Brian Posted August 18, 2007 Report Posted August 18, 2007 This one came on a wakizashi I came across recently. On inspecting it closely, I was perplexed to find that the horseman has lost his head It's odd that I can't see marks where it once was, but it looks to have been removed cleanly. A real pity, as I like the horse. Perhaps something caught on an exposed edge and decapitated him? Maybe the inlay just fell off over time. Could it have been removed deliberately for some reason? Interested in any comments. It's a pity there is no legend of a Japanese headless horseman Brian PS - If anyone finds a tiny little mixed metal head lying around, you know where to send it :lol: Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted August 18, 2007 Report Posted August 18, 2007 hi Brian, If just the head was missing it might be concluded it was accidental abuse. However, it 'looks' like something has been broken off from the riders right hand as well, which appears to be more like intentional accidental abuse Quote
Patrick Hastings Posted August 20, 2007 Report Posted August 20, 2007 Actually the missing head is quite intentional. This is a less common motif depicting the old lore about the folly of shaving while horseback riding. Typically the head is found on the reverse side. The Razor blade however is in fact broken away and missing from the handle which can still be seen in the riders hand. If this sound like bull, you would be correct. Sounded good though for second I am sorry, but I just read "Playfulness in Japanese art." (The Franklin D. Murphy Lectures VII). after looking at so many serious pieces at SFTK I could not help myself when I saw your headless rider Regards, Patrick Hastings Quote
remzy Posted August 20, 2007 Report Posted August 20, 2007 Gosh Patrick, you got me there for a second Quote
mike yeon Posted August 20, 2007 Report Posted August 20, 2007 Could it be a depiction of Guan Yu, the Shu general from the Three Kingdoms period? The story goes that he was beheaded by Sun Quan the lord of Wu. His head was sent to Cao Cao and his headless body was said to be seen roaming the land looking for his head. Guan Yu was also famous for riding a great horse named Red Hare and is shown with the horse in works of art. Just my thoughts as I've seen a fair share of tsougu that depict events during the Three Kingdoms period. I have a set that shows another shu general Zhao Yun rescuing the shu emperor's infant during the battle of Changban. mike Quote
mike yeon Posted August 20, 2007 Report Posted August 20, 2007 Although it could be his head just came off... Quote
remzy Posted August 20, 2007 Report Posted August 20, 2007 Might be, but wouldnt it have left a trace if there was a head there in the first place? or are the inlay superficial and on the surface? hmmm Quote
Brian Posted August 20, 2007 Author Report Posted August 20, 2007 Thanks for that Mike...good to know there is at least a theory out there. I posted this because although I am 99% sure that that head is just lost or removed, I can't help but fail to find traces of where it was attached. Then again..the simplest explanation is usually the best, and I guess we are just talking about damage here. This is when we need Ford and a lesson in inlay Regards, Brian Quote
mike yeon Posted August 20, 2007 Report Posted August 20, 2007 Hey Brian, Yes, just a theory. If the figure was carrying a halbred then I'd say it's more than just a theory. The rest of the story goes that Guan Yu's spirit while looking for his head meets a buddhist monk. Guan Yu asks the monk for his head and the monk replies by asking him "who can all the warriors Guan Yu had slain, ask for the return of their heads?" The spirit then becomes enlightened and disapears in peace. I think a story with themes samurai would appreciate. Good luck with your mystery. mike Quote
Brian Posted August 20, 2007 Author Report Posted August 20, 2007 How does he ask the monk anything without a head? :? :D I guess spirits are complete when roaming. lol Good story though. I would love to know what impliment my guy was carrying that he lost with his head. I know Milt would suggest a lightsaber that accidentally activated :lol: I guess me and Guan Yu have something in common. We are both looking for the missing head Brian Quote
Patrick Hastings Posted August 20, 2007 Report Posted August 20, 2007 How does he ask the monk anything without a head? :? :D I guess spirits are complete when roaming. lol Good story though. I would love to know what impliment my guy was carrying that he lost with his head. I know Milt would suggest a lightsaber that accidentally activated :lol: I guess me and Guan Yu have something in common. We are both looking for the missing head Brian Brian, it is hard for me to see this, but are there traces of solder on the copper "neck" or is that only dirt? The Hand positions and odd finger up look like he might have been playing a "Hero" flute or similar type of wind instrument. My theory is, the head was soldered to the soft metal as a means of attachment, but badly done. The other half of the flute and perhaps the other set of fingers came away with the head. If there ever was a head it may not have extended up as far as the imagination might think. I think the hand positions indicate there was indeed a head at one time. It is not uncommon for "inlays" to be soldered to iron. Some of the components of a multimetal figure might be soldered together before being inlayed into the Ji gane or soldered to it. I inspected a few examples of this technique recently. If the quality is good the piece would almost have to show damage to reveal the technique. regards, Patrick Quote
Bungo Posted August 20, 2007 Report Posted August 20, 2007 " I know Milt would suggest a lightsaber that accidentally activated " I certainly would not. However, this is a tsuba showing the oriental version of Nearly Headless Nick, house ghost of Gryffindor( aka Sir Nicholas de Mimsey-Porpington ). The reason you don't see the head on the reverse side of the tsuba is simply because the head is not actually detached ( it holds on to the shoulder by bit of skin ), it's flipped over and behind the back. There...........mystery solved. p.s. for more detail, read Harry Potter's 2 nd year at Hogwarts ( specifically chapter 8, The Deathday party ) Milt the ronin Quote
Nobody Posted August 21, 2007 Report Posted August 21, 2007 The reason you don't see the head on the reverse side of the tsuba is simply because the head is not actually detached ( it holds on to the shoulder by bit of skin ), it's flipped over and behind the back. Ah, I thought that the head was being held with his right hand. Quote
Bungo Posted August 21, 2007 Report Posted August 21, 2007 risking censor here but................. that thingie looks like a male genitalia aka dickhead. milt the ronin Edit Brian - Yes Milt, I did edit out your next post with the slang. Here are more for you to use in everyday conversation...just NOT on the forum: http://www.faulkingtruth.com/KensQuote/ ... number=388 Quote
remzy Posted August 21, 2007 Report Posted August 21, 2007 ROFL something went terribly wrong in this thread!!!! :lol: :lol: Quote
Bungo Posted August 22, 2007 Report Posted August 22, 2007 http://www.faulkingtruth.com/K.....number=388 what a gem !! Merci, danke, arigatto, thanks, mucha gracias.......... p.s. I see you don't like matsutake mushroom milt the ronin Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted August 22, 2007 Report Posted August 22, 2007 hehehehehehe........... actually...think of this: samurai goes to battle, with Tsuba depicting his lord... his lord loses the battle and samurai decides to switch sides secretly... however... the face of his master is still on his tsuba... how to go about it.... no money for a new tsuba, still some respect for his old master....... lets cut the head off!!! (I know, completely off my rocket here) :lol: KM Quote
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