Bugyotsuji

Glass reflections, yes, we can show more of those!

Agreed, with a full title and name taking both sides. Bizen accounted for around 50% of national sword production, and over 50% of National Treasure swords were made in and around Osafune, Bizen.

Yes Klaus, I agree that the reading Akitoshi is more likely in this case. (Actually I did write Akitoshi first but then replaced it with the more commonly known name Myōju.)

There are the two diagonal spears, crossed lances, Arma Christi instruments of the passion too. In order to understand the depth of Japanese belief, Martin Scorsese's 'Silence' portrays it rather well, seeemingly stronger even than the missionaries themselves had hoped. Some years ago I was at a national gathering of gun troops and a few hundred of us were wearing full armour in front of Hikone Castle. I was shocked to see the Otomo ones from Oita with large silver crosses hanging proudly over their breastplates. (This links back to Jake's post on Monday on the previous page.)

Hi Yv, Are you asking me what the red seal says? Forgive me, but I cannot read it. Where is it located? (The black character 男 looks like ‘-o’, perhaps the last letter of a vertical name.)

濃州関明寿作 No Shu Seki Myoju Saku perhaps

Quote: (Thanks to member "Nobody") Surely, you should thank somebody. On the paper it does suggest: 'later Chikuzen Kongo Byoei school...' Also seen, ...Moritaka, Morikuni, Morishige. Maybe not relevant... Nihonto Club https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/MOR600 Morihisa - MOR600 | Nihonto Club ウェブ日向守盛久. hyuga no kami morihisa. 金剛兵衛尉盛久. kongōbyōejō morihisa. 金剛兵衛尉源盛久. kongōbyōejō minamoto morihisa. Login or register to post comments; … Active Period: 1521-1528 ID: MOR600 Era: Taiei (1521-1528) Province: Chikuzen

Now, I will never say no to a drop of nice, cold dry cider. So throw in a blade like Kurt's above, and the world would be my oyster.

Over the years I have posted things and subsequently forgotten them, so now I need to go back and read everything again, which tsuba I have posted, and all the arguments for and against! One thing is for sure, though, it seems that you cannot talk openly about Christianity even today in Japan, unless it is at some specialist convention or scholarly meeting. I have noticed that people will try to avoid talking about it, like it's anti-magnetic, or they will subconsciously drop their voices as if they are somehow afraid of being overheard. Of course it is possible that Japanese people think I might be a Christian and they don't want to encourage me to start talking.(?) For this reason I have on occasion explained that although I come from a Christian background, I have done yoga and Buddhism, and we had a Shinto marriage, so I am not in the business of pushing the forms of religion in any direction. Here’s a fairly recent arrival.

With that one I do not see Buddhist or Christian iconography. In general though, talismanic (religious?) iconography seems relatively not so rare, if it is both decoratively pleasing and structurally functional.

Agreed. Very nice tsuba. Above and below must be tomoe (magatama) comma designs.

Close! 金城一守 Kaneshiro Kazumori

Lewis, quote: "What is the etiquette regarding bargaining? Do the dealers negotiate on a sticker price? Or do the Japanese dealers find this impolite, borderline rude?" Some very good advice since your post above. I would just add that although there are general unspoken rules, each dealer is quite different in their approach and you will benefit in the long run if you can make a human contact first. Some people naturally click, but others don't. In other words, choosing a sword and choosing a dealer will be of almost equal importance, and to a degree the feeling should be mutual.

刀 薩陽士奥元安 寛政七年 薩摩 服部美術店 Katana satsuma Motoyasu, Hattori samurai art shop Tokyo Japan (katana-hattori.com) 薩摩国 江戸中期　　　 元平 元武 元安と 三兄弟 = Satsuma, Mid Edo, three brothers, Motohira, Mototake and Motoyasu.

Where did you find your wife? Kansei 12 is 1800.

I have a Japanese book of kamon which discusses exactly that, the history of the cross shape and how long it was found in Japan, and how the Shimazu cross has this deniability factor built into it, and how they are able to insist it is an ancient kutsuwa (horse bit) design.

You are forgiven!!! I have several loose, as yet unframed triptychs, but I like the way you have left margins between and not attempted to join up your 'beauty' set above.

Religious symbolism played a very great part in the bushi world. Christianity flourished briefly after the first missionaries arrived but was soon heavily proscribed, generally becoming 'discrete' as said above. Exceptions noted. (I have had quite a few tsuba over the years which could be interpreted as Christian, for varying reasons.) But this question has been argued hotly and repeatedly here on this forum.

All of these look better without glass! The first one fell down the back of a chest as I was hanging it, so it needs redoing… Amateur night!

上海 Shanghai does not seem to figure in there. I’d definitely call ChatGPT’s bluff.

Oh, sure, maybe tomorrow when the light is better! (I had some old frames, and a folder full of Ukiyoe, so thought I’d have some fun. )

Nice! Funnily enough, I've just been framing ukiyo-e this week.

Wow, beautifully framed!

Could be, but above the castle in the pic it says 大木戸 Ookido... so... at Takanawa by the sea?

This is Minamoto Yoritomo Oshu Taiko Seibatsu no zu Minamoto Yoritomo Oshu Seibatsu - 検索 (bing.com) Nice, liking it!