Lethal Elegance: The Art of Samurai Sword Fittings

by Joe Earle

Book Overview

As the soul of the samurai, the sword is famously both the symbol and instrument of Japanese military prowess. Less known, at least in the west, is its role as a fashion accessory or status symbol. More than the weapon itself, it was the sword's metal fittings--from the hand guard to the small decorative plates on the hilt--that reflected the complexities of samurai life. Some fittings were meant to convey the honor and self-control expected of a...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0878467750
• ISBN13: 9780878467754
• Release Date: March 2011
• Publisher: MFA Publications
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.5" x 9.5"