Recommended reading

[Euan]

Are there any good books on the subject of chinese swords - history, evolution, identification etc? Or maybe more general books that have a good subsection?

I'm also interested to learn more about the historical and socio-political context because the more I read the more important that seems to be.

Reading and learning from the net, while useful, does have it's drawbacks, mainly that when I want to double check a detail of something I read I can't remember where I read it!

[Peter Dekker]

Edged weapons
There isn't so much on Chinese edged weapons yet, many publications are highly unreliable on the subject as well. What stands out are the following articles that Philip Tom did on the subject:

"Design and Decoration of the Saber in Late Imperial China", Arma Virumque Cano, Krakow: Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie, 2006.

"Some Notable Sabers of the Qing Dynasty in the Metropolitan Museum of Art", published in 2001 in Metropolitan Museum Art Journal, Volume 36.

Historical
There is enough interesting reading material out there that discribes the political and social context around the Qing, the era from which the majority of antiques date.

A selection to get you started:

"The Manchu Way" by Mark C. Elliott
A wonderful revisionist introduction on the Manchus and their Banner system, the first in any language to be mainly based on original Manchu texts. (The Manchus conquered China and ruled it from 1644-1911 as the Qing dynasty, Manchus remaining the Chinese warrior elite until the fall of the Qing.)

"Orphan Warriors" by Pamela Kyle Crossley
A detailed account on three generations Manchus in China, covering some rebellions and the Opium War.

"A translucent mirror" by Pamela Kyle Crossley
About idelogy and state building in the Qing.

"The Culture of War in China" by Joanna Waley-Cohen
Covers the emphasis laid on war and the hunt by early Manchu emperors, most notably the Qianlong emperor, as a means to uphold and celebrate Manchu culture.

"Voices of the Ming Qing cataclysm" by Lynn A. Struve
A selection of annotated eye witness accounts of the turbulent 17th century where the native Chinese Ming was conquered by the northwestern Jurchen tribes, who began to call themselves Manchu.

"China Marches West" Peter C. Perdue
About the great expansion of the Qing in the 17th and 18th centuries.

"Dsengseo, my service in the army" translation by Nicola di Cosmo
A translation of the diary of a 17th century Manchu commander who served in the army suppressing the Three Feudatories in the 17th century.

A book that I really like because it has offered me countless hours of translating and rediscovering the weapons, banners, clothing, etc. of 18th century China is the Huangchao Liqi Tushi. Available from Paragon Books: http://www.paragonbook.com/ Contains woodblock illustrations and a whole lot of old Chinese text, so not the most easily accesible but highly rewarding reference book.

Apart from that information is gained from collecting (reproductions of) period artwork of men of arms and battle scenes and paying close attention to what they wear, how the formations are, etc.

-Peter

[josh stout]

The catalogue from this exhibit at the Met. is also wonderful.
Josh

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_eve ... C69DC56%7D

[Peter Dekker]

I agree with Josh, highly recommendable!

Apart from the wonderful Tibetan weapons and extremely fine and detailed ironwork in this book, it contains some Chinese or possibly Chinese items as well. Next to that it is always good to know a thing or two about the arms and armor of neighbouring cultures of the one we tend to focus on.

Some books on late imperial China:

"The boxer rebellion" by Diana Preston
Primarily based on period eye witness accounts. Reads like an exciting novel while giving a detailed insight in how it was to be among the besieged in the Beijing legation quarters.

"Origins of the Boxer Uprising" by Joseph W. Esherick
The definitive work on the origins of the uprising it discusses, it's depth of research is impressive.

"Rebellion and Its Enemies in Late Imperial China" by Philip A. Kuhn
Regarded as a classic on how the Qing armed itself against the 19th century rebellions, militarizations and social structures.

Make sure to read the footnotes on things that interest you, and get titles that are mentioned often.

-Peter

[Euan]

Lots to be getting on with, thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm going to add one on the subject of metallurgy, so I don't forget it, I've seen Philip Tom recommend it a couple of times.

Art Gogan FIGHTING IRON: A METALS HANDBOOK FOR ARMS COLLECTORS (Lincoln, RI: Andrew Mowbray Publishers, 1999.)

[Scott M. Rodell]

I just finished a great book about the period of the fall of the Ming & Resistance to the Qing:


Coxinga: The Pirate King of the Ming Dynasty
http://www.amazon.com/Coxinga-Pirate-Ki ... 111&sr=1-1

I highly recommend it...

[josh stout]

They had it for $2!
I love a deal.
Josh