CurtisR Posted June 25, 2015 Report Posted June 25, 2015 Hello All, I was sent this photo of nakago - the owner put talcum on it to bring it out, so that explains the powder. Anyway, I've tried to translate the mei, which I KNOW is a date, but it isn't making sense to me. I asked a friends wife - who is Japanese - and she gets roughly the same thing: "2000, six hundred and 2" in year "Kigen" (of the Christian calendar) Also, the kanji for kigen seems poorly done. Am I reading this wrong, or are my suspicions of gimei probably correct? Thanks! Curtis R. Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted June 25, 2015 Report Posted June 25, 2015 I believe this is dated from the foundation of the empire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Foundation_Day and http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/zodiac.htm So the blade should be 1942. Edit: I should've elaborated... your sword would loosely translates to the 2602 anniversary of the empire, less 660 (the empire was founded/the first emperor in 660 BCE by Jimmu) to get to the modern calendar and boom: 1942. I am sure someone will chime in if I am wrong. Can we see the other side of the nakago? The takanoha yasurime indicate seki, but we'd have to see the other side (or at least the blade) to be sure. Quote
CurtisR Posted June 26, 2015 Author Report Posted June 26, 2015 Thanks Joe - it now makes sense that it'd be 1942, and at least I had the numbers correct . I believe you nailed it as being seki (see the other side attached here). It's on a very pretty Naval Gunto that I am pretty sure will be offered up next week. Interestingly, and perhaps others can comment on the extent of my next statement, but I learned that many FEMALES are not taught to read kanji, as it is a "male" form of writing...I was a bit shocked by this, but it seems to be although I know there are probably many ladies out there who can read kanji still. Just a tidbit I hadn't heard before. AND I don't mean to sound as though I know this as fact - was just told by a friend, and confirmed by a second who live in Japan. Anyway, thank you and now I have a "starting point" for any I run across in the future. Just when I think I'm learning...well, I'll keep trying :beer: . Cheers! Curtis R. Quote
CurtisR Posted June 26, 2015 Author Report Posted June 26, 2015 Sorry all - here is the image of the (7 character) mei ~~ CurtisR. Quote
Stephen Posted June 26, 2015 Report Posted June 26, 2015 ok the last pic had me flashing back but i really want to roll up a hundred dollar bill now,,,,,agh!! 1 Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted June 26, 2015 Report Posted June 26, 2015 Yup Seki blade, "Noshu Ju Kaneshige Kitau Kore" if you didn't have the translation. There were two using these kanji: Morita and Murayama. I can't tell which this would be. Quote
CurtisR Posted June 27, 2015 Author Report Posted June 27, 2015 Thank you Joe! I was doing the translation in pieces but it's fun to go "backward" and look them up so I can recognize (as with dates!). Kanji are elusive critters . OH - and for Stephen C, sorry if I made you relapse LOL...it's talcum powder though, so......... Curtis R. Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted June 27, 2015 Report Posted June 27, 2015 Sorry about that - I didn't mean to spoil the fun. I should've used a "spoiler" to allow the translation to be viewed if you wanted to view it. Quote
CurtisR Posted June 27, 2015 Author Report Posted June 27, 2015 No worries Joe - it actually helps me confirm that I'm getting it right!! :beer: Curtis R. Quote
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