:) the cannabis tsuba....

[kaigunair]

I would have guessed fuyou or maple leaf, but I wouldn't be surprised if this little bit of marketing didn't help it sell.

 

Probably would have gone faster at this past SF show if displayed as such....

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-SAMURA ... 46256c156e

[cabowen]

actually was a history of cannabis use in the Shinto religion I have been told....

[Antti]

I think I know the cannabis-culprit :lol:

http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.c ... e-cannabis

[Stephen]

Nice hook Grey, i think its Maple leaf as well

http://www.my-photo-gallery.com/wp-cont ... 2.4m3m.jpg

[John A Stuart]

I beieve it is a maple leaf as well, but, it wouldn't be too far fetched thinking it is a marijuana leaf either. Before the puritans and holy rollers buggered everything up, it was a medicinal, foodsource and textile wonder. Here is an article extolling its virtues in Japan. John

http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/101.html

[cabowen]

very interesting reading....I had forgotten that the seeds are in shichimin....

[Grey Doffin]

Yes; that is my tsuba. I've heard maple leaf many times but no one has ever shown me a picture of the leaf. Show us please. Does look exactly like marijuana.

Doesn't have to be a recreational drug; hemp has been used in Japan a long time. I have a bag for one of my swords made of hemp (asa).

I've had the tsuba for over a year and I'm very surprised it hasn't sold yet.

Grey

[Surfson]

I have a very similar tsuba.

[Ed]

Grey,

The leaves of the Japanese Maple and hemp are similar. I have included a photo pulled off the web of maple leaves. What yours is, is open to debate I suppose. The Maple was much more prominent in Japanese culture than hemp, which would lead me to think maple. But, who knows.

 

Leave the name alone, calling it marijuana might be just the marketing edge to prompt an old hippie into buying it :-)

 

I had a maple down by my Koi pond and one day noticed all the leaves had been stripped from it. Found out a few days later one of the dumbass little hippies next door had stolen the leaves thinking it was weed.

[Ed]

Didn't realize the significance of Hemp in Japanese history until reading the article posted by John, interesting.

 

I do remember that Hemp was the number 1 fiber producing crop until the invention of the cotton gin.

 

Here are a couple of articles regarding it's significance.

 

http://www.truthabouthemp.org/History.html

 

http://www.hemphasis.net/History/harriedhemp.htm

 

http://www.nnytimes.com/american_hemp_history.htm

[kaigunair]

The post was made to inject a little humor into the tosogu threads, as I thought the listing was supposed to also be tongue-in-cheek. That being said, I think it would be a very hard argument to make that this was anything other than a maple leaf.

 

Part of the problem appears that there is a "Western" view of what a maple leaf is; the one on the Canadian flag being the image that is conjured up.

 

In Japan, I don't know if any such indigenous varieties of "fat leafed" maples existed. The standard image of a maple in Japan is of the thin leafed variety show above and on the tsuba. When you say "maple leaf" in Japan, this hemp looking like leaf is what a typical Japanese will think of.

 

There is also deep symbolism behind the maple leaf in Japan, and it is a very common theme used everywhere and on everything - akin to the sakura / cherry blossom symbol. In fact, the two are often pictured together in sort of a ying/yang combo.

 

So its either all these stylized leaves plaster all over the place in Japan represent maples, or Japan has a much larger culture of hemp usage and appreciation than anyone has ever imagined!

 

Anyhow, just wanted to clear the air. Again, I thought the ebay ad was a creative description given the times we live in....

[kunitaro]

Cannabis/Hemp is deeply related with Japanese culture and history since Jomon period (10000 years ago)

It has been one of most important agricultural products through history.

Culture of Shinto and Japanese Emperor is based on hemp as well.

There is a family who still growing Special hemp for emperor today.

Most of Han(province) were growing their own hemp products in Edo period.

so, it is not surprised finding design of hemp in Edo period.

[kunitaro]

There is popular Japanese design and Kamon designed Hemp called "Asa-mon"

http://minagi.p-kit.com/page134783.html

And an example tsuba signed Efu no ju Tatsunao.

[k morita]

Junichi,

 

I plucked a leaf of Japanese maple(MOMIJI) from my garden just now.

[kaigunair]

Morita-san, I have a red variety in my rock garden....a very beautiful tree indeed. I completely agree this is a momiji themed tsuba! It is interesting to see the misinterpretation based on cultural perspectives.

 

Kunitaro, why am I not surprised you're located in Amsterdam.....

[Stephen]

like motif, would be great to see full restor on this unit.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SA244-Japanese- ... RTM1562569

[ROKUJURO]

I have some photos to compare the two plants:

 

 

 

I think they aren't too close.

[Grey Doffin]

Yes, but close enough that I can get away with calling the tsuba to Stoner School and having some fun with the listing.

Grey