Ideology of the Sword: A Spiritual History of Japanese Culture - Paperback

by Toshinobu Sakai (Author), Christopher Yang (Translator), Alexander Bennett (Editorial Coordination by)

Written by budo researcher Professor Toshinobu Sakai of the University of Tsukuba, "Ideology of the Sword - A Spiritual History of Japanese Culture" explores the sword not just as a weapon, but as a sacred object at the heart of East Asian and Japanese culture. Challenging the idea that sword ideology is uniquely Japanese, this book traces its roots through ancient China and Korea before following its transformation within Japan through myth, ritual, literature, and martial practice.

Drawing on reliable historical records, it examines legendary swords, Taoist thought, and other influences alongside the myths of the Kojiki and Nihon-shoki, medieval war tales such as The Tale of the Heike and the Taiheiki, and the symbolism of the Three Sacred Treasures. The book then turns to early-modern kenjutsu traditions, including the transmitted scrolls of Kashima Shinto-ryu and Jigen-ryu, revealing how technical practice became a vehicle for spiritual cultivation.

This book is a cultural and intellectual history of Japan seen through the enduring symbolism of the sword.