One of the things I have really enjoyed about reading and looking at graphic novels is learning about different cultures. I have gone back and read many of the long standing manga series. Luckily, several are being reissued in omnibuses.
The Edo period of Japanese history is the topic of many manga series. Edo was the seat of the shogunate rulers. It was on the site of the future Tokyo. It is also know as the Tokugawa period for it's founder. The era ran from 1603–1867. This was also a time where merchants and their cities gained power. It was a very difficult time to be a peasant. The Shogunate tried for strict isolation, but European influence was already being felt including Christianity. To find out more about this era, try the subject Tokugawa in our catalog or our history resource World History in Context.
Warriors who worked for the shogunate and the daimyos were samurai and followed the way of Bushido. Samurai on their own were ronin. Many of the characters in the manga are ronin.
Our manga covers the whole range of the era. Characters can be from real life like in Miyamoto Musashi in Vagabond. They can be hero like Ogami Itto in Lone wolf and cub or on the wrong side of the law like Akitsu Masanosuke in House of five leaves. Ooku is alternative history where women rule, but follow the true history of the shoguns. Usagi Yojimbo, the rabbit ronin is pure fantasy.
Be sure to check our other new graphic novel lists under Books then Booklists.
Posted by Becky
In the Biblio Files blog, Sno-Isle Libraries staff members engage in conversations about reading. Join in by adding your comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment