DirkO

Thanks for the clarification!

Thanks for the answer Jean, however, I remember seeing a papered tsuka once - just the tsuka, with pics of the tsuka on the Hozon paper. I didn't translate the paper, so I don't know if the whole tsuka was papered or just the kodogu on the tsuka (as a set?)

Is it possible to paper a set of menuki attached to an aikuchi tsuka, so without binding, but attached to the samé?

Your friend was right I'm afraid ... a very obvious Chinese fake - and a bad one at that

For those in my part of Europe (12/10/2012 -> 24/03/2013): http://www.wereldmuseum.nl/en/tentoonstellingen/samurai.html The information in English isn't available yet - so here's a quick translation I did from the Dutch info: The 'Samurai' exhibit takes the visitor back to feudal times, where warlords, Daimyo, fought each other using powerfull samurai warriors. Impressive armor, helmets and swords considered the "soul of the samurai", illustrate the highly developed warrior culture. The weapons are extremely refined and decorated with heraldry, patron gods and mystical creatures. The ethical code, bushido, proclaimed a lifestyle of honor, loyalty and respect within the warrior class. The samurai elite used the same level of dedication for different arts: calligraphy and tea ceremony, delicately carved netsuke and inro paintwork. The mystical Noh-theater, the official theatre form of the samurai, with animated masks, depicts the legendary warriors coming back from the dead to return to the battlefield. A surprising element is the Dutch influence on the samurai warrior equipment, caused by the special bond between the two countries. The famous epic of the 47 Ronin is the spectacular culmination of this international exhibition of masterpieces from private collections and museums in Japan and Europe.

Here's how I have it : NIOI GUCHI 匂い口 Nioi that forms the border ( or line ) between the Ji and the Ha, "guchi" means gate. HABUCHI 刃縁 the line of the hamon, the borderline between the ji and the yakiba So while there isn't much difference, I do think there's a distinction. EDIT to add (from Facts and Fundamentals - Nobuo Nakahara -2010) I think this book describes it better: Ha-Buchi: Line that divides the hamon and the ji, the upper border of the hamon Nioi-Guchi: the whitish band of martensite crystals making up the hamon

Hi Brian, Just some friendly advice: - there are hardly any treasures to be found on eBay - more so if you're just beginning - it's the smallest pond with the largest amount of fishers - the fact that it didn't sell the first time and only had a reserve of 1000USD is an indicator that it wasn't seen as a very desirable piece What attracted you to this blade in the first place? Was it the fact that it was papered? (no shame in that if you're beginning, sometimes your enthousiasm will get the better of you! we've all been there). If you can tell us what attracts you in a blade, then maybe some of the more educated than myself might guide you in your next buys. What happened now is: you've bought something you don't know anything about except what's stated by the eBay seller. You did zero research and now you come in here asking if you had a good deal. I know this sounds harsh, but I don't think this is far off. However this kind of behaviour does come at a risk. Far be it from me to tell you what you must or mustn't do - this is merely advice: unless you have a very large inexhaustable wallet, you're better of buying something after you've done your research on that target. This will ensure you (at least in some way) that should you decide to resell it afterwards, you won't lose a bundle on it. If however you do have a wod of cash at your disposal, well then there are far better blades/deals to be had. All of the above is to be taken as advice, and nothing more. We've seen it happen too often in the past...

Hi Peter, my amazon.uk account says it will ship September 11?

It's the below kanji that puzzles me - it's usually more defined - I can't find any match in the first 3 generations - I have a collection of Yoshimichi mei (all papered). Normally that part of the kanji is lot more defined. The only Yoshimichi who did it in the way of your blade was Hokakke Tamba, which this obviously isn't. So 4th or 5th gen maybe?

Hi Christ(? - please sign your posts with your name) You can read here how to post pics : http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8

Brian, If you come in here seeking advice on an auction item, you should be aware that this is the drawback of an open forum. Everyone can seek advice, everyone can give advice and everyone can read what everyone else is posting. eBay sellers are just that, sellers, and as such will sell to the highest bidder. So I don't really know what you're getting in a twist over? Because the free info you received here was also used by someone else to out bid you on the world's largest online auction site? For future reference, please make it clear up front that your info request concerns an eBay auction - because some of the membership are not that comfortable giving info that might impact selling prices. That's why we have the eBay and auctions section.

天明 - Tenmei -1781 ?

While looking for something else I came across this in Yamanaka's Newsletters - sorry for the bad picture quality:

I just recently acquired a menuki set with the same theme, so I recognised immediately

For those interested in the theme hyoutan-namazu: By the late Muromachi period, namazu had become firmly associated with unrest and upheaval, though not specifically with earthquakes. Around 1413, the shōgun, Ashikaga Yoshimochi, commissioned the artist Josetsu to produce a now famous painting loosely connected with the Zen Buddhist idea that one's mind cannot be grasped. A group of Zen priests close to the shōgun then added a series of poems to the painting. The result was *Hyōnenzu* 瓢鮎図, which means literally "Illustration of catching a namazu (鮎 in this case, not the usual 鯰) with a gourd." This complex painting features, in the foreground, a *ragged looking man* trying to catch or hold down a catfish with a smooth bottle gourd. The namazu has moved into relatively open water and is about to enter a wide area overgrown with weeds. Catching it or pinning it down with a gourd seems to be impossible, and, indeed, today the image of pinning down a catfish with a gourd is a well-establish metaphor for doing the impossible. At the time the painting was created, however, the range of possible meanings of its rich symbolism was quite wide, and interpreting this painting thoroughly requires a book-length study (and there is one: Shimao Arata 島尾新, Josetsu-hitsu hyōnenzu: hyōtan-namazu no ikonorojii 『如拙筆、瓢鮎図：ひょうたんなまずのイコノロジー』, [Tokyo]). Here is the key point to bear in mind for our purposes: Hyōnenzu is the earliest known example of the image of pinning down a catfish with a gourd or other object.

Hi Jean, Does he accept any other payment methodes than cheques? (transfers, VISA, Paypal,....) - coz I can't seem to find any?

It attributes the sword to Gassan Sadayoshi

I would agree with Paul, many of the Koto Gassan were simply signed 'Gassan' although there are signed pieces left as well. I think their attribution refers to that fact.

Kogatana is signed Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi, I think

I find this an interesting rationale. It's known that certain blades were rejected by shinsa, but after crushing the mei, they were attributed to the smiths who were in the signature in the first place. So likely they were rejected for the mei and not for the work itself. This is a self fulfilling way of working, because over time, all the varying mei will be assumed gimei, except those in the books. So it stands to reason that this way, certain valid shoshin ways of signing will disappear because they were deemed gimei, simply because they weren't recorded in the books.

Hi Thomas, Thanks for clarifying! Seeing it's a meito book I suspected a named sword, so it's good you me straight Now I can move forward with the rest of the index.

Thanks a lot Morita-sama! I actually had Ochi, but thought it was wrong :-) But I never would've found Haito without your help! Does this mean this is a mei-to, a sword with Gô "Haito"?

Hi, I'm currently making an index to Shinko Meito Zufu and this kiritsuke mei for a Rai Kunitoshi tachi has me stumped. I can find most of the kanji, but can't make anything from it Can someone help me out? ?IchiRyu? Omi (no) Kami X X Nao X Katana 一柳近江守越智直敬 ? 刀

Years ago I also offered to pay him in advance for this book. But he refused. I can't remember the exact reason nor can I track down the mail (probably deleted). Maybe you should simply contact Harry and ask him?

http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/faq.html