Friday, April 20, 2007
Third Annual Samurai Fiction Contest Judging
The judges are currently debating the winner of the 2007 Samurai Fiction contest. The results will be posted here, as well as at the Samurai Archives Citadel and the Yahoo Group.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Japan and Her People
I am assisting in the republication of the book "Japan and Her People" by Anna Hartshorne, a travelogue/cultural and historical examination of 1890's Japan. Originally published in 1902, this new publication will include some new features, along with the original text. click here for further description and an excerpt:
http://www.typeandculture.com/?page_id=36
http://www.typeandculture.com/?page_id=36
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Becoming an Approved Editor on the SamuraiWiki
If you are interested and motivated enough to contribute to the SamuraiWiki, feel free to join the Editor's group for details: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/samuraiwiki/
Friday, January 19, 2007
SamuraiWiki "Approved Editors"
The SamuraiWiki is ever evolving, and for the forseeable future it is set to only allow "approved editors" to edit and add content. This will make it easier to keep tabs on the academic veracity, and will prevent random people from signing up just to vandalize, or for people to simply copy and paste information from other websites or wikipedia.
I haven't developed an "application process" yet, however it won't be terribly difficult for interested and motivated people to become editors. Current "regulars" at the Samurai Archives forum and the Samurai History yahoo group are all immediately eligible, and until I create a yahoo group for "new" editors to apply, contact me with your interests, and I'll consider making you an editor.
The SamuraiWiki is simply an alternative to Wikipedia with a focus purely on Japanese history. It isn't "in competition" with wikipedia, however the lax standards in scholarship and citing sources on Wikipedia reduce its value in anything other than a casual informational resource. The purpose of the SamuraiWiki is to allow people to get information that is verifiable and useful for academic study and further research, and as such, the focus is currently on both primary sources and Japanese language history books and academic research.
The Webmasters of the Samurai Archives don't consider it "our" website, we are hosting it as an archive for Japanese history on the internet. This being said, it is not an "open history" source, nor is it considered "public license" - all posts to the SamuraiWiki become copyrighted property of the website, and will not be used for profit or for posting to any other sources without proper citation. As of this post, there are currently 1155 articles available. The current focus is on the Edo period, with particular attention being given to the Shinsengumi, however there are aways additions being made to other categories and topics. Hopefuly this will become a respected and useful resource for people interested in Japanese history.
I haven't developed an "application process" yet, however it won't be terribly difficult for interested and motivated people to become editors. Current "regulars" at the Samurai Archives forum and the Samurai History yahoo group are all immediately eligible, and until I create a yahoo group for "new" editors to apply, contact me with your interests, and I'll consider making you an editor.
The SamuraiWiki is simply an alternative to Wikipedia with a focus purely on Japanese history. It isn't "in competition" with wikipedia, however the lax standards in scholarship and citing sources on Wikipedia reduce its value in anything other than a casual informational resource. The purpose of the SamuraiWiki is to allow people to get information that is verifiable and useful for academic study and further research, and as such, the focus is currently on both primary sources and Japanese language history books and academic research.
The Webmasters of the Samurai Archives don't consider it "our" website, we are hosting it as an archive for Japanese history on the internet. This being said, it is not an "open history" source, nor is it considered "public license" - all posts to the SamuraiWiki become copyrighted property of the website, and will not be used for profit or for posting to any other sources without proper citation. As of this post, there are currently 1155 articles available. The current focus is on the Edo period, with particular attention being given to the Shinsengumi, however there are aways additions being made to other categories and topics. Hopefuly this will become a respected and useful resource for people interested in Japanese history.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Current Projects
Right now I'm busy with two unrelated projects. I am currently translating selected sections of the Shinchokoki (信長公記) - A record of the life of Oda Nobunaga. I plan to translate at least 10 sections, almost done with the first section.
Also, I'm going gung-ho into gathering information for the Shinsengumi section of the SamuraiWiki (which you can find here.) I've translated basic info on about 10 members in the past 2 days, and over the next month or so should be able to gather info on another 70 or 80 members. After which I'll start filling in the actual biographies. Most are in "stub" status as I put up each member with basic information such as the years of birth and death, and thier various aliases, and where they were from. I also picked up Romulus Hillsborough's "Shinsengumi" book, and have just started reading it.
Also, I'm going gung-ho into gathering information for the Shinsengumi section of the SamuraiWiki (which you can find here.) I've translated basic info on about 10 members in the past 2 days, and over the next month or so should be able to gather info on another 70 or 80 members. After which I'll start filling in the actual biographies. Most are in "stub" status as I put up each member with basic information such as the years of birth and death, and thier various aliases, and where they were from. I also picked up Romulus Hillsborough's "Shinsengumi" book, and have just started reading it.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Kofun
I was able to attend the Kofun lecture, and it was interesting, although since Kofun aren't really my thing I don't know how much I was actually able to follow. Theories were thrown around about how Himiko might be buried at Hashihaka, and how she may have been a shaman-priestess, rather than a "queen".
The Samurai Archives Forum now has monthly study groups that focus on reading and research on a specific topic. This month the topic is "Kofun", and is being facilitated by user "Nagaeyari". The next few are being worked out, but it appears that January will be the "47 Ronin", facilitated by user "Wave Tossed", and February will probably be on the "Shinsengumi", facilitated by myself. Basically what each study group entails is a "suggested reading list", as well as some materials provided if available, and a facilitator who "directs" discussion.
If you are interested in joining a future study group, drop by the forum and sign up.
The Samurai Archives Forum now has monthly study groups that focus on reading and research on a specific topic. This month the topic is "Kofun", and is being facilitated by user "Nagaeyari". The next few are being worked out, but it appears that January will be the "47 Ronin", facilitated by user "Wave Tossed", and February will probably be on the "Shinsengumi", facilitated by myself. Basically what each study group entails is a "suggested reading list", as well as some materials provided if available, and a facilitator who "directs" discussion.
If you are interested in joining a future study group, drop by the forum and sign up.
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