Drawing on the Victoria and Albert Museum's magnificent collection, one of the finest in the West, this illustrated survey examines the development of the Japanese sword in an historical and social context from the eighth to the twentieth century. The development of the sword from its origins as one of the world's most effective cutting weapons is seen in the context of the emergence and development of Japan's ruling military class, the samurai, to whom it was indispensable both as a weapon and symbol of power. The book also deals concisely with the techniques used in the making of the Japanese sword and the associated terminology. In addition to weapons from the V&A's own collections and unusual prints showing graphic depictions of swords in action, illustrations include comparative material from other museums such as Japan's Tokyo National Museum which has one of the best and most well documented collections of Japanese swords in the world.

グレゴリー・アーヴィンによる本書は、単なる武器の目録ではない。V&A美術館の至高のコレクションを起点に、日本刀の進化を武士道の精神史として描き出している。鉄を打ち鍛える技術の極致が、いかにして権力の象徴、さらには魂の依代へと昇華したのか。鋼に込められた美意識と実用性の、恐ろしくも美しい均衡が鮮やかに浮かび上がる。 特筆すべきは、歴史的背景と技術的専門性の融合だ。言葉で解き明かされる刃文の美学や武士が命を託した鉄の哲学は、読者を静謐かつ熾烈な職人たちの世界へと誘う。本書を紐解くことは、日本という国のアイデンティティを、鋭利な刃の切っ先から再発見する情熱的な知的冒険に他ならない。