Tanto54

Dear Eric, Good for the price... The theme is Tekkai Sennin. He is an immortal who can breathe out his spirit to allow it to go on long trips. Once he breathed out his spirit to allow it to visit his master on faraway Mount Hua. Before his spirit returned, someone found his lifeless body, assumed he was dead and cremated his body, scattering the ashes. Upon his return, he was forced to inhabit another recently deceased body. Unfortunately, the only available body was of a lame beggar, so he is often depicted in Kodogu as a bony beggar, leaning on his walking staff, turning his head to the side and breathing his soul out in a mist.

Dear Ken, this looks like the "Squirrel and Grapes" Motif (but the leaves are off and I can't tell if those are really grapes or not...). If it is that motif, then animal experts say that it is a Japanese Dormouse instead of a squirrel (the Dormouse looks like a small squirrel with a bushy tail, and it eats grapes while a squirrel does not). While I do not have any proof, I think that this motif may have a hidden meaning. For example, Grapes in Japanese is Budo, and while the kanji are different, Budo also means the Martial Arts ("Martial Way" or the Way of War). Dormouse in Japanese is Yamane, and while the kanji are different, Yamane is also a style of martial arts. I wonder if the Samurai who used this motif were Yamane practitioners?

Dear Grev, I don't think that the sukashi are Oni, and my guess is that it was added later. My opinion about it being added later is based on the lack of symmetry in the top of the "head" part of each sukashi (if it were original, it would be more symmetrical with the ana) . While I don't think that they are tigers either I think that would go much better with bamboo (Oni and Take (bamboo) are not a recognized motif but we often see Tora (tiger) and Take). Regards, George

Dear Dwain, Now I understand your moniker (Blazeaglory) - I originally thought it was like "going out in a blaze of glory", but now I think you have something else in mind...

Dear Stephen, I apologize if you are already aware of the following - I'm just trying to help a brother Devil Dog... I've used a number of different airlines going to Japan and left from and via various states. In my experience, your location and desire to save money (or not) is more of a factor than which airlines to choose. I would use Orbitz or one of the other airfare search engines to find a good price (and let that chose the airline). Some of them allow you to search for flexible dates and that can save a lot of money. Having said that, I did very recently opt for a slightly higher price on JAL (+$50) to get their better service, slightly larger seat and more leg room (in addition, the plane was kept at a higher pressure, which I believe made the flight more enjoyable and the jet lag less noticeable). They use different airplanes for certain flights so you may even want to choose a certain type of airplane and seating configuration.

Dear Rayhan, My wife and I took a fun woodblock printing class from David Bull who owns a woodblock studio in Asakusa in Tokyo. I'm sure that he would do it (for the right price...) The name of his studio is Mokuhankan. He is quite a character (I don't have any connection other than this one class). His website is: https://mokuhankan.com/index.html He is frequently on Japanese TV - here he is on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKSrgKjevPmNZxCAyTZP5cQ

Dear Mark, The mark inside the habaki appears to be "dragon" (龍) in reverse (mirror image). 　Can you make a rubbing with a small, thin piece of paper and small pencil?

Dear Jean, Sorry to hear about Riesling, but I know that he has had a great life with you.

Dear Josh, Congratulations! Great decision (so many beginners do not take the sage advice offered here and later learn to regret it). I second Brian's comments - if you ever tire of this fascinating hobby (obsession....) and I doubt that you will, you could easily get your money back (probably plus some). However, if you purchased those "handles" (tsuka), you'd probably never be able to get your investment back (or learn anything other than not to make impulsive purchases...).

I think Barry is correct (about the bat). Natsuo does his bats in a similar fashion. Here's a tsuba (not Natsuo...) from Grey's site and the writeup from Skip Holbrook says that the sukashi are bats. H238. Iron with shakudo plug in the hitsu ana. 8.6 x 8.7 x .4 cm. The nakago hitsu-ana measures 1 x 2.9 cm. This tsuba came from the Holbrook collection. Skip’s tag says, “Edo Tosho, mother & 2 baby bats & flower, early Edo.” Again, a very dense plate with subtle tekkotsu on the rim and a faint mokume on the faces.

Dear Josh, you should definitely take John up on one of his kind (and generous) offers (otherwise, you wouldn't be a very wise student...)

Just to follow up on Ray's point. Very traditional collectors would hold a peice of paper in their mouths when viewing a great sword (obstensibly to keep the condensation from their breath off the sword). Modern experts have pointed out the the moist air from your nose is not materially different so no need for the paper in the mouth. I think that as long as you put oil on the sword within a reasonable time after removing the previous oil coat it should be fine. However, I do remember a fine sword that developed rust in less than two hours. Years ago at a show in Dallas, an owner wiped his sword to show it around and then put it in his car. He came back two hours later to oil it only to find that a fine red rust had already developed on the blade.

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.

Hi Chris, I'm away from my books but did find this online in Joly's Legend in Japanese Art (not the best write up, but you'll see all the elements from your tsuba at the end of this entry): "Chang K'ien was a minister of the Chinese Emperor Wu-Ti of the Han dynasty about 130 B.C. He is celebrated for his numerous journeys and embassies, and especially for his travels in Western China up to the sources of the Yellow River, this journey being the subject of the following legend: Chang K'ien travelled for seven days and nights up the Yellow River discovering vine trees, and meeting all the animals of Chinese Mythology: the huge tortoises, the tiger, seven feet long and a thousand years old, quite white and bearing on its forehead the character 3E (King), the blue storks sacred attendants of Seiobo, the Kwei or cassia tree of immortality, ten thousand feet high, the flaming fruits of which are more powerful than the peaches of Seiobo, conferring everlasting life to whoever eats them; he saw the hare which lives in the moon, and the old man who binds lover's feet; finally on the seventh night he noticed that there were no stars reflected in the waters. The following morning, near the sources he saw a woman dressed in silver cloth on which were embroidered figures of stars, and who was weaving the net of the Zodiac. He enquired what was her name and what was that place, but she only showed him her radiant shuttle, telling him to refer the matter to the astrologer on his return. This worthy, Gen Kum Pei, told him that no doubt he had been as far as the star Chih Nil, the spinning maiden who, on the seventh night of the seventh month is allowed to cross over the milky way, to meet her lover, K'ien Niii, passing over a bridge of magpies, (some others say of red maple leaves), and that in fact referring to his observations, he had at that very same date noted a shooting star passing near Chih Nil. He had therefore travelled the whole length of the Yellow River as far as the Milky Way, which continues it into heaven, as decreed by Nil Kwa. The Chinese and Japanese Repository says that he brought to China the Spinach, and that he went south of the Equator, never to return; but his oar was carried back by a spirit, who dropped it from heaven, and stated that the remainder of his ship would soon follow. In allusion to his journeys, the inscription, "The sea is full of propitious stars," is still written over the doors of boat cabins."

Dear Chris, This was a hard one too (several hard ones lately). This is a story about a famous Chinese explorer who brought spinach back to China (it's a spinach leaf instead of an oak leaf). Later, he was lost on a voyage, but the spirits brought back his paddle saying that his ship would return via the stars. Therefore many ships in China and Japan have pictures or reminders of this story (meaning something like the stars are good luck and will help you return home or have good fortune). His name was something like Chang Ken. I'll try to look this up in the books later.

Dear Eric, I believe that you are asking for an opinion on whether these are antique Fuchigashira or modern replicas and what would be a reasonable price for them (if I have misunderstood, I'm sorry). I'll be brutally honest, I think that both are fairly bad. The flowers are relatively modern replicas and the dragons may be too, but in any event they are not well made. I think that the going price for these would be approximately $30-50 for the flowers and $80-125 for the dragons. I think that you can find this same kind of dragon composition on a much better set for just a little more money ($200 - 350).

Dear Grev, I'm fairly certain that the top and bottom sets of sukashi (the small and large, non-serrated circles or "barn" shapes) are kukurizaru. I wrote about them here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/24862-intrested-in-what-you-guys-may-think-about-this-kurikata/?hl=kukurizaru&do=findComment&comment=251815 I've also included some pictures and text from Nihonto-no-Bi below that show these shapes. I think that the orientation of your shapes fit the nature of these kukurizaru or tumble dolls. Quite often they are grouped in threes, so I think that the inclusion of the serrated circle or "star" or "snowflake" is intended to replace the third monkey doll. Sasano-sensei refers to that shape as a "bright star", but I have also seen it referred to as a snow flake or family mon (I'm not personally convinced by any of those descriptions). Perhaps the "bright star" is intended to represent the wearer's accomplishment of one of their important goals (so that kukurizaru is transformed). From Nihonto-no-Bi: http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/?page=tsubaI_tsuba Otafuku gata tsuba of wakizashi size, 6.6 x 6.0 x 0.3 cm. Ita gane plate that thins towards maru mimi. Kozuke and kogai hitsu ana. Mumei, but could be later Akasaka. Ko-sukashi design of two pairs of small and large holes. These represent kukurizaru (kukuri saru) , or “tied monkeys”, which express the philosophy of control of one’s ego (as in restraining a boistrous monkey). Small stuffed cloth figures of monkeys on a string with arms and legs tied are sold at many temples. On right are other versions (in Tsuba-no-Bi), top mid Muromachi kacchushi tsuba (#74); bottom late Edo period “Kofu Ju” “Akao Saku” (#160).

I have been wondering about this motif - often described as Squirrels and Grapes. Animal experts say that it is a Japanese Dormouse instead of a squirrel (the Dormouse looks like a small squirrel with a bushy tail, and it eats grapes while a squirrel does not). We find it on tosogu from time to time. But I've been wondering why a Samurai would want a Dormouse and Grapes on his sword. Sometimes tosogu images have hidden meanings, puns or other word play, so I've been wondering if that applies in this case. For example, Grapes in Japanese is Budo, and while the kanji are different, Budo also means the Martial Arts ("Martial Way" or the Way of War). Dormouse in Japanese is Yamane, and while the kanji are different, Yamane is also a style of martial arts. I wonder if the Samurai who used this motif were Yamane practitioners?

Dear Greg, When repeatedly asking for assistance on identifying or translating, it's customary to tell folks whether you are asking for help for yourself or for commercial transactions. Are you a collector or is this your business?

Dear Jesper, This one was difficult, but I think that I have it. It is the Battle at Akamagaseki between the Heike and Minamoto at Dan-no-ura. I believe that it depicts the Heike General Noritsune (with the eboshi) grabbing two Minamoto Samurai (one under each arm) before he jumps in the water killing himself and those two Samurai (final act of valor). Even though he is believed to have perished in this battle (as described above), writers and plays have ignored that "fact" and have included him in later episodes about Yoshitsune's life where he is found posing as a priest (I think that is why he is wearing the eboshi on your Kozuka and those two "dead" Samurai aren't dead - yet...). Nice Kozuka!

Dear Kyle and Steven, I think that Steven made some very good observations about this tsuba and the work. I especially appreciated his comment about the interpretation of Itcho's quirkiness/humor. I personally do not believe that this is an alternative kao of Soyo II (the third Yokoya master), and I don't think that it is his work. I think that Steven is right that the kao is close but many/most of the Yokoya students adopted kaos that were very close to Soyo II and Somin kaos. Having said that, I still haven't found an exact match. Kyle, you may want to consider putting it in the Translation Section to see if any of the other members can help.

Hi Kyle, I took a closer look at the backside, and I think that it is two oni instead of an oni and a dragon. I say that because the figure facing us has "bangles" on his wrists (as does the figure facing away from us). Bangles on the wrists are a common feature of oni. I also think that I see his belly and hairy shoulders (more like an oni than a dragon). In addition, the figure facing us is missing some of the typical dragon features (like a long "whisker" on each side of the mouth, scales, etc.). I usually see Shoki with a single oni (probably 90% of the time), but occasionally I see him with more than one oni. Therefore, I'm fairly sure that this is two oni fleeing Shoki (and the one facing us is "looking over his shoulder" and down from the clouds at Shoki as he flees). I'm still looking for the Kao.

Dear Kyle, I'm still looking for this kao, but in the interim, I did find another Yokoya katakiribori tsuba signed with only a kao in the same place as yours. This bolsters my belief that yours is also Yokoya. By the way, the carving on the back is interesting and I know that you like unusual subjects. It looks like more than just an oni (perhaps an oni with a dragon or kirin?) Tell us more about what you think is on the back and how that fits or alters the standard Shoki & Oni motif. http://nihonto.org.uk/kinko%20tsuba.html

Dear Kyle, This looks like Yokoya School work, patina and kao. I'll check and see if I can find a match.

Arrrrgh!!!! I am reminded of the old saying "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink..." Yes Jean, I know that in traditional Roman Numerals, X = 10. However, Roman Numerals do not have a zero, so this craftsman is using an "X" for "0". That's why I said "augmented" Roman Numerals. If you look at wartime tosogu it often has assembly marks that are Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.) on some items and Roman Numerals (X, V, I, ect.) on other items of the SAME sword (and the numbers match). The Arabic Numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.) are on things that can be easily stamped like tsuba and seppa. However, other items like habaki and swords tangs often have Roman Numerals. That's because it was easier for the craftsman to file "augmented" Roman Numerals (which are straight lines) than Arabic Numerals some of which are curvy. Some of the craftsmen used "augmented" Roman Numerals because they wanted a single digit for "0" so they used "X" (10). While I will agree with Grey that the "IV" looks like an "N" lets apply Occam's Razor. This set of fittings has the numbers 0650 in Arabic Numerals on all four seppa which can be easily stamped (I'll bet that same number is on other fittings related to the nakago too). The filed markings on the nakago mune (which the seppa, tsuba, habaki, etc. would be made to match) look like "X V N X" but if you separate the first leg of the "N" it is an I & V. Then it would read "X V I V X" which would be 0650. Isn't that just too coincidental not to be correct? Here is a link to another post on this Board where this type of "augmented" Roman Numerals were used. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23543-pet-dragon-solves-faux-roman-numeral-mystery/?hl=%2Bnakago+%2Broman+%2Bnumerals