Shin-Shintô Blade/koshirae -- Maybe For The Tourist Trade (Hamamono)

[jamesicus]

Hello fellow Board members. It has been some time since I participated here and for that I apologize. During the time I have been absent II have experienced a number of old-age related medical problems including a medical emergency that required a series of urgent abdominal surgeries. All that forced me to put most of my projects on hold. Well, I am now rejuvenated (and a relatively hearty and healthy 87 year old) and back in action. I once again request your comments, corrections and additions relating to this web page I have written.

 

This page is one of a series I wrote that are mainly intended for my family and friends, many of whom are mystified by my fascination with Nihontô, and that have expressed an interest in learning more.

I apologize for the quality of the photographs -- the only camera I have available at present is my Iphone. I am particularly interested in what is depicted on the kashira.

 

All input is most welcome and much appreciated.

James P.

[Tanto54]

Dear James,

 

Welcome back and glad to hear you are doing better.  Can you provide a "straight on" picture of the kashira?  The only picture that I saw on your site was from an angle.  Based on that shot, I think the kashira could be tiger and dragon.  I'm fairly sure that the animal on the lower part (left side of the picture) is a tiger.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Aloha, James:

 

Very nice page, & good photography. My only suggestion would be to allow your full-size images to pop up when the smaller page images are clicked. This would be especially useful for the kashira, & George is right that a straight-on image would make things much clearer.

 

Ken

 

[jamesicus]

Dear James,

 

Welcome back and glad to hear you are doing better.  Can you provide a "straight on" picture of the kashira?  The only picture that I saw on your site was from an angle.  Based on that shot, I think the kashira could be tiger and dragon.  I'm fairly sure that the animal on the lower part (left side of the picture) is a tiger.

Thank you for the nice sentiment and good suggestion, George. Yes I certainly will take and post a "straight on" photo of the kashira tomorrow morning.

 

Again, thank you for your input George.

 

James P

[jamesicus]

Aloha, James:

 

Very nice page, & good photography. My only suggestion would be to allow your full-size images to pop up when the smaller page images are clicked. This would be especially useful for the kashira, & George is right that a straight-on image would make things much clearer.

 

Ken

Thank you for the compliment and excellent suggestions Ken. As I mentioned in my reply to George, I will supply better pics tomorrow.

Thank you for the input, Ken.

 

James P

[Greg F]

Hi James. Welcome back and glad to hear your feeling healthy. Nice web page. All the best.

 

Greg

[jamesicus]

Hi James. Welcome back and glad to hear your feeling healthy. Nice web page. All the best.

 

Greg

Thank you very much Greg. I appreciate your post very much.

 

James P

[Brian]

James, welcome back sir. Had been wondering if you are ok. Trust me, you are still very much middle aged in NMB terms

Glad you are recovering. All the best!

 

Brian

[Jean]

James,

 

I am very glad that everything is going smoothly for you now.

[Brian]

I am very glad that everything is going smoothly for you now.

Jean, for someone who has had stomach issues, that may be the ultimate pun :rotfl:

 

[paulb]

James

You make me feel very humble. To be so positive and produce such enthusiatic material at your stage of life and with your recent health issues is an example to us all.

The next time I am feeling sorry for myself and my lost youth I will look at your site for inspiration.

well done it looks great

Best Regards

Paul

[jamesicus]

James, welcome back sir. Had been wondering if you are ok. Trust me, you are still very much middle aged in NMB terms

Glad you are recovering. All the best!

 

Brian

Thank you very much, for the warm welcome Brian. Great to have recognition by the "honcho".

 

James P

[jamesicus]

James,

 

I am very glad that everything is going smoothly for you now.

Ah, Jean, I always enjoy your impish humor. Thank you. Yes things are indeed moving along smoothly now.

 

James

[jamesicus]

James

You make me feel very humble. To be so positive and produce such enthusiatic material at your stage of life and with your recent health issues is an example to us all.

The next time I am feeling sorry for myself and my lost youth I will look at your site for inspiration.

well done it looks great

Best Regards

Paul

Thank you very much for your kind words Paul.  Coming from someone who is such a prolific researcher and writer as you are is very gratifying to me. I am still working on that project for you Paul -- I will report back to you shortly.

 

James P

 

"Growing old is not for sissies."

[Stephen]

James

 

Glad to have you back in the fold, after dealing with PC and all its side effects i was feeling pretty low, your get up and go has given

this young'n (approaching 71) a good kick in the butt, thank you. 

I havent searched each link of your web site yet, so far it will be added to the list of where i send newbies along with Doc's JSI to get info. Does it have a link to NMB?

Ill search more later, again good to hear from you.

[jamesicus]

Dear James,

 

Welcome back and glad to hear you are doing better.  Can you provide a "straight on" picture of the kashira?  The only picture that I saw on your site was from an angle.  Based on that shot, I think the kashira could be tiger and dragon.  I'm fairly sure that the animal on the lower part (left side of the picture) is a tiger.

Good morning George. The following pic is the best I can manage with my hand-held Iphone I am afraid. I hope this will help.

 

 

 

 

James P

[jamesicus]

James

 

Glad to have you back in the fold, after dealing with PC and all its side effects i was feeling pretty low, your get up and go has given

this young'n (approaching 71) a good kick in the butt, thank you. 

I havent searched each link of your web site yet, so far it will be added to the list of where i send newbies along with Doc's JSI to get info. Does it have a link to NMB?

Ill search more later, again good to hear from you.

Thank you Stephen. Hang in there. I was diagnosed with low grade Prostate Cancer about fifteen years ago but I am lucky in that it has remained kinda dormant and hasn't bothered me too much. My Nihonto web pages contain mostly very basic, introductory, information. My goal in writing them was to create an interest in these precious artifacts that we cherish so much within my grandchildren (and now four great-grandchildren) and some of my antique arms collector friends. The next step is to install a link to this message Board on each of my pages.

 

Thanks again Stephen.

 

James P

 

"I would rather have a bottle in front of me than frontal lobotomy"

[Stephen]

LOL love the old line, mine is "my get up and go has got up and went"  

[Tanto54]

Dear James,

 

Thanks for providing the better picture of your kashira.  I believe that it depicts a dragon and a tiger.  See the similar faces in the dragon/tiger menuki picture below.  Your kashira has seen some use, so the high points are a little effaced (especially the dragon's face, but you can see his claws at the edge of the frame).  As you may know, these two creatures are often paired together and are considered yin & yang - the dragon is lord of the sky and the tiger is lord of the earth. 

 

 

[jamesicus]

Dear James,

 

Thanks for providing the better picture of your kashira.  I believe that it depicts a dragon and a tiger.  See the similar faces in the dragon/tiger menuki picture below.  Your kashira has seen some use, so the high points are a little effaced (especially the dragon's face, but you can see his claws at the edge of the frame).  As you may know, these two creatures are often paired together and are considered yin & yang - the dragon is lord of the sky and the tiger is lord of the earth. 

 

tiger & dragon.jpg

 

Dragon & Tiger Menuki.jpg

Thank you for sharing your knowledge George -- I appreciate that very much. I am constantly amazed by the diversity and depth of knowledge possessed by members of this Board -- and their unselfish willingness to share it with others.

 

James P