FlorianB

Mushrooms are always depicted with elongated stems. At least: Kukurizaru giving the impression of mushrooms (or distant pines? ).

I just wonder about the motif. The similar pine tree pattern is well known. But on Okan's piece it looks like kukurizaru (or tumblers). Kukurizaru are an old motif, but always in different angles, to show the playful sense. But here they are all upside down - so what’s the idea?

Can’t imagine as a depiction of Namban ship. Other artworks show a very exact view of those foreign vessels, so I can only imagine, that the Tsuba artists refer to hearsay and imagination - if it is really a foreign ship. Needs further investigation. Popular designs have been copied dozens of times and I think the workers sticked simply to the model without knowledge of the meaning.

The sailing boats in Sasano’s book show not necessarily the same as in the Tsuba at the top. There have been different types of sailing boats, some smaller for fishing, others were larger cargo boats for coastal transport. The extrem shapes (especially the stem) of the first Tsuba I can’t assign to a traditional boat form. Maybe these should give the idea a foreign ship?

Steve, have You recognized that the forms on the left and right could be warabite or stylized fern sprouts?

I found a connection between Bishamonten and Shomu Tenno (701 - 756). The latter did a lot to establish Buddhism in Japan and one of three important sutras was the Hokke-kyo. In this sutra Bishamonten promises to protect men. So it may be the depiction of Shomu Tenno (thus the archaic look of the fan) holding a sutra scroll. It’s only a guess but maybe it is worth to research in this direction.

It's a fan. First I thought of a gumbai or Japanese war fan used by military commanders. However it's an unusual, archaic looking model. Maybe chinese? I'm only guessing so I hope someone else could tell the story of this scene to clarify the details.

On the Kashira a courtier is shown with his typical "kanmuri" or court cap (could also be something similar chinese). The other character might be Bishamonten definitely. The story behind this scene I'm not able to tell. The scroll might be a sutra with which the courtier summons Bishamonten. The latter points to something unseen, probably depicted on the missing Fuchi?

I don't think the Tsuba in question portrays a woman at all (Sorry to say on International Women's Day! ). IMHO the motif depicts Kanzan and Jittoku, two chinese Zen monks alleged living in the 7th century. While Jittoku is holding his typical broom, Kanzan is not shown but represented by the scroll (rusumoyo). Frequently broom and scroll alone symbolize this unique pair.

Sorry for confusing You. Of course a maru-mimi is a typical trait of Akasaka smiths. I was talking about the ring-shape of the rim, the technical term is torus. The generations from the fourth onwards used this shape frequently, but I’m not sure about Ko-Akasaka and first generation particularly.

Did Ko-Akasaka - in this case Shodai Tadamasa - produce such fully rounded rims?

I think the theme is correctly named. However, both the tradition of cherry blossom viewing and the use of cloth curtains are very old. So the conclusion the tsuba is of the same age as the depicted woodblock print is not correct. I suppose it was made during the Genroku/ middle Edo period based on the hitsu-ana both in suahama shape. Some blossoms show abrasions at the corners, so it seem like overlay in some parts?

Exact measures would help. Crane and pines. IMHO Akasaka-style maybe by a minor workshop. Here's an Akasaka which seems to be the model for Yours:

IMHO it looks like an older dealer's magazine, but I have no idea by which retailer.

Steve, You’re right, kaku mimi ko niku. 78mm x 75 mm x 6 mm, I speculate it’s from Genroku period because of the elegant design. IMHO the rectangular hitsu ana should add an archaic touch as mentioned above.