I would like to solicit the opinion among those few on this listserv who are engaged in serious research on the propagation of budo in the annals of Japanese history. I am interested in starting a thread that lists significant English-language works by reputable scholars that can assist in the location of a given Japanese ryuha in its historical contexts. It is my hope that this thread could be used to inspire and channel those with a research bent, regardless it is amateur or professional, to give them a more positive direction, rather than relying on the often-schlocky hearsayhistory (sic) that we must endure to read.
I would consider the Cambridge History of Japan as the most authoritative and significant work on this area of study. I have used this series in my own research, particularly volumes 2-4, but it is sometimes overkill, because the sheer exhaustiveness could perhaps scare away an otherwise enthusiastic reader. Also, as most researchers have their own collections, they are about $140 each volume ($160 CDN), making them an expensive but pretty jewel on the shelf, but out of reach of most people.
Are there any single volume (or smaller multi-volume) histories that the learned researchers on this list might recommend, particularly focused on the Edo-jidai? I have come up with Totman's and the McClain texts as possible candidates, but I would like to know what you folks would recommend.
Note: I am not including the obvious erudition of Dr. Friday's books on the subject of the warrior class within society, not to mention Kashima shin-ryu as a template of koryu schools. However, I am limiting the search to general histories. So, Friday-sensei, in case you're watching this, I ain't dissing your work, just so you know.![]()
Thanks