Namban - Hands Up If You Like Namban Tsuba

[kissakai]

Hands up if you like Namban tsuba

 

This topic was posted on another message board but thought it would also do well here

 

I don’t expect many raised hands but if I’d asked about Noda Mitsuhiro’s thousand monkey tsuba I’m sure there would be more raised hands. Not so different but I do see some exceptionable workmanship with Mitsuhiro’s tsuba

 

In some of my earlier posts I mentioned the museum tsuba book I’m working on. There is one section that can be improved. This is the Namban section. In my opinion a very under researched area of tsuba. In the draft book I put these in design and then date order.

 

I would like to be specific if I go into print. I have cobbled together the information below. I have given no attributions as most information is regurgitated notes from a hundred years ago

 

I’d like your comments corrections to my notes. No rush maybe something to mull over during the Christmas holiday. I use rounded up dates for ease and I’m not bothered if the dates are a few years out. I may be a bit too early with my start date. As I’m aware there is nothing set in stone especially with Nihonto items so I suggest the most plausible details

 

Namban were produced in China or by the Dutch East India Company in India and imported from the middle to the end of the 16th century. They were copied from European sword guards. Some of the earliest design will incorporate European designs. One big step would be to have proof of manufacture outside of Japan and some dated examples

 

About the seventeenth century there was a demand for foreign designs. The work is characterized in general by very small perforations, undercutting and in most instances a slight use of gold nunome inlay. The introduction of the dragon and a conventional flower into the " tendril design" characterizes the popular canton work made at Nagasaki, Kyoto, and Yedo from the beginning of the eighteenth century.

 

Namban dates approximated for convenience:

Early: 1550 - 1650

Middle: 1651 - 1750

Late: 1751 - 1850

 

Namban features

Design than encroaches over the seppa dai

Non standard seppa dai shape

Design resembling fine to delicate filigree work

Hard iron

Can be solid

Beaded mimi

Raised katchushi style mimi

Oval is the most common shape

No hitsu ana

Hitsu ana added post manufacture. Would this indicate foreign manufacture or a later addition?

Hitsu ana incorporated during manufacture indicating this to be Japanese manufacture

 

Styles

Canton: Integrate design in a Chinese style that is symmetrical

Kagonami: Integrate design in a Japanese style that is asymmetrical

 

A bit more info:

There are 61 tsuba at the museum dated between 1600 to 1890

There are three unusually thick tsuba that are 7mm+ tsuba and date pre 1750

 

 

Previous snippets from Namban posts on the NMB

 

Those tsuba that are today called Namban (literally ‘southern barbarian’) appear to have been produced in China or by the Dutch East India Company in India and imported from the end of the 16th century. The category also includes reproductions of these imported pieces later made in Japan’. Ogawa (1987).

 

This remains an interesting thread. I continue to be convinced that MOST of what are counted as "Namban tsuba" are mish-mash creations of stock motifs that reflect the Rampeki or "Hollandamania" of the late 18th century. That fad was a popular phenomenon of mass culture. Namban portrayals of this era show European carrying swept hilt rapier. Bilobed and cup guards that inform many "Namban tsuba" date from the 18th century. There were, of course, Continental military campaigns going on as the Momoyama era was passing, so I think it is not surprising that "Chinese" guards were repurposed by Japanese soldiers. All of those things get conflated as "Namban."

 

From the quote above Ford was referring to the Azuchi-Momoyama Period approximately dated from 1573-1603 not any part of the Edo Period. I personally extend the date of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period to include the Siege of Osaka castle which ends in 1615. After the battle Tokugawa Ieyasu had killed off anyone else that could have had any claim to rulership of Japan (i.e. Toyotomi clan). A great proponent of foreign "Nanban" culture in Japan of this time period was the Shogun Oda Nobunaga. The popularity of foreign culture continued under leadership of Toyotomi Hideyoshi to include the invasion of Korea 1592–1598.

 

The only book (I have a copy) ‘The Namban group of Japanese sword guards: a reappraisal" by Dr John Philip Lissenden’ does’t really say anything

 

If one accepts Ford’s premise that the label ‘Namban’ represents a style rather than a school, then the temptation to attribute this group of tsuba to a finite location is greatly diminished. I have no doubt that, in the early days of this style, the main location for their manufacture was, indeed, the immediate environs of Nagasaki. But by the late 18th and early 19th centuries the popularity of these tsuba was universal, to the extent that 'they suddenly overwhelmed a generation' [Homma and Satō, 1935-36], and it is likely that many of the existing schools throughout Japan had adopted Namban traits.

 

Final observations

Whether a school or style doesn’t bother me as they will always be but into a section so dealt no different than other tsuba schools

Most collectors will just know what a Namban tsuba looks like although some Hizen and Hirado work can muddy the waters

Unless there are specific proven Namban examples then it will remain a grey area

Reading through I have rethought my order so it may be

Original then later added hitsu ana

Raised pattern that encroaches over the seppa dai

Pierced work

Solid form

All I can really ask is for members to agree or disagree with my comments so I can be a bit more specific with my own knowledge. I difficult request

If there are any specialist collectors of Namban tsuba would they PM me

 

 

Grev UK

[Thierry BERNARD]

here another Japanese book about namban tsuba

 

Nanban Tsuba - - Yearning Design - Yoshimura Shigeta

[Curran]

Grev-

 

Theirry posted the book I mentioned to you before. It is a bit harder to come by nowadays.

[Brian]

Namban tsuba are indeed an interested subject. There seem to be many differing opinions on what counts as a "Namban" tsuba and where they originate. I have my doubts about any VOC origin.

I can fully appreciate the better examples, and think oneday their status in Japan will increase and they will become more sought after.

[kissakai]

Hi

I looked for the suggested book but without success

If I do find it is there an English text?

 

 

Grev UK

[Curran]

English text:  not one that I am aware of existing. Perhaps a member had it privately translated.

Or you can orchestrate one of the drives we have had from time to time to have a particular book translated. I'd be in for it. Lawson recently spearheaded one for the Echizen book.

 

For the most part this Namban book is simple enough that even someone with beginner to intermiediate Japanese like me can crawl through it.

That is probably not what you want to hear, but the reality is often we are left to climb these minor mountains on our own.

Gents like Markus and Paul Martin are the super Japanese language sherpas we didn't have years ago.

 

Personally, I am immensely thankful to the years of translations that Nobody-san has volunteered to this board.

[Grey Doffin]

James McElhinney has been writing articles on the subject for the JSS/US; I think you would find them interesting.

Grey

[Jean]

If I remember well, our member Docliss has written a thesis on Namban tsuba

 

http://www.amazon.com/Namban-Group-Japanese-Sword-Guards/dp/1554043654

[Geraint]

And very good it is Jean.  Grev mentions that he has a copy of this one.  Perhaps we should find a way to get the two of them together over a pile of Namban tsuba and see what they both come up with?

 

All the best.

[IanB]

Grev, Here is my take on the subject:  Stylistically, namban tsuba are exactly comparable with Chinese metalwork and in particular items from the regions towards the Himalayas - see Tibetan saddles, pen cases and allied items. A good number of Chinese swords have guards decorated with similar pierced, scrolling tendrils. An important consideration is that most Chinese swords do not have an habaki and are fitted into scabbards that consist of little more that two pieces of wood covered in leather of more or less rectangular section, hence, that part that in Japan would be called a seppa dai, visible when the sword is drawn, decorated and rectangular. There exist a considerable number of namban tsuba that have had hitsu ana cut through the original design and have these rectangular, decorated  'seppa dai'. I would suggest these are of Chinese origin, the obvious source being trophies taken in the Korean campaigns and adapted to fit the returning samurai's wakizashi. This flaunting of captured trophies created a fashion trend that was satisfied by Japanese tsuba makers, and probably by workers in the Chinese colony at Nagasaki. These later tsuba have a more normally shaped seppa dai, although still often decorated, and hitsu ana that are integral with the design. Gradually the original Chinese design were expanded to include anything novel and foreign, such as the VOC monogram and copies of small-sword hilts. If I am correct this would date the earliest namban tsuba to around 1600, those of the VOC and small-sword designs to around the mid 18th century.

Ian Bottomley

I

[Thierry BERNARD]

this book could be a goog starting reference :

Iron and Steel Swords of China by Alex J. Huangfu

 

 

[Thierry BERNARD]

two funny namban tsuba for sale on yahoo.jp ( not mines )

[kissakai]

These are the first Namban tsuba that I've seen papered

Is there any date or location shown on these papers?

 

Lots of information for me to collate

 

 

Thanks

Gre UK

[Stephen]

To your org question...years ago...id been setting on my hands...today a well done one id be waving emphatically!...time changes all.

[Thierry BERNARD]

These are the first Namban tsuba that I've seen papered

Is there any date or location shown on these papers?

 

Lots of information for me to collate

 

 

Thanks

Gre UK

it is not so uncommon!

 

here two of mines!

 

the first one is probably a votive one ( besause of the size and weight 14x13cm 490g )

 

the second one were papered but the preceding owner lose the kanteisho!!

[MauroP]

Hi Grev,
actually some Nanban tsuba got a paper from NBTHK, and sometime even not the best ones. I remember a nice one from David Stiles, but I'm unable to find it on his site.
Here some NBTHK papers I collected on the net (unfortunately just the pics... - please delete if suspect a copyright infringement).
Nanban tsuba - NBTHK kanteisho.pdf
Bye, Mauro

[kissakai]

Stunning Mario and Thierry - this gets better and better

I see not are dated which is a shame

 

 

Grev UK

[Jussi Ekholm]

I will keep my hands down as I can't stand Namban style tsuba. 

 

I was lucky to attend NBTHK Scandinavian meeting where Namban tsuba were one of the themes of the meet and I got to see some good quality Namban items. I understand the skill needed for some of the items and how they might be something that someone collects but they definately are not for me...

[Stephen]

Jussi....that was my  take for years, tell me how you feel in twenty years....oh wait i wont be around...LOL

[yogoro]

Among other I also like Namban , so  I  raised one hand .

 

[Brian]

Now we are just missing Dr John in this thread...

Some lovely examples Mikolaj!

[Wayben]

Mikolaj, those are beautiful!!!

[Ron STL]

Namban tsuba is an interesting area of collecting. While many are rather common and not particularly interesting, many others are fascinating. One kind of Namban-style tsuba are referred to as Kagonami, from Kyushu. These are apparently Chinese design. One signed example appears in Fukunaga's Hizen-To book. I wrote an article on these for the JSS/US which proved a learning experience for me, at least. JSS/US Newsletter 42/4 - Sept. 2010. I've rarely seen this kind of tsuba turn up at shows. I have one that does have Tokubetsu Hozon paper. Another TokuHo is a large (84.5 mm) more typical Namban tsuba from an old collection, also attached. Ron STL

[Stephen]

When at shows Look up Peter Bleeds table, used to be a few there.

 

Very nice Ron and all 

[SalaMarcos]

I also like so much Namban tsuba.

But, I have some opinions about some points:

- I really don't think that namban tsuba comes from european sword guards. It is true that there are quite similar in some cases...but as well chinese or indian sword guards. Many people wants to link namban with Europe, but in that case I think that the namban tsuba only has link with the "old" namban people, I mean, extrangers coming from the south before 1549.

- Also It is very common that people has confusion about "namban tsuba" and "nippon tsuba with namban decoration". For example, a tsuba fro Hirato/do Kunishige with european letters and motifs it is an original Japanese tsuba. But a tsuba maked in China, India, or a Japanese copy of this tsuba are namban tsuba.

The work of Torigoye, Haynes and Yumoto is excellent, but their research about namban tsuba - kanton - kagonami are not such excellent as Lissenden tesis.

[MauroP]

Few Namban tsuba are exposed at Tokio National Museum. Here the relevant pages from the catalogue:

Happy new year! Mauro

[kissakai]

Hi

I've just frinished reading 'The Namban Art of Japan' by Y. Okamoto

Although only one tsuba image it doesn't give any references to tsuba but more on art work and clothing

It is quite clear how much Japan was influenced during the 14 century and demand for art items which were in short supply

Lots of images from the Kobe Municipal Museum of Namban Art which I've yet to have a look at

I have no knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish swords so please bear with me on the following statements so any input from members conversant in these styles would be welcome

It appears the Portuguese where the most in demand but their swords are nothing like the type we see as Namban

The Spanish image below is much more like the type we see as Namban and the Spanish were excellent metal workers

 

 

Also I am disregarding any other country as influencing Namban tsuba apart from the Chinese designs but not the making techniques​

 

My biggest desire would be to understand why the design goes over the seppa dai which to me just doesn't make any sense

 

 

Grev UK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[John A Stuart]

I was of the opinion that the Namban  tsuba with design elements in the seppa-dai were mainland imports. Why? Because their swords did not, for the most part have seppa. John

[kissakai]

Hi John

There is no evidence that these were imported unless someone else knows better

 

 

Grev UK

[John A Stuart]

Canton trade? Yes, no? John