{"id":1763,"date":"2025-12-06T10:25:05","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T01:25:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/?p=1763"},"modified":"2026-02-02T10:39:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T01:39:43","slug":"ideology-of-the-sword-a-spiritual-history-of-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/?p=1763","title":{"rendered":"Ideology of the Sword – A Spiritual History of Japanese Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ideology of the Sword – A Spiritual History of Japanese Culture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Sakai Toshinobu<\/strong>
Translated by Christopher Yang
(Editorial supervision by Alex Bennett)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Published by the Nippon Budokan and written by budo researcher Professor Toshinobu Sakai of the University of Tsukuba, \u201cIdeology of the Sword \u2013 A Spiritual History of Japanese Culture\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

This book is a cultural and intellectual history of Japan seen through the enduring symbolism of the sword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AVAILABLE AT THE LINKS BELOW<\/strong>.
AVAILABLE FROM OTHER BOOK RETAILERS, TOO!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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This link is for Amazon.com, but it can be purchased from most Amazon stores in print and Kindle formats.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

PURCHASE AN EBOOK VERSION ON THE Budo Books APP<\/strong> BELOW<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contents<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Part 1 – Introduction<\/strong>
Prologue Embarking on a Journey to Examine the Japanese \u201cIdeology of the Sword\u201d
Chapter 1: The Sword Ideology Roadmap<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 2 – The Roots of Sword Ideals<\/strong>
Chapter 2: Ancient China and its Legendary Swords\u2014The Sword of Tai E
Chapter 3: The Legend of Ganjiang Moye
Chapter 4: Gaozu\u2019s Sword of Zhan She
Chapter 5: The Sword in Taoist Thought
Chapter 6: Sword Ideals in Ancient Korea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 3 – The Formation of Mythical Imagery<\/strong>
Chapter 7: The Creation of the Mythical World and the Birth of Sword Deities
Chapter 8: The Sword Bequeathed from the Heavens\u2013Futsu-no-Mitama-no-Tsurugi
Chapter 9: Connecting the Earthly and Heavenly Realms\u2014Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 4 – Sword Ideology and Religiosity<\/strong>
Chapter 10: To Worship and be Worshipped
Chapter 11: \u201cHekija\u201d Swords for Purging Evil
Chapter 12: Ukei Magic and Swords
Chapter 13: The Sword in Shugendo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 5 – Sword Ideals in the Middle Ages<\/strong>
Chapter 14: The Imperial Regalia
Chapter 15: The Three Sacred Treasures in The Tale of the Heike
Chapter 16: Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi in Taiheiki<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 6 – Early-modern Sword Ideals<\/strong>
Chapter 17: Japanese Myths in Kenjutsu Texts
Chapter 18: Techniques of the Mystical Sword in Shint\u014d-ry\u016b Kenjutsu
Chapter 19: The \u2018Sword of the Heart\u2019 in the Jigen-ry\u016b
Chapter 20: The Development of Sword Ideals in Early-Modern Kenjutsu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part 7 – Swords Ideals in the Modern Era<\/strong>
Chapter 21: The Post-modern Sword Ideology
Chapter 22: Linking Antiquity with the Present \u2014The Kashima Shrine Sword Dedication Ritual

Conclusion<\/strong>
Afterword
References
Index<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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