Giving Up the Gun: Japan's Reversion to the Sword, 1543-1879
by Noel Perrin
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 20)
Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
Students of history or of Japanese culture
This book is a brief but interesting study of a culture which encountered a technology, saw its advantages and disadvantages, and simply said "no thanks". Contrary to what we're often taught in school, the Japanese did not give up the use of firearms because they ended contact with the European nations. They were already making guns, for their own use and to export to China. Japanese flint-and-striker tobacco lighters may have inspired the use of a similar device in European firearms, ...more
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Read in March, 2004
recommends it for:
those interested in Japanese culture and/or guns
Neol Perrin writes a very interesting book dealing with the specific topic of Japan from the 16th to the 19th century and it's experience with guns.
It is very well written and easy to read. Although it is an academic read, Perrin never gets too technical to lose those of us (like me!) that have no real knowledge of Japanese history OR guns and his use of humor keeps it entertaining enough to read all the way through.
He packs in a lot of information and provides a wide range of sources an...more
It is very well written and easy to read. Although it is an academic read, Perrin never gets too technical to lose those of us (like me!) that have no real knowledge of Japanese history OR guns and his use of humor keeps it entertaining enough to read all the way through.
He packs in a lot of information and provides a wide range of sources an...more
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I good, brief introduction to the prominence of the sword and its victory over the gun for so long. Makes me want to read an entire history of the country. But that will have to wait.
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Such an interesting perspective... a society that chose to move "backwards" in terms of warfare; from the gun to the sword. Fascinating.
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