Thomas -
Speaking of big blokes: I'm far from expert enough to know how accurate
Robert Shea's research is (in Japan, at least: elsewhere it tends to be
pretty decent), but his _Shike_ is a fictional life of the huge monk - I
forget his name - who was Yoshitsune's companion. (I cite Yoshitsune's name
with trepidation; I'm not 100% sure I've identified him right, which is a
trifle embarrassing when I'm sitting right under a print of him training
with the Tengu.) What I recall of the two-book novel matches reasonably
well with what I've read of the Taira-Minamoto wars since then, but it was
my first exposure to the period, so I make no promises.
Shea is generally focussed on what one might call the 'underside of
history' - secret societies, etc. (he was the better-informed co-author of
the _Illuminastus!_ satire back in the'70s). I have my reservations, for
example, regarding his order of Zinja monks... he relates them to a
Ch'in-cha sect in China. Does anybody better-informed than I am happen to
recall these books, and have any views on their historical value? Might be
one for your list, Thomas, and on the other hand, it might be one to teach
me the limitations of my knowledge. Either one's good.
Gereg
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 18:36:34 -0000
From: "Thomas Davidson" <
tom.davidson@...>
Subject: Lists, lists
I have posted 2 lists in the files section -
One is of films, the other is of 'samurai fiction' - set in the
'samurai era' by which I mean I have not bothered with
Lustbader's Ninja, or such like - nor with stuff like Hayes'
'Wisdom from the Ninja Village' lest I incur the wrath of
P Richardson of this list - I've met him and he's a big bloke!
In both I have avoided anime/manga stuff, cos I don't know
anything about it!
Email me any additions/comments, and I'll update.
If we should do a list of factual/reference books, which will be
quite lengthy, i think, let me know.
Thomas