Educate a beginer

[goose710]

Gentlemen

I'd like to take a step towards "learning" to read Tsuba Kanji. and tsubas in general

Now Please no answers, only guide me to an answer.

 

first off- the tsuba attracts a magnet so i'll assume it's iron

secondly - the style of decoration is a way of telling which school did it?? That's a question .

thridly- i will check the Kanjin pages for the script written there when i have a school or (den?) is this correct??

 

Please advise if thinking is correct

 

Charles L. grusovnik

[cabowen]

right side is the place of residence and left side is maker's name....

[John A Stuart]

1) first step- yes, material used for the plate; different schools use different metals, or combinations of them, or some use all types from time to time

2) that is usually an indication

3) translate the kanji and determine if the signature meets the requirements of the traits the tsuba indicate; then check sources to see if the signature matches documented examples

4) I add this; there are always exceptions to any rule.

John

[goose710]

Gentlemen

Thank you both for your quick aswers, and Cab i was going to ask that question which side was what thanks up front

now to get going !!! fun

charles

[docliss]

What a delight to find a member who is willing, and anxious, to learn. Good luck, and have lots of fun Charles. John L.

[goose710]

Gentlemen

I 'm thinking the stye is Shishiai-bori possible Nara or Ko nara????

 

first Kanjin signiture is ??? MUNE???? second one is giving me some trouble

 

 

charly

 

ps-do not have tsuba here at work but will measure thickness of tsuba tomorrow as it's very heavy and thick. could have some bearing on orig. yes???

[cabowen]

Also pronounced "So"...that is a big hint....

[IanB]

Charles, The secret to reading inscriptions is to learn a few key kanji that point to different items within it. That kanji bottom right on your tsuba will always be preceded by the maker's address. Obviously you still have to work out what the address is, but at least you know what you are looking for.

Ian Bottomley

[goose710]

Gentlemen

measured thickness today =.238" or 6mm

2.860" or 73mm dia.

boat carving follows to the back of the tsuba

 

and little by little (real little) i'm "seeing" how the Kanji are written !

Not nessesaryily on tsuba like it's in the database i must (assume) strokes actually conect to others .

can't seem to count strokes accurately either

found another one. "OMI"

 

Cab, i can not find your hint "pronounced "so" " poke me in the right direction? I've looked at kanji for tosogumei and kuni

am in the right place??

 

as you can tell, i know nothing, and i do apreciate your helps. it must be somewhat of a bore with someone as unknowing as i.

please be patient when the light finnally goes on i'll get it!

you guys are great !!

 

Charles

[cabowen]

The kanji you have identified as mune is properly pronounced So in this case. The kanji you are calling Omi is in fact ju as in "resident of", meaning the two kanji which precede ju are a location.

[John A Stuart]

Try, 宗 "So" and 典 . The kanji 住 'ju' is meaning 'resident of'. The kanji 彦根 is a place very closely related to the "SO x' name. John

[Gunome]

Hello Charles,

 

Another hint : try to look at other topic in the forum, some kanji are present in this tsuba

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=13867&p=120026&hilit=soten#p120026

 

Sebastien

[goose710]

Gentlemen

thank you Gunome i see it

i"m saying it's So Heishi as the signiture

YES??

Charly

[Gunome]

[cabowen]

 

Hikone ju Soten

 

彦根住宗典

 

[goose710]

aw nuts

 

i'm feeling stupid now

sorry guys

 

charly

[IanB]

Charles, Don't worry we have all gone through this. What seems to have caused you confusion is that each kanji can have two or more ways of reading it: the Japanese way and the Chinese way (they were after all borrowed from China and the way they were sounded by the Chinese came with them). Which way you pronounce them is the problem. Most swordsmiths used the Japanese sound, but many tsuba makers and other artists chose the Chinese sounds.

Ian Bottomley

[goose710]

Gentlemen

I'd like to thank all those that tried to help me though .

 

it is appreciated

 

charly

[Mantis dude]

charly,

 

not sure what you are using to translate but there are some very helpful guides on the "kanji pages" link at the top of the page. You will get used to the general format of how signatures are written so you will know that most of the time a town's name uses 2 kanji. Therefore, instead of looking for individual kanji letters you can look for kanji words (for lack of a better word). translating by individual kanji can be very time consuming especially when you don't speak Japanese. I have found the guides to be very useful in identifying words that I was totally going down the wrong path with the individual kanji method you are using (nothing wrong with it just poses a lot more options to sort through. The more I have used them to translate the more some translations have gotten easier. In fact, since many terms will be repeated, old translations make it easier for new translations. It can be fun and at times very annoying but when you get a translation done all by yourself, I must say it is very satisfying. Good luck with it all.