STUDY SUBJECTS and GUIDES 
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Shibui Swords Primer of Japanese Art History
NIHON-TO STUDY MATERIAL
Presented by Shibui Swords, is the most authorative treatise on sword judgement "The Complete Manual of the Old Sword" by an unknown author, published in 1793 in Edo. This manual was first translated by Ethel Watts Mumford in her book titled "The Japanese Book of the Ancient Sword".
Presenting Ancient Study of Nihon-To by Shibui Swords
The Beauty of the Japanese Sword by Michihiro Tanobe
ARMs and ARMOR of Ancient Japan
The Japanese Shinsa Method : Learning Sword and Smith Kantei Method
MEI Reading
Appraisal of Blades : Kantei Picture Guide : Guide for Kantei
Hataraki : Jigane and Jihada
Sword Terms : Sword Culture : Sword Origami
Japanese Famous Swords : Study all the material about Masamune & Muramasa
Manufacture of the Japanese Blade ~ GOKADEN, the Five Traditions.
A History of Nihonto by Sato Kanzan ~ Japanese Sword History.
Swordsmith's along the Eight Roads. Also see Koto Schools and Smiths along the Eight Roads at Sho-Shin.
The Development of the Japanese Samurai Sword
TOSOGU STUDY MATERIAL
Robert Haynes Study Guide
SUKASHI TSUBA in Late Muromachi and Momoyama Kyoto and Owari
The GOTO SHIROBEI Family SOTEN WORK REVISITED
ONE WAY OF LOOKING AT KANEIYE by Takeuchi Fumio
Kaneiye Tsuba comparisons and Views -- Nobuiye Tsuba comparisons and Views
Namban Gallery of Fine Tsuba
Unsigned Tsuba Identification -- Tsuba Identification Guide
Tsuba Collection Edifice -- Schools of Tsuba Artists
If you are un-familiar with the
'HISTORY' of Tsuba, please view Tsuba
Types.
Description of Tsubako, Ha's, and Provinces
of tsuba manufacture.
If you have an interest in GENJI-MON Tsuba, please
enjoy this ESSAY
The History of UKIYO-E
CERAMICS & POTTERY TOPICS
THE EVOLUTION OF JAPANESE CERAMICS
Lacquer Ware, definitions and schools.
Japanese Art Definitions
The Origin of Raku Ware
Yaki Ware ~ Description of Tea Chanoma Utensils
Oda Nobunaga - Warlord. ~ Toyotomi Hideyoshi - Unifier of Japan. ~ Tokugawa Ieyasu - 1st Tokugawa.
Sandai Soshu Tsunahiro teacher of Hiromasa.
Hon-ami Koetsu founder of Rinpa School of painting. ~ Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa .
RELIGIOUS THEMES
The Shakuhachi - Origin, History and Views
Confucius K'UNG FU-TSZE ~ Phoenix Bird description and history.
OTHER ITEMS
I wish to share my thoughts and concerns about "authenticity". Because Nihon-to is a collectible work of art, well-preserved antique blades by reputable smiths are extremely valuable. With an increased number of enthusiasts, the two most serious concerns of novice collectors of antique Nihon-to blades are a)the authenticity of the blade made by a reputable smith that they are interested in purchasing; and b)affordablility of the blade they 'can't live without'. The concern of affordability must be dealt with by the individual collector at a different level.
The concern of the authenticity of the given antique blade can be reduced or minimized if the collector is purchasing from a reputable art dealer. And, if the antique Nihon-to is accompanied with a legitimate certificate of authenticity by an established organization such as NBTHK or NTHK.
I am neither an 'appraiser' nor a 'connoisseur' qualified to determine the authenticity of any potentially valuable antique Nihon-to. As a novice Nihon-to collector, I have learned a basic outline of how the screening process is normally performed. This process of determining authenticity involves careful examinations of attributes in several different areas. The following four areas are what I use to determine attributes.
1) Structural attributes peculiar to a smith's work: sugata (shape of the blade), nakago (tang shape), forging/construction method, and hada (surface texture).
2) Attributes peculiar to the smith's work: hamon, nie/nioi, and hataraki.
3) Smith's personal attributes (mei): mei itself as an authenticating signature, and how the mei is 'usually' written (how the mei is carved with a chisel).
4) Chronological attributes based on the time frame the smith is known to have been working: inclusions with the mei (art names, titles, residence, etc.) and the color/patina on the nakago.
CALENDAR Dates from Juei (1182-1184) to Heisei (1989)
Maps of Japan during early history.
Educational & Knowledgeable WEBSITES
Richard
Stein's JAPANESE SWORD GUIDE
The most comprehensive Japanese
Sword resource online.
SHO-SHIN
Robert Cole has the best
material on the
CARMEL SAMURAI COMPANY
Carmel Samurai Company creates original masterpieces; swords of art & elegance by legendary Japanese Masters for serious art collectors.
TOSOGU YA
Fine Japanese Antiques. Boris Markhasin has written numerous articles about Tosogu which are very educational. Many are referenced on this web site.
ISSOAN TEA SCHOOL
Marjorie Yap Sensei instructs the Urasenke Tradition of Tea.
SAMURAI ARCHIVES
This is an 'EXCELLANT' web site to learn everything about Samurai. History at its best.
BUDDHIST NETWORK
If you seek information and knowledge about Buddhism, visit this wonderful web site.
E-YAKIMONO website
Robert Yelin's comprehensive ceramics online resource.
JAANUS
Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.
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