Spectacular Accumulation: Material Culture, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Samurai Sociability

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Review In "Spectacular Accumulation" Morgan Pitelka relates the thrilling interactions between three"unifiers" of Japan in the tumultuous decades of the late 16th century and early 17th century. This trioof warlords includes the bloodthirsty Oda Nobunaga, the vainglorious Toyotomi Hideyoshi andTokugawa Ieyasu who triumphed at the blood-soaked 1615 siege of Osaka Castle.-- "Japan Times"This is a wide-ranging, satisfying, and enlightening book which does rather more than a biography of Ieyasu would have done. Ieyasu emerges from it not so much as a human being, for his inner life is impossible to reconstruct, but as rather more than a successful warrior and strategist. The norms of behavior, accumulation, and sociability that governed his actions are skillfully and painstakingly laid bare in Pitelka's book and it is a pleasure to read.-- "Journal of Japanese Studies"Pitelka straddles the disciplines of art history and history, and what makes his account interesting is that the collections he studied included most prominently cherished objects linked to tea ceremonies, known as "famous objects" (meibutsu), which were gifted, recovered from ruined castles, and restored. . . . Pitelka has crafted a well-researched and well-written study of the "agency of objects." This insightful study should be of interest to scholars and students of Japanese history, literature, and art.-- "American Historical Review"This is a wonderful example of the new-style microbook. . . . The book, being short, can punch through some exciting and rewarding rethinks. Pitelka very usefully intersperses actual battle data with his more art-historical documentation. . . . Pitelka has wonderfully achieved his objective of provoking a rethink. We are indeed introduced to the period in what Pitelka understands to be its own terms, and if other scholars take other views, that is excellent grounds for debate.-- "Monumenta Nipponica" Read more Review This is a wonderful example of the new-style microbook. . . . The book, being short, can punch through some exciting and rewarding rethinks. Pitelka very usefully intersperses actual battle data with his more art-historical documentation. . . . Pitelka has wonderfully achieved his objective of provoking a rethink. We are indeed introduced to the period in what Pitelka understands to be its own terms, and if other scholars take other views, that is excellent grounds for debate. (Monumenta Nipponica)In “Spectacular Accumulation” Morgan Pitelka relates the thrilling interactions between three“unifiers” of Japan in the tumultuous decades of the late 16th century and early 17th century. This trioof warlords includes the bloodthirsty Oda Nobunaga, the vainglorious Toyotomi Hideyoshi andTokugawa Ieyasu who triumphed at the blood-soaked 1615 siege of Osaka Castle. (Japan Times)This is a wide-ranging, satisfying, and enlightening book which does rather more than a biography of Ieyasu would have done. Ieyasu emerges from it not so much as a human being, for his inner life is impossible to reconstruct, but as rather more than a successful warrior and strategist. The norms of behavior, accumulation, and sociability that governed his actions are skillfully and painstakingly laid bare in Pitelka’s book and it is a pleasure to read. (Journal of Japanese Studies)Pitelka straddles the disciplines of art history and history, and what makes his account interesting is that the collections he studied included most prominently cherished objects linked to tea ceremonies, known as “famous objects” (meibutsu), which were gifted, recovered from ruined castles, and restored. . . . Pitelka has crafted a well-researched and well-written study of the “agency of objects.” This insightful study should be of interest to scholars and students of Japanese history, literature, and art. (American Historical Review) Read more See all Editorial Reviews