{"product_id":"blind-in-early-modern-japan-disability-medicine-and-identity","title":"Blind in Early Modern Japan: Disability, Medicine, and Identity","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur review of Blind in Early Modern Japan: Disability, Medicine, and Identity finds this book best suited to readers seeking a focused, historically grounded study of blindness in the Tokugawa period. The author traces how blind people in early modern Japan were not only viewed medically but also organized socially and economically, and the single biggest reason to read this work is its sustained argument that disability must be interpreted within social, political, and medical contexts. The review highlights how the book brings medical history into cultural history, making it valuable for scholars and interested general readers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Detailed treatment of blindness in the Tokugawa period (1600-1868) situates disability within a clear chronological framework and cultural context.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSocial analysis:\u003c\/strong\u003e Describes the guild structures that allowed blind professionals to thrive and exert contractual monopolies over certain trades, showing practical social power.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterdisciplinary approach:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brings together medical history and cultural history to argue for assessing disability within society's institutions and beliefs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOccupational breadth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Illustrates the wide range of professions occupied by the blind, giving readers concrete examples of status and respect in the period.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLegacy perspective:\u003c\/strong\u003e Connects Tokugawa guild legacies to contemporary moments, offering readers a sense of historical continuity and relevance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book will appeal to historians, medical anthropologists, and graduate students interested in disability studies, Japanese history, or the intersection of social institutions and medicine. Its scholarly tone and focus on the Tokugawa period make it a solid choice for academic courses that examine non-Eurocentric perspectives on disability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders looking for a general popular history or an introductory survey for casual reading might find the treatment dense; specialists and those prepared for a research-oriented text will get the most value. Those seeking broad comparative global surveys of disability should supplement this with wider regional works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eProvides a convincing argument that disability in early modern Japan was shaped by social and political structures rather than solely by medical definitions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eClear description of guild systems shows how blind professionals could secure monopolies and social respect, adding depth to social history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eInterdisciplinary framing brings medical history into productive conversation with cultural history, useful for scholars across fields.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eIts academic tone and detailed focus on Tokugawa institutions may be dense for casual readers seeking a light overview.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlind in Early Modern Japan: Disability, Medicine, and Identity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCorporealities: Discourses Of Disability\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor \/ Brand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWei Yu Wayne Tan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHistorical period\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTokugawa period (1600-1868)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocus areas\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDisability, medicine, guilds, social identity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeographic focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEarly modern Japan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlind in Early Modern Japan is a thoughtful, well-argued scholarly work that demonstrates why disability must be read in context; it is recommended for historians and disability scholars who want a rigorous case study of the Tokugawa period. Its interdisciplinary approach and detailed treatment of guild structures make it a rewarding value for readers seeking depth rather than a broad survey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book cover a specific time period?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. The book focuses on the Tokugawa period, dated 1600-1868, examining social and medical contexts for blindness in that era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho wrote this book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book is authored by Wei Yu Wayne Tan and is part of the Corporealities: Discourses Of Disability series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the book suitable for casual readers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile accessible, the book's scholarly focus and detailed institutional analysis mean it is best suited to readers comfortable with academic history or disability studies.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wei Yu Wayne Tan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48768165707995,"sku":"0472075489","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/61iB8m79P1L._SL1001.jpg?v=1778656675","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/blind-in-early-modern-japan-disability-medicine-and-identity","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}