Imaginary/Not-so Imaginary Christian emblems on tosogu

[Brian]

Hi all,

We all know that some fittings can be found with hidden emblems depicting Chritian motifs from around that time when Christianity was banned.

These fittings seem to be a favorite amongst some collectors, and while there are many that have genuine and obvious Christian connections, others are a little far fetched.

Thought it might be fun to post up some that might be interpreted as having these emblems, but are probably just co-incidence. Feel free to post those with genuine motiffs too. Let's make this the Christian theme tosogu thread.

What brought it up was seeing this kozuka on eBay, and me thinking "hmm..I wonder if anyone will look at that tree and declare it a hidden cross symbol?"

Let's not argue over whether something is or isn't. Just share the ones you have come across and everyone can make up their own minds.

 

Brian

[Geraint]

Three branches, could be a reference to the trinity Brian.....?

[kaigunair]

Three branches, could be a reference to the trinity Brian.....?

 

I first though of golgotha with the three trees, but then realized in the full kozuka pics there are actually 4 trees. Then there is the fact that the crane = peace in Japan, like the dove.... but this is really a post war symbol via the Sadako story (before this usually meant luck if I'm not mistaken). gotta be careful in this territory!

 

looking at the bid history, perhaps someone may have seen this post in the morning and concured with you Brian .

 

neat thread. looking forward to more pics since I don't have any items to contribute...

 

well, to validate this post with relevant images, here's my contributions:

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/ ... d=&page=13

 

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/arms ... tails.aspx

[Lance]

I think the (possibly) Christian aspect is the cross inside the tree? (oops, should have read Brian's post more closely, already mentioned it)

Regards,

Lance

[Pete Klein]

I think, 'very poor craftmanship'...

[John A Stuart]

Not all cruciform elements are Christian in origin. Some are, but, there are other motifs that are distinctly Christian. John

[Brian]

I think, 'very poor craftmanship'...

Indeed. My using it was purely as an intro into this topic of spurious Christian motiffs.

John..those are great examples, especially that tsuba. No doubt about that one :lol:

I wonder if that decoration might have been added later?

 

Brian

[Henry Wilson]

I think this is a Jerusalem cross motif tsuba:

http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.c ... a/h123-ono

 

Jerusalem cross

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_cross

[Bugyotsuji]

Well, there was a Netsuke posted above, so I thought I would provide a link to another Netsuke I posted last week over here:

http://netsuke.websitetoolbox.com/post/ ... at-6201481

 

'Hidden' is the word we most often hear for the Christians themselves, but I have come to think of early Japanese Christian symbols as being open and straightforward and their later ones as having built-in deniability.

 

The gardens of our local castle have features that look harmless or even positively traditional, but many of them are actually seriously defensive in purpose, still able to fool the eye of the beholder or be argued away with a bit of the blarney.

 

In other words a good deniable symbol will be delicately balanced so that even we today will not be able to say whether it was really one or the other. How good? Well if the life of you and your family were at risk of torture and death...

 

For this reason I feel the crossed tree branches and halo on that Kozuka are quite possibly a good candidate, Brian.

[John A Stuart]

I think the Kaneie tsuba does have a later addition of the Virgin mother theme. There were various Christian based cults in the orient based around the Mary and Kwan Yin (goddess of mercy) amalgamation. They were mostly peasant groups and persecuted quite strongly. Mary cults were even throughout Europe at one time and flourished at the detriment of Jesus cults and were suppressed by the patriarchal church. There was at one time a female deity on equal basis with the male divinity in very early Semitic worship, supplanted as well by the patriarchy, it seems a standard theme in the Judaeo-Christian-Muslim religions. These early goddess cults were of course based on renewal, birth and fecundity. Figures found in the Middle East show the fecund female form often and we can't have that sinful aspect interfering with our devotions, eh? I digress, sorry. John

[Soshin]

Hi John S.,

 

Wonderful topic of discussion thanks Brian R. for posting it for discussion. John S. thanks for the information and examples. Later today I will post my only "Christian" tsuba and the evidence I have collected about it. I will be adding photos and a write up about it to my website soon.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[kunitaro]

This is a Kanayama tsuba (Hozon), Momoyama period.

It has design of Cross and Raku-chawan(tea bowl).

 

I think that between Christianity in Japan and Cha no Yu(the tea ceremony) has important relationship.

the time of Christianity was introduced in Japan and the Missionary was active from late Muromachi to Momoyama period, around 1550-1600

The Cha no Yu has been established in Japan and Sen no Rikyu was active at that time.

The first missionary Francis Xavier arrived in Japan at 1549 and visited Sakai/Osaka at 1950. He stayed at wealthy merchant Hibiya family, and they became Christian, He is one of famous Tea master in Sakai,

The House of Hibiya family is just a couple of hundred meters from the house of Sen no Rikyu.

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

Here is a write up about a Namban tsuba circa the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. This tsuba will be on display at the Tampa show next weekend.

 

Item Name: Christian Cross Design Among Fine Arabesque Background

Japanese Title:

Material: Iron (tetsu 鉄)

Age: Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568 – 1615) (安土桃山時代)

Size: 7.4 X 8.1 cm, 4.0 mm at rim

Signature: mumei (無銘)

Shape: Maru-gata （丸形)

Openings: Shakudo filled Kozuka-hitsu ( 笄櫃穴)

Surface Finish:

Attachment: None

 

This is a masterful and rare Namban tsuba (葵鍔) from the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (安土桃山時代) displaying a strong classical art influence of Portuguese or Spanish origin. Like many early examples it was made in Hizen Province (肥前國) from imported iron (namban-tetsu 葵 鉄). The openwork as well as the solid design elements when mounted on a sword is that of a Latin styled Christian Cross among a fine arabesque background. The thick dote-mimi style rim and large overall size gives the tsuba a majestic feeling which is contrasted by the fine arabesque sukashi design making up most of the plate surface. The rim and some of the fine arabesque openwork display abraded crosshatched textured gold inlays (kin nunome-zogan金布目象嵌).

 

Here is an example of the Latin style Christian Cross for reference.

 

Hi Kunitaro-san,

 

Thank you for providing such a wonderful Kanayama tsuba example. The connection you suggest is a interesting one. I often see pre Edo Owari tsuba with Christian designs. They were likely favored by the men of Oda Nobunaga who was a patron of the Jesuit missionaries in Japan.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Pete Klein]

Junichi -- I believe you meant 1590.

[Ron STL]

The subject of Christian items being used on tosogu has fascinated me for many years. Those days of Christian persecution in Japan were tough times. What a risk it was to wear a symbol of your faith! The so-called "hidden cross" motif can be found on tsuba, etc., and while many were placed there as a marketing thing, there are many that are totally "honest." Here are a few Christian symbles on tosogu that I believe are "honest" and placed there by early Christians.

 

First, a kogai with a beautifully detailed gold "cross" on it. When the kogai is in place on the saya, the "cross" would be hidden within the saya. Real or not real? I personally feel it is an honest "Christian" piece. This is owned by a Jewish friend of mine here in St. Louis. I keep telling him he should sell it to me, a good Catholic...but I'm still waiting!

 

Second, a tsuka that I once owed many years ago. The menuki are iron "dried fish" while the iron kashira depicts what looks like a Bishop's hat or "mitre." I regret selling this to a Canadian many years ago while at a Toronto show. The buyer had a "Christian theme" display set up, so it went to a good home.

 

Last, a wonderful Yoshiro tsuba. This one might be a little more speculation, but if you look at the placement of the top/bottom which are identical and the side "mons" which are also identical, they form a "cross." Since I admire Yoshiro mon sukashi tsuba, I've always watched for another example of this cross placement, but I've never comes across another. Was this owned by a Christian samurai? Maybe, maybe not, but I do love the tsuba!

Ron STL

[John A Stuart]

The kogai is 'wunderbar'. John

[george trotter]

I can see a cross on the kogai, but the others I just can't "see".

Up till now I happily thought a Shimazu mon on kodogu / saya was just that (and just look at Uchida and Shimazaki!), but now, is it a Shimazu mon, horse bit or Christian emblem?...(that Hotta mob are a bit suss too!)

And what about Japanese bits?...these predate the arrival of Christianity (1542?) so they cannot be Christian symbols, but did they become so? This would mean that the samurai who went around hunting down and executing Christians were actually "bearing" the Cross.

You have made my head hurt. :lol:

Regards,

[sanjuro]

Playing devil's advocate here...... How appropriate is that?????

 

Particularly in the case of the cross symbol, for those who are searching for a Christian motif they will see it in any random 90 degree intersection of two straight lines. For those who are indifferent, there needs to be some other supporting symbology. We do however need to remember that an intersection of two lines at approximately 90 degrees is artistically speaking, and barring a curved line, probably the most common occurrence of all. I cite here the tachi tsuba pictured at the beginning of this thread. It is actually a representation of the ken motif repeated four times as in the four directions, and bears at each terminal an inome' (boars eye) symbol which indicates vigilance and uwavering commitment. The boar once having selected a target for his charge does not let his eye leave that target. The design predates Christianity being introduced into Japan and has nothing to do with it, yet there are those that would see some Christian symbology implicit within it. Simply not so I'm afraid........ Simply not so.

 

Similar to the case of the swastika symbol, the cross symbol where it is not just a random occurence but is intended as a symbol, is far more ancient and significant than simply an indication of a religious conviction. Both the cross and the swastika were used as kamon long before the samurai were made aware of any Christian God.

[docliss]

Of his beautiful Namban tsuba, David writes:

Like many early examples it was made ... from imported iron (namban-tetsu 葵 鉄).

Is he sure of this?

 

John L.

[John A Stuart]

Partially right Keith; I think. To paraphrase; sometimes a cross is just a cross. However the cross and the hakenkreuz (swastika) have, along with other symbols, been part of multitudinous belief systems. Is that not religious? To apply them to one's own belief system may not be the original intent, in this case Christian. Then again if one believes them to represent a certain belief regardless of original intent does that make them less so. John

[Soshin]

Hi John L.,

 

No not completely sure but I would like to do more research about it. I remember reading about it few different references in regards early Namban tsuba one such reference is Japanese Sword-Mounts In the Collections of the Field Museum by Helen Gunsaulus page 73-74. I remember reading that Shinto era swords from Hizen Province (Hizento and Waki-Hizento) were often made with Namban-tetsu. This information was obtain from JSSUS Newletter Vol. 43, No.4 pages 32-34. Would like to compare the nakago from these early Shinto Hizento to the iron of my tsuba. Looking at just the iron and its patina it reminds me of many Ko-Kachushi tsuba. I still need to purchase a copy of your book and do more reading on the topic of Namban tsuba in general.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[sanjuro]

John.

 

I hear what you say. However, you (apparently) speak primarily of the cross and the swastika in a European context where they have been associated with religious symbology since remote historical times. The old pagan religions of europe, (the Celts spring immediately to mind with both of these symbols), employed both designs in a completely different way, and the cross specifically had no original association with crucifixion, which is its chief association in the Christian religion.

In the context of Christian themed tsuba, I am not aware of any precedence in Eastern belief systems that embodies the cross specifically as a primary religious symbol. Prior to the introduction of Christianity to Japan, a cross was simply a cross - the intersection of two lines at 90 degrees. My point in citing the tachi tsuba in the original post was to illustrate the fact that it was in fact a cross but not a Christian symbol since the design and the symbology of it predated the introduction of christianity. The cross and the swastika both appear on Kamon that also predate the introduction of Christianity to Japan and though they may have had some religious meaning, its significance was in no way Christian prior to the Jesuits arriving on Japanese soil.

[Fred Geyer]

In the 2006 KTK book I did a paper on the time line of the Christian movement in Japan which was very short and ending very badly for the converted. There were over 1,800,000 Japanese Christians by 1607 and over 250 churches.... then it went to ZERO! And there as a good reason for that unless you wanted your family to be boiled in the square one at a time for weeks. So to find a true cross on any item from 400 years ago is so rare there are no words for it.

I have seen very few True Christian fittings and have just a few in my 20 years of looking hard for them. The Tokei is different as the early ones are 100% a Jesuit design and I fell they made it in time becouse of the Tokei name yet there is one design seen that are always burnt so they must have not faired so well at one time 400 years ago.

So many may "see" a cross my guess was it was not worth the risk.

 

Fred Geyer

[Bugyotsuji]

Fred, perhaps you should change that to 'less than' 400 years ago. As you said, Christianity was very successful in Japan, in fact so successful that Hideyoshi became alarmed and started issuing stricter and stricter edicts against it, from around 1585, I think. By then many Daimyo had variants of the cross on their Mon. Until then there was nothing rare about a cross design , surely.

 

After it was driven underground, then the symbolism becomes less obvious. I have the Kote-shita sleeves of the first Lord Hachisuka Yoshishige of Awa who was awarded Awaji Island by Tokugawa Ieyasu for his services at the sieges of Osaka, and there are clear crosses on the inside of the upper sleeves.

[Baka Gaijin]

Good afternoon all,

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkw7UeX_p74

 

Cheers

[Fred Geyer]

I agree with the common site of a cross from 1549 to 1614 when Ieyasu banned it, as there is a letter from Francesco Pasio to Rome in 1585 talking about Hideyoshi and his court all in Portuguese dress and carring rosaries!!

But to show the faith in public may even still happened up 1624 the year of persecution and the begining of Terauke Seido.

But after Shimabara Oct 15th 1637 there would not be a anything shown or even talked about being Christian.

 

Fred Geyer

[raiden]

I put my stuff in the "not so imaginary column, then there is no mistake....fuchi has never been posted before and will be used for a lecture later, tsuba has been on the forum before I believe. Forgive the dust!

[Brian]

Nice example Mike. No doubt about that one.

 

Brian

[Fred Geyer]

This is one from my collection that I was very lucky and honored to get from Yoshikawa Sr. collection it is very famous item and the only tsuba I have ever seen with a cross fully displayed on it. The tsuba has NBTHK tokubetsu papers as a Christian tsuba and the box also noting the tsuba of very high importance.

Will post later a Fuchi soon that will confuse some.

 

 

Fred Geyer

[Fred Geyer]

Also can anyone tell me the meaning of the symbols, good quizz for the day!

 

Fred