Bugyotsuji

Waiting to be enlightened. That can't be Engen of the Southern Dynasty 1336-1340, can it? Not something to do with Godaigo Tenno, or Ashikaga Takauji and the Muromachi Bakufu?

Well, they look like the upright parts from a pair of particularly long Sune-ate shinguards, which is very rare and just what I have been trying to find for my armour!

Looks like it was registered in Gifu. It has a Mei, but no-one has been able to read it. 不明 Fumei means unclear.

Ah, that's a nice size. (PS You mentioned the tray so I went back to the previous page of this thread and added an 'after' shot, following some touch-up work. Looks good from a distance...) Do you find that you collect 'perfect' examples, Ian, or are you not too bothered about the state of repair? Your bowl above looks pristine.

Gotcha. Mori, but pronounced like Moorey. Yes, I can see what you mean. It's quite elaborate, isn't it. When you say 'a little object' do you mean just that? Is it the size of a Miso soup bowl for one person, plus lid, I wonder?

You are very (too?) kind, Koichi sama.

Wonderful links to the Naval Review there Koichi san. The first two I had already seen, but that video news clip is a stunning eye-opener. Do you know what the name of the main battleship on the medal, and on the postcard is, by the way? Oh, and the song...

It doesn't matter now really, Koichi san, as I have added the close-ups. But thank you anyway. Actually I had a hard time getting the meaning of the vertical writing on the 'book'. It is either a famous quote from Admiral Togo Heihachiro, or it may be the title of a treatise that he wrote. An old professor finally helped me to understand the reading, and the meaning, well to some extent the meaning. I believe the Admiral only lived for another four years after this. The medal does not have its original box, unfortunately, and it looks as though it has been in a house fire. Many of my Japanese friends have told me that this kind of medal has little value in Japan today, but I really like it as a fascinating piece of undeniable history.

Here is a medal commemorating... what do you think? I had been looking at this medal for about six months, but the dealer was asking what I thought was far above my budget. It did seem like a nice object for this corner, even if a 'little' outside Edo, so I eventually made him an offer he couldn't refuse. About the size of an average Tsuba at 7 cm across, copper.

The comments are generally correct, ie that Chinese circular cash with a square hole were the dominant coinage throughout the Far East for a couple of thousand years. Japan produced some locally from about Asuka and Nara onwards, 708-958 AD but Chinese coins continued to move freely back and forth. John's second photo, top left. The Wado-Kaiho (or Wado Kaichin) 708 AD coin pictured there is the one posted by Brian in his bottom photo, and was long thought to be Japan's first real domestically-produced coin. There were also some special coins produced in Japan in Muromachi called Bo-eki coins, such as Nagasaki Boeki-sen. Then as Brian says, from 1668 one type, the 'New' Kan-Ei Tsu-ho One-Mon (Photo One) and Four-Mon pattern (waves on reverse) dominated the scene till the end of Edo. Neither this coin nor the oblong Tenpo-tsuho is apparent on your Tsuba. The cross on the back of one represents the back of a Kanei-tsuho of 1736, however. Is one example enough? I can probably check the others but it will take time that I will have to find. As Rich says, the rest look like Chinese trade coins, to me too. Some of the representations seem to have been deliberately altered in some small detail as though it might have been a problem being too accurate. One at least looks like a representation of good luck, the one that says 'Long life'... :lol:

Where did the description 'Iris flower heads' come from?

Thank you Koichi san. Hmm... not so good for me! Oh, BTW there is a 日on the end of the date according to the paperwork! :lol:

Well, if no-one is going to help I will fill in off my head until the specialists appear. The first one seems to read And down below, the date is printed on the right of the sheet, and the Mei says something like:

Mmmm.... very nice!

Thanks for the update. The Japanese site seems to be nearly ready too, but it's strange the way they've done it. When you click on the titles, nothing seems to happen, but you then need to scroll down each time to see the pages.

Hmmm... the plot thickens. Illustrations welcome!

I wonder if the soft metal, the peculiar openings and the groove around the cicumference are all designed to catch and absorb the momentum of the point of an enemy spear or Naginata/Nagamaki?

Some examples on pp 82 & 147 of Ian's "Arms & Armour of the Samurai".

Very good question, Ford, and I for one shall be interested in the answer, if anyone can help.

Koichi san, I finally went for Nissui, (or maybe your Nichizui is better), because I found that actual name 日随　(in your variant form) in a list of known Tsuba makers. The pronunciation was not listed, but the name was listed according to the Japanese alphabetical order under 'Ni' 二　in the book.

Ford, thanks for the clarification. I can't tell what it is. Dark greenish patina overall; it must have lain untouched for a long time. Only tiny little exposed flecks show yellowish or reddish hues. Dents along the mimi suggest the metal must be fairly soft. Dirk, your examples above in copper and shinchu seem to reinforce an impression I am starting to form of overall simplicity in design. Should we be splitting this discussion into Nagamaki and Naginata, or are they treatable in common, I wonder ?

Thanks Richard for the feedback. Very interesting to hear your views and to see your tsuba. A turtle? Well, that's what I was thinking, but what else could it be? When you say 'rustic', do you mean like a piece of garden furniture? :lol: Dunno.

The other day I found this Tsuba. "Yamagane. It's probably a Nagamaki Tsuba. They are pretty rare," was all the seller could tell me. That is the sum and the limit of my knowledge, other than that Yamagane (?) must be brass of some kind. Oh, it's 7.3 x 5.6 cm, and it's heavy & very thick, about 5mm at the seppa dai. Can anyone flush out the picture here, re motif, material, usage, etc? Have I got the wrong end of the stick? Does anyone have a Nagamaki or Naginata Tsuba in their collection for comparison? Hoping like will attract like!

The Mei seems to read I like this tsuba too!

Methinks I may have to get that. The more the merrier Thanks Stephen.