidoka, I am not enamoured of their products - by the look of
it there's
more wrong than there's right.
I suggest searching for 'nihonto' rather than 'samurai sword' or 'katana' or
the like, at least
you might get to a somewhat knowledgeable site. There are others here who
know a hell
of a lot more than I do, so if you have any specific questions, ask away
(but please, not
about ninja straight swords, which are pure invention).
Thomas
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 12
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 13:48:14 -0800
From: Dave Jackson <nihontonut@...>
Subject: Re: Re: Japan Eras
Swords are still being made by the old methods by a few people. These swords
are produced in a limited quantity, (two per month per smith I believe), in
order to keep the quality high. So if you want one expect to spend a bit as
well as possibly being on a waiting list.
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: Matt Bowes
To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:50 PM
Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Re: Japan Eras
Mr. Gabriel:
Impressive. Your English is excellent. Are you sure you're not a
"ringer" posting from middle Ohio? You made me look up "concatenates." I
think I heard the word used ONCE back in 1992.
To the crowd at large, not just our erudite Romanian, I could be wrong,
but my ex-wife's aiee (sword) teacher (no, dear reader, I have no idea how
it is spelled, since I have never ever seen it in print) told me that the
great sword makers had stopped making katanas and moved into making kitchen
knives, since that's where the money is. Now, I can see perhaps where it
would be extra handy to have a ginsu knife for chopping garlic instead of
your trusty katana, but maybe that's just me. Some of you might enjoy the
garlic chopping with a larger blade. Some of you might be a little unhinged
if you do, since that strikes me (ha) as a foolish approach. So, is there
any truth to this rumor that the great swordmakers are still out there, just
making steak knives for Williams Sonoma? (Incidentally, the ex and myself
are on excellent terms, so no need to fear for my safety. Thank you for
your concern.)
Your most obedient,
Matt
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 13
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 20:46:07 -0000
From: "Matt" <yeomanforbes@...>
Subject: Re: Japan Swords - was Eras
Thomas:
Your excellent suggestion yielded some websites of interest,
particularly Mr. Sinclair's articles at
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/history.htm
in which the past and current Japanese Ni-honto are discussed.
Interestingly, he explains in that particular article the whole 24
swords a year standard and from what it sprung, and who regulates
the entire sword making trade in Japan, and so on. It also gave me
some insights on the folks who claim to have a "Japanese Samurai
Sword from World War Two." According to Mr. Sinclair, 90% of Showa
swords are, essentially, little more than mass-produced blades,
which is a pity.
Matt
--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, "Thomas Davidson"
wrote:
>
> Hi Gabriel -
>
> The toledo sword site looks a bit too commercial for my liking -
marketing what 'looks
> good' and will sell, rather than what is correct.
>
> As a one-time iaidoka, I am not enamoured of their products - by
the look of it there's
> more wrong than there's right.
>
> I suggest searching for 'nihonto' rather than 'samurai sword'
or 'katana' or the like, at least
> you might get to a somewhat knowledgeable site. There are others
here who know a hell
> of a lot more than I do, so if you have any specific questions,
ask away (but please, not
> about ninja straight swords, which are pure invention).
>
> Thomas
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 14
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 11:05:40 -0800
From: "Silk Road School" <silk.road.school@...>
Subject: RE: : movie list (was new gaijin)
Thomas -
Delightful. Thanks for the recommendations. I'd never heard of these. I
look forward to them.
As to "Seven Samurai" - not only has it been released with revised
subtitles, it's been restored to its original release length - which had
previously not been shown outside of a few major Japanese cities in its
first run. A student of mine also has a DVD version that includes the
theatrical trailer for the film, which is pretty delightful in itself. But
both of these have been out long enough that I'm not sure either one is what
you're referring to.
Gereg
Date: Wed, 08 Dec 2004 13:43:58 -0000
From: "Thomas Davidson" <tom.davidson@...>
Subject: Re: movie list (was new gaijin)
A couple of other movies:
Ame Agaru (After the Rain) - a gentle story
Twilight Samurai - another gentle story with some nice kodachi work for
those who recall
previous discussions here...
... and Gohatto, more 'gay' than 'gentle', again with some excellent dojo
fencing which
contrasts nicely with the somewhat wild 'cut n slash' of 'the real thing'.
The Kurosawas are, of course, mandatory.
I have heard Seven Samurai is being re-released with revised subtitling
which is somewhat
more 'earthy' than the 50's version. Anyone know anything about this?
Thomas
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 15
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 11:05:38 -0800
From: "Silk Road School" <silk.road.school@...>
Subject: RE: Japan eras
--- Dodu Gabriel <dodu_gabriel@...> wrote:
> My native language is romanian. I am from Romania,
> and please don't
> start with the Dracula stuff, because I hate Bram
> Stoker.
Gabriel -
...You have my sympathy, for what it's worth. Fred
Saberhagen's _The
Dracula Tape_ is a rather nicely researched satire that purports to be Vlad
Tepes' own account of his visit to England, refuting the unkind reports of
Stoker and "that old sadist Van Helsing." If you can find the novel, it
might give you some pleasure.
>no, no,
> don't fear, I don't
> intend to ask for information about purchasing a
> katana and about
> the "Samurai Way of the Sword" & Stuff :)). I like
> the site,
> though...
Were you interested, we do have a few sword experts
(I'm not one of them). Swords can be cool as long as
you don't get all freaky.
Nate
Hey now, Nate. Swords are very cool indeed, and since
they've kept me
fascinated and actively growing for the past forty-odd years, I'm not sure
whether I resemble that "all freaky" remark or not. ...I feel so insulted.
How to handle this sense of wounded dignity in a mature and rational
manner - ha! Got it!
Nate, we're going to have to have a duel.
Gereg
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Message: 16
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 07:28:47 -0800 (PST)
From: Ray White Buffalo <maceas3@...>
Subject: Japan emblems
Hello there,
This is Tres writing today. Love reading the discussions. I am curious as to
who knows what the birds are called on the 'Yagyu' emblem? And why they
decided to use these birds in their crest? Thanks for any information.
-Tres-
Nate Ledbetter <ltdomer98@...> wrote:
--- Anthony Bryant wrote:
> In English:
>
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/yearsinnihon_e.html
> In Japanese:
>
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/yearsinnihon_j.html
>
> Linked from
>
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/miscellany/calendar.html
Tony, I have to give recommendations for someone else
every once in a while.
At least until I'm on commission.
:)
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Message: 17
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 10:59:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Matt Bowes <yeomanforbes@...>
Subject: Re: Re: Japan Eras
I am not particularly knowledgable on the various swordmakers out there - in
fact, my knowledge is probably far eclipsed by yours.
I didn't intend the garlic remark as a joke! I was merely thinking of what
I commonly do with kitchen knives, and one of them is chopping garlic for a
good soffrito, after you've cooked the onions in oil to a nice pale
transparency (because the onions need to cook longer than the garlic). No
cross necessary for that. The whole vampire myth- vampires wouldn't last a
week in Italy, would they?
Now, why would sword makers be limited in their production of fine blades
each year? Is it a law? And what would be the purpose of that law, beyond
artificially driving the price of each sword up? It sounds like a
protectionist Japanese law, sort of like how DeBeers limits the sales of
diamonds to artifically drive up the price.
Matt
Dodu Gabriel <dodu_gabriel@...> wrote:
Hello Matt!
Funny garlic thingy there...:)) I think there should have been a
cross also. But leaving this aside (I hope this type of utterance is
permitted in english), the katana stuff was only inteded as a joke,
as I was reading a lot of "bollocks" (as Mr. Bryant said once) on
other forums regarding the Samurai matter.
By the way, are you familiar with the Toledo Swordmasters (the
spanish Toledo, because there are others)? They have some very nice
replicas (is that the word?) of historical swords.
Respectfully,
Gabriel
--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Matt Bowes
wrote:
>
> Mr. Gabriel:
>
> Impressive. Your English is excellent. Are you sure you're not
a "ringer" posting from middle Ohio? You made me look
up "concatenates." I think I heard the word used ONCE back in 1992.
>
> To the crowd at large, not just our erudite Romanian, I could be
wrong, but my ex-wife's aiee (sword) teacher (no, dear reader, I have
no idea how it is spelled, since I have never ever seen it in print)
told me that the great sword makers had stopped making katanas and
moved into making kitchen knives, since that's where the money is.
Now, I can see perhaps where it would be extra handy to have a ginsu
knife for chopping garlic instead of your trusty katana, but maybe
that's just me. Some of you might enjoy the garlic chopping with a
larger blade. Some of you might be a little unhinged if you do,
since that strikes me (ha) as a foolish approach. So, is there any
truth to this rumor that the great swordmakers are still out there,
just making steak knives for Williams Sonoma? (Incidentally, the ex
and myself are on excellent terms, so no need to fear for my safety.
Thank you for your concern.)
>
> Your most obedient,
>
> Matt
>
> Dodu Gabriel wrote:
> --- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Nate Ledbetter
> wrote:
> >
> > Newbies are welcome unless they make themselves
> > unwelcome. As for English not being your native
> > language--YOU are the one that all these other people
> > must be learning to hate. Your writing skills were
> > QUITE good--if it's not your native language, then
> > THEY have no excuse. WELCOME!!!! (and so that we know,
> > what is your native language?)
>
> My native language is romanian. I am from Romania, and please don't
> start with the Dracula stuff, because I hate Bram Stoker. It did
> wonders for our Travelling Industry, but it crippled our history...:
(
>
> > http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/kanji/nengo.htm
> >
> > That only begins in year 1201, but does give the kanji
> > for each period, and the alternate periods. I'll see
> > if I can dig up anything prior to that. As for
> > changing the period name, it was the Emperor who did
> > that--not the daimyo, Shogun, or any military person.
> > Someone else may have "suggested" to the Emperor that
> > it would be a good time for a name change, but it was
> > the Emperor who actually did it. Reasons for changing
> > included a portentous sign, a natural disaster, a
> > particularly good event, or just because they'd gone
> > long enough.
>
> Thank you for the information, it's good to know things as they
> were. About that site, I wish I had a sword, so that I could
properly
> use it by reading what is signed on it...no, no, don't fear, I
don't
> intend to ask for information about purchasing a katana and about
> the "Samurai Way of the Sword" & Stuff :)). I like the site,
> though...
>
> By the way, if you get to check out EDICT, maybe you can find out
> how to search for expressions, because I couldn't. Even if I
> select "full regular expression", it concatenates my words into a
> single one, which, of course, the server can't understand. This is
> the exact link of one of the mirrors:
>
> http://www.df.lth.se/cgi-bin/j-e/dict
>
> Other than that, thank you for your time and I hope we get to chat
> some more.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Gabriel
>
> ---------------------------------
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> Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 18
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 03:17:19 -0800 (PST)
From: Edward Alexander <edyhiphop@...>
Subject: Battle Maps
Hey guys.....
Sorry cuz I didn't respond to any message because I'm busy with school. I'm
asking for something. I need it at History....... Can you give me some
information about battle maps???? I mean, just like in WWII. Maps of the
area where the battles took place.
Peace,
Edy
P.S.:
Mr. Gabriel,
I'm also romanian.
Eddy
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Message: 19
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 14:53:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Nate Ledbetter <ltdomer98@...>
Subject: Re: Re: Japan Eras
--- Dodu Gabriel <dodu_gabriel@...> wrote:
>I am also very interested in sailships, but that
> does not make the
> object of this forum, so sorry I've mentioned it.
No problem mentioning them. But if we're going to
discuss them for a 20 post series, then at least let's
talk about Portuguese ships going to Japan, or
something. Off topic stuff is okay, just use your
head. :)
Nate
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Message: 20
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 15:12:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Nate Ledbetter <ltdomer98@...>
Subject: Re: Battle Maps
--- Edward Alexander <edyhiphop@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys.....
> Sorry cuz I didn't respond to any message because
> I'm busy with school. I'm asking for something. I
> need it at History....... Can you give me some
> information about battle maps???? I mean, just like
> in WWII. Maps of the area where the battles took
> place.
Edy--
Can you be more specific? What battles would you like?
I'm sure someone can help, but there were quite a lot
of battles in Japan over the centuries--what battle do
you want?
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Message: 21
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 18:17:06 -0600
From: Anthony Bryant <ajbryant@...>
Subject: Re: Japan eras
Silk Road School wrote:
> ...You have my sympathy, for what it's worth. Fred
Saberhagen's _The
> Dracula Tape_ is a rather nicely researched satire that purports to be
Vlad
> Tepes' own account of his visit to England, refuting the unkind reports of
> Stoker and "that old sadist Van Helsing." If you can find the novel, it
> might give you some pleasure.
I love that book. I regard it as the *true* version of the Stoker account.
:)
For the record, many years ago I wrote a term paper on Vlad Tepes. As a
former
Orthodox seminarian, I thought his was a rather interesting story of trying
to
walk a tightrope between the Orthodox Church and the RC Church with the
Turks in
the pit below waiting to gobble him up if he fell...
Tony
--
Anthony J. Bryant
Website: http://www.sengokudaimyo.com
Effingham's Heraldic Avatars (...and stuff):
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/avatarbiz.html
Grand Cross, Order of the Laurel:
http://www.cafepress.com/laurelorder
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Message: 22
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 15:20:44 -0800 (PST)
From: Nate Ledbetter <ltdomer98@...>
Subject: RE: Japan eras
--- Silk Road School <silk.road.school@...>
wrote:
> Were you interested, we do have a few sword experts
> (I'm not one of them). Swords can be cool as long as
> you don't get all freaky.
> Nate
> Hey now, Nate. Swords are very cool indeed, and
> since they've kept me
> fascinated and actively growing for the past
> forty-odd years, I'm not sure
> whether I resemble that "all freaky" remark or not.
> ...I feel so insulted.
Do you imbue your sword with some kind of mystic
dogma? Do you believe that once drawn a sword has to
be used, or it will implode? Do you really think that
piece of steel is your soul?
As long as you answered "no" to these, you're not a
freak.
> How to handle this sense of wounded dignity in a
> mature and rational
> manner - ha! Got it!
> Nate, we're going to have to have a duel.
> Gereg
Only if I get to choose weapons.
I choose Main Battle Tank. Mine's an M1A2--yours?
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Message: 23
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 18:20:29 -0600
From: Anthony Bryant <ajbryant@...>
Subject: Re: Japan emblems
Ray White Buffalo wrote:
>
> Hello there, This is Tres writing today. Love reading the discussions. I
am
> curious as to who knows what the birds are called on the 'Yagyu' emblem?
And
> why they decided to use these birds in their crest? Thanks for any
> information.
What birds? The Yagyu kamon is two hats (the last image on
http://www.est.co.jp/fe/kamon1200/list/contents/kasa.htm )
Tony
--
Anthony J. Bryant
Website: http://www.sengokudaimyo.com
Effingham's Heraldic Avatars (...and stuff):
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/avatarbiz.html
Grand Cross, Order of the Laurel:
http://www.cafepress.com/laurelorder
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