Help with Sword Mountings

[javier]

Hy Colleagues

 

I bougth my firts nihonto in the last SF Token Kai I am a beginner I have been reading books for the last three years but all of them were more foccused in blades than in sword mountings, that´s why I was looking foward to see If more exrienced colleagues can help me providing me any information about the period, style, materials, etc of the tsuba, menuki and Fuchi. I am attaching pictures

 

The Sword is a Shinto Kanbun Katana by Iyetada from Kaga Province.

 

Best regards,

Javier.-

[Brian]

Well....the one thing there I can comment on is the habaki. Looks like it might be the original one, and judging by this post: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14178 it seems to conform to the standard for kaga habaki.

...apparently Habaki made in Kashu (Kaga) often had 4 strokes (Hi? indentations? they looked like scattered straws to me) on one side and 5 on the other. The meaning of this 九筋 is to indicate the nine Kanji 9字をきる that make up one of the sword-fighting mantra. 臨兵闘者皆陣列在前

 

Brian

[uwe]

Kaga for sure, but what does it mean

Uwe

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning all,

 

I believe the decoration on the Kaga habaki is talismanic and refers to an esoteric practice known as Kuji Kiri 九字切り ("Nine symbolic cuts")

 

As Brian said, if you count the lines, there are four on one side and five on the other.

 

They form a grid, this grid is known as Kuji 九字.

 

Coupled with various incantations and hand gestures (Mudra) they were designed put the warrior into a higher elevated state of consciousness and thus ready for battle.

 

You will see this practice superficially depicted in many Chanbara and Anime, it's become very much a part of popular culture today from back woods Ninjers (sic) to Cosplay adherants.

 

This link may help:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuji-kiri

 

However, I think Kunitaro san can answer this better than I.

 

Cheers

[uwe]

Thanks Malcolm, that was new to me

Uwe

[Markus]

I briefly dealt with the kuji a while ago on my blog:

 

https://markussesko.wordpress.com/2013/ ... -koshirae/

[Baka Gaijin]

Thank you Markus,

 

A very interesting article indeed.

 

Cheers

[Ian]

The menuki theme is

 

http://figal-sensei.org/hist157/Textboo ... ch7/10.htm

 

Regards

[javier]

Hi colleagues

 

Thank you for sharing all this value information and knowledge !!!!

 

It is really very interesting to understand the meaning and history behind my first nihonto thank you!!!

 

If somebody can provide me some info. about the stuba and the fuchi I will really apreaciatte too!!!

 

Best regards

Javier.-