Sansom's book is more focused on narrative, war and individuals
It's also 1298 pages long rather than however long the Cambridge books are
Sansom is out of date and incorrect at times
>here, read this other version >it’s really long and out of date
?????
2 months ago
Anonymous
It's an introduction
Once you finish it you can read the individual chapters of the Cambridge history which strike your fancy
2 months ago
Anonymous
One must dedicate their life to studying a topic they are interested in. If you aren’t reading at least 10,000 pages of a topic you might as well not be reading at all
>Sansom is out of date and incorrect at times
the out of date meme again
2 months ago
Anonymous
Are you claiming the information isn't outdated?
2 months ago
Anonymous
It's uses the same sources. The only difference between now and the are interpretations of the writers. The only actual differences would the extremely early periods which most people don't csre about when it comes to narrative history
2 months ago
Anonymous
I assume the primary sources are all in Japaneses?
2 months ago
Anonymous
yes that's why reading the george samson's trilogy is the best introduction.
I liked Sources of Japanese Tradition and learned a lot, no idea how it ranks or how up to date it is. The Cambridge Histories I have read are more like very dense outlines and bibliographies, the text primarily summarizes the works in the bibliography and fills in the gaps between them, works better as a reference book for autistic study. But I have no idea if all of the series is like this, only have a few and they are of rather niche topics.
The first volume is a pretty decent, if very dense and technical, narrative history
They differ a lot between volumes
For example the Cambridge History of Russia volume 1 is the best pre-petrine narrative of Russian history yet the 2nd volume is a purely thematic overview with absolutely no coherence
It's not great
People read the Cambridge History of Japan books because they want details about Japanese history that aren't available elsewhere in English
The new series is much more of a summary/overview than a reference
Really enjoyed it. Nice overview while being enjoyable to read. Wouldn’t recommend it if you have a basic understanding of Japanese history. I didn’t at the time so it was perfect for me. Absolutely avoid the ‘tokugawa ieyasu’ book by the same publisher.
It's a very basic history which will give you an outline of Japanese history
If you haven't studied Japanese history before, there will be a lot that's new to you
If you have studied Japanese history, it's going to be stuff you know already
2 months ago
Anonymous
What would you recommend to someone who is already familiar with Japanese history?
The best single book in Japan is Marius Jansen - Making of Modern Japan. If you read one book let it be this one. It only deals with the period from 1600 to the present but it is a magisterial work.
>Samurai is unique to Japan
How are they in any way different from medevil European knights? >land owners with slaves tilling their fields >train to fight in wars for king(shogun) >full(ish) metal armor >obsession with swords
Recently picked up kendo, it's a specific piece of Japanese history but here's a small booklist I've been working through >Kendo, Minoru Kiyota >Kendo: Culture of the Sword, Alexander C. Bennett >Legacies of the Sword, Karl F. Friday
These three are a good philosophical/historical treatment of kendo. >This Is Kendo, Gordon Warner >Kendo: The Definitive Guide, Hiroshi Ozawa
These are more technique/practice based.
You ought to read George Sansom's A History of Japan first
I
Would they cover just about the same subject matter?
Sansom's book is more focused on narrative, war and individuals
It's also 1298 pages long rather than however long the Cambridge books are
Sansom is out of date and incorrect at times
>here, read this other version
>it’s really long and out of date
?????
It's an introduction
Once you finish it you can read the individual chapters of the Cambridge history which strike your fancy
One must dedicate their life to studying a topic they are interested in. If you aren’t reading at least 10,000 pages of a topic you might as well not be reading at all
False. I watch Big Think and atheist YouTubers.
>Sansom is out of date and incorrect at times
the out of date meme again
Are you claiming the information isn't outdated?
It's uses the same sources. The only difference between now and the are interpretations of the writers. The only actual differences would the extremely early periods which most people don't csre about when it comes to narrative history
I assume the primary sources are all in Japaneses?
yes that's why reading the george samson's trilogy is the best introduction.
explain yourselves
I liked Sources of Japanese Tradition and learned a lot, no idea how it ranks or how up to date it is. The Cambridge Histories I have read are more like very dense outlines and bibliographies, the text primarily summarizes the works in the bibliography and fills in the gaps between them, works better as a reference book for autistic study. But I have no idea if all of the series is like this, only have a few and they are of rather niche topics.
The first volume is a pretty decent, if very dense and technical, narrative history
They differ a lot between volumes
For example the Cambridge History of Russia volume 1 is the best pre-petrine narrative of Russian history yet the 2nd volume is a purely thematic overview with absolutely no coherence
That would be Shogun by Henry Clavell.
The new edition recently came out, no?
It's not great
People read the Cambridge History of Japan books because they want details about Japanese history that aren't available elsewhere in English
The new series is much more of a summary/overview than a reference
Thoughts on pic rel, guys?
Really enjoyed it. Nice overview while being enjoyable to read. Wouldn’t recommend it if you have a basic understanding of Japanese history. I didn’t at the time so it was perfect for me. Absolutely avoid the ‘tokugawa ieyasu’ book by the same publisher.
>Wouldn’t recommend it if you have a basic understanding of Japanese history.
So it's more for people who are already well versed?
It's a very basic history which will give you an outline of Japanese history
If you haven't studied Japanese history before, there will be a lot that's new to you
If you have studied Japanese history, it's going to be stuff you know already
What would you recommend to someone who is already familiar with Japanese history?
>Absolutely avoid the ‘tokugawa ieyasu’ book by the same publisher.
How come?
A good brief introduction to Japan history, I'm enjoying read it.
The best single book in Japan is Marius Jansen - Making of Modern Japan. If you read one book let it be this one. It only deals with the period from 1600 to the present but it is a magisterial work.
I like Choshu in the Meiji Restoration by Albert M. Craig
I would say so
Does Japan even have history? Wasn't it all some Chinese expats who formed shoguns and killed each other and then got bombed by the US?
Samurai is unique to Japan. Japan is pulling more from Korea, then China.
>Samurai is unique to Japan
How are they in any way different from medevil European knights?
>land owners with slaves tilling their fields
>train to fight in wars for king(shogun)
>full(ish) metal armor
>obsession with swords
Convergent evolution
> Does the US even have history? Wasn't it all some English settlers who formed colonies and killed the Natives and then got beat by the Vietnamese?
You're not wrong, though.
Pic for the aftermarth of WW2
Recently picked up kendo, it's a specific piece of Japanese history but here's a small booklist I've been working through
>Kendo, Minoru Kiyota
>Kendo: Culture of the Sword, Alexander C. Bennett
>Legacies of the Sword, Karl F. Friday
These three are a good philosophical/historical treatment of kendo.
>This Is Kendo, Gordon Warner
>Kendo: The Definitive Guide, Hiroshi Ozawa
These are more technique/practice based.