Uesugi Kenshin's Mountain-bird-hair Sanchomo/Yama-tori-ge

[Bugyotsuji]

Hair? Fur? Fuzz?

 

Came up in conversation the other day and to my shame I realized that Uesugi Kenshin's famous Ichimonji was/is in a local museum, and I had never seen it or even heard of it.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=%E5%B1% ... 80&bih=685

[DirkO]

In Showa Dai Meito Zufu it is described as follows:

 

"The by-name "Yamadorige" is said to have come from the way the exuberant hamon appears to be similar to the feathers of wild highland birds, but because of existence of varied propositions no definite story has been established to date."

 

It's one of the few books actually containing pictures of the Yamadorige, do you perhaps have an oshigata? I always thought it was in a private collection...

[DirkO]

Fascinated by the “wild highland bird” quote – I did a bit of looking and the raichou (雷鳥) comes in view, more so seeing it shares a kanji with the name 山鳥毛

Maybe a clever wordplay? (or more likely - my imagination! )

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Ptarmigan

[Nobody]

The bird Yamadori (山鳥) is a Copper pheasant. Or it merely means a pheasant in this case, I think.

Ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_pheasant

[Bugyotsuji]

"San Cho Mo" is going on display again at the Prefectural Museum from tomorrow until 21 May.

http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kyoiku/kenhaku/nowExhibitions.htm

 

Our sword society has booked a hands-on Kantei/kansho Kai in early summer with many of the museum's Kokuho and other good swords, but sadly this one being privately owned will therefore not be available for handling.

 

PS Unable to go back and change the title to this thread, I should mention that Yamatorige should more properly be, as others have pointed out above, Yamadorige, t changing to d according to the rules of grammar.

Some sword dictionaries however, say -tori, not -dori:

http://meitou.info/index.php/%E5%B1%B1%E9%B3%A5%E6%AF%9B

[Bugyotsuji]

Interestingly, the history of this sword is described on the linked page in the post above, including the latest efforts and devolopments in Joetsu City to raise the necessary funds to buy it back there.

[Ted Tenold]

Also an interesting point, is that every time I hear someone say "Yamatorige" in the presence of a high level scholar, they are corrected to pronounce it "Sanchōmō".  I myself was corrected by Mr. Tanobe some years ago, and he was kindly insistent that it was no other way than that. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Thanks Ted. Perhaps it would be safer for all of us to stick with Sanchomo for the time being.

 

Mountain bird down/fluff.

[Ray Singer]

Paul Martin shared an updated news article on Sanchomo on social media. He commented that the sword was purchased by a private collector in Okayama prefecture. The listed price was 500,000,000 JPY.

 

http://www.sanyonews.jp/article/704242/1/

[Bugyotsuji]

Thanks for the update, Raymond. Talks have foundered again and again, but now perhaps this sword can stay in its place of birth. I can understand why Joetsu City might have wanted to have it for the Uesugi Kenshin and family connections.

 

*Actually the article states that the 'private individual' who lives in Okayama, is selling the sword to Setouchi City, where the Osafune Sword Museum is located. (She wants 5 Oku for it, apparently to cover taxes according to the rumours.)

[Ray Singer]

Thank you for the additional details and clarification Piers.

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Gakusee]

So, who owns the sword now?

Thanks

[Ray Singer]

It does not appear that the purchase is fully resolved. This is the latest article that I have seen.

 

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20180425/k10011417001000.html

[Bugyotsuji]

That all looks on course, Raymond. There is just the small matter of raising the money, by crowd funding, which they are hoping to complete within the year. The sword is owned by a lady in the south of Okayama, but the article avoids giving such detail.

[CSM101]

I think most of you already read the new article by Darcy. But here is a not so well known photo. And I think now you can see, why Sanchomo is such a powerful and graceful sword.

 

The article: https://yuhindo.com/ha/

 

On the other hand there is an utsushi by Ono Yoshimitsu and you see he is very close to the original.

 

Uwe G.

[Ray Singer]

Very interesting article, thank you for sharing the link Uwe. Here is a link to one of Yoshimitsu's very faithful utushimono.

 

http://www.samuraisword.com/nihontodisplay/shinsakuto/Ono_Yoshimitsu_Tachi/index.7.gif

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Pete Klein]

I just want the koshirae...