Little Tanto Tsuba

[vajo]

Any idea for the mei on this tanto copper tsuba?

 

I tried the whole evening and didn't find it out.

 

[Stephen]

Chris if you dont mind...may i ask the board about the priest? I have ran across a few of late where they all are looking straight up. Do we know what this signifies?

[SteveM]

起竜斎　Kiryūsai

 

But which Kiryūsai it is, I cannot tell you. There were at least 4, according to Wakayama. 

[vajo]

Thanks Steve. So this is one of the Wakayama school?

 

Stephen he looks to the moon on the other side of the Tsuba. Could it be Hotei?

 

[Stephen]

 

[Moley]

Stephen C.

"Ohhhhh I say!"

[TETSUGENDO]

Nice tsuba Chris, looks like Shakudo or Shibuichi, one or the other....hard to be sure from a photo.  Stephen, just had to sneak a dragon into the mix, good one!

 

-S-

[SteveM]

Thanks Steve. So this is one of the Wakayama school?

 

Stephen he looks to the moon on the other side of the Tsuba. Could it be Hotei?

 

Sorry, I meant the Wakayama reference guide for metalworkers. It lists four artists who used the art name Kiryūsai. 

I think you are right about Hotei. My guess is that this is Hotei pointing to the moon. (指月布袋図)

 

https://buddhismnow.com/2018/06/29/who-is-the-laughing-buddha/hotei-dp700713/

[Tanto54]

Fat guy with Sack (and sometime staff) is Hotei (in this tsuba, he has the sack over his shoulder, but sometimes he is sitting on or beside it).

 

Guy with a bowl and dragon is Chinnan Sennin.