John A Stuart Posted December 10, 2008 Report Posted December 10, 2008 I would need that one, as, I am woefully uninformed on pre-modern firearms. Of course, I would need the companion books, as completeness is desirable. I am glad you continue to recover. John
Bugyotsuji Posted December 11, 2008 Author Report Posted December 11, 2008 Me too. I'd love to read that. Are you still connected with them Ian? It would be such a waste if you weren't.
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted December 11, 2008 Report Posted December 11, 2008 statement by Conlan in his last book about later armor made of wood. I'm intrigued too, but it's a big . Waiting to read it to discover bibliography and original sources. A friend from another board is getting an interview with Conlan and asked about this very matter. Reply by Conlan hereunder : quote... "Thank you for the comment about the armor plates ('sane'). Yes my statement is misleading and should be revised. Sane, or kozane (the small plates) were made from hardened leather, metal, wood and paper (washi). Leather is most common for the older suits. The main point that I wanted to make regarding the "sane" is that they were lacquered and relatively light. I thought it would be easier to explain lacquer to a general audience by describing the sane as being made of wood (as is generally the case with lacquer). Metal sane were rarer in the oldest suits of armor (those located at Oyamazumi shrine) and used mostly to reinforce the torso region region. (I wanted to contrast with later suits, which were in fact mostly made of metal). I see, however, that my explanation only sows confusion. In the interest of accuracy, I should revise this passage, and state that sane were mostly constructed from hardened leather." ...unquote.
IanB Posted December 11, 2008 Report Posted December 11, 2008 John & Piers, Yes, I still wander in occasionally and do the odd bit. Last Monday I had a cleaning and oiling session on the blades in shirasaya. I am also waiting for some braid coming from Japan then I can embark on relacing one of the gift armours to King Philip III of Spain that was incorrectly put together in the 19th century. I also have a couple of seminars coming up in the New Year. Congrats by the way on your new chapeau Piers. I am rather envious. It is rather grand for a common gunner. With the pound sterling rapidly approaching parity with the cowrie shell I cannot see me buying much over the next few years. On the subject of common gunners, I was musing last night on the change in mindset the gun imposed on the military class. When it first appeared it was very much the 'must have', 'to die for' battlefield accessory. This soon changed however when it was found that the most noble bushi, famed throughout the Kansei for his skill with the sword, could be dropped at 50 yards by a rice thresher's apprentice. Despite this, commanders realised that without the use of the gun, establishing a sufficiently large power base from which to take over Kyoto and then the rest of the country would be impossible. Conventional armies had been trying for decades, but no matter how successful, they ultimately had a reverse and some other contender would take centre stage for a while. The answer of course was the ashigaru who previously had been simply naginata fodder used to swell the army's ranks. We see this at Nagashino where these expensive weapons were actually being issued to the 'other ranks'. In addition they also had to be properly equipped with armour, swords and so on. They had become in effect the main attack troops, the function of the samurai being now to defend and support them (at least in the initial stages of the engagement). They were also a group the commander could control and order about on the battlefield. The higher ranking samurai tended to fight, to some extent at least, as individuals supported by their personal retainers. The gunners, and other ashigaru units could be used en masse, directed and controlled by their officers. So, these lowly creatures rose from being a despised rabble to a very valuable asset in an army. An asset that had to be equipped, trained and protected by the higher ranks - hence the change in mindset. Wow Ian
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted December 11, 2008 Report Posted December 11, 2008 The higher ranking samurai tended to fight, to some extent at least, as individuals supported by their personal retainers. This is often forgotten. Japanese armies were rised on a feudal basis even in recent times, with the limitations this imply.
myochin Posted December 11, 2008 Report Posted December 11, 2008 Carlo, could you please give me the details of Conlan's book. Has it just come out ? Thanks, Paul.
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted December 11, 2008 Report Posted December 11, 2008 "Weapons and fighting techniques of the Samurai Warrior - 1200/1877 a.D." Thomas Conlan.
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted December 11, 2008 Report Posted December 11, 2008 Paul, sorry I wasn't able to give you this link from work. Scroll down and you'll find an excerpt about the book : http://www.shogun-yashiki.blogspot.com/
Bugyotsuji Posted December 12, 2008 Author Report Posted December 12, 2008 You mention the pound and parity and being unable to buy anything, Ian, but funnily enough, as the bottom has dropped out of the Gaijin market, the prices of J antiques may just be dropping accordingly. Coincidence or calculation?
Jean Posted December 12, 2008 Report Posted December 12, 2008 The main problem is the Yen FX rate despite Japanese recession, Compare to Euro, 8 months ago, I bought a tanto for 450 000 yens = 2 800 Euros, today it is worth 3 700 Euros...
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted December 14, 2008 Report Posted December 14, 2008 John, you'll find these ones interesting. Very early Chinese wooden armor :
Bungo Posted December 15, 2008 Report Posted December 15, 2008 Carlo, these are Taiwan ( formosa )locals/natives body armors. Taiwasn was an " outpost primative island " where no self respecting mainland Chinese will settle . That is till the manchu took over China from the ming dynasty .......... some " resistors " re-settled in Taiwan and continued the struggle against the Qing ( Manchu ) dynasty. p.s. I would put those primative armour as what Anui armour is to Japanese Armour. milt
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted December 15, 2008 Report Posted December 15, 2008 Seems indigenous Taiwanese tribes have a long story of resistance to chinese power. They were supposed to be headhunters and wore a short sword. Japaneses were very impressed by these tribesmen and hired them as Elite units in Imperial Guards and paratroopers. The Japanese equivalent to Gurka...
Bugyotsuji Posted December 16, 2008 Author Report Posted December 16, 2008 We had some guests to stay and the hall looked a bit empty so I put up the black Yoroi-Kabuto. Little by little I am discovering how to display Katchu. I hadn't realized that this is a separate art in itself. I can see that some of what I have done is wrong, but to take it all down and do it again is a little daunting!
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted December 16, 2008 Report Posted December 16, 2008 Entering that room in the dark have to be a little scary... :D
Baka Gaijin Posted December 16, 2008 Report Posted December 16, 2008 Hi Piers, some scrunched up newspapers inside the kote will blend the sode line nicely. Best regards Malcolm PS Nice Gun..........
Bugyotsuji Posted December 17, 2008 Author Report Posted December 17, 2008 Hi Piers, some scrunched up newspapers inside the kote will blend the sode line nicely. Best regards Malcolm PS Nice Gun.......... Thanks, Malcolm, good idea. Maybe too realistic for Carlo, though!!! :lol: The Sode have been a problem because I have been altering the himo lengths to get just the right hang for my shoulders, and being slightly too tight (too loose the time before) one of the main himo broke last event and I haven't had the time or the courage to pull it all apart and do the alterations and repairs. (PS Malcolm. Will report on the pics when something definite, BTW )
IanB Posted December 17, 2008 Report Posted December 17, 2008 Piers, Over the years I have evolved various ideas on displaying armour. Better than newspaper, is to make up a pair of padded 'arms' from cloth stuffed with wadding or the like. These should extend to just below the wrist so the fastenings there have something to fasten around. For my best armours I fit velcro at the top of these and to the ends of the cross-bar of the stand. When I have fitted the sleeves to the do, I then press the velcro together and it takes the weight off the kote fastenings. I also fasten a couple of struts to the main upright of the stand, at the level of the lower edge of the do, for it to sit on. These are hidden by the yurugi ito yet supports the whole weight of the do and take the strain off the shoulder fastenings. Finally, make up a couple of padded cushions, about 10" square, and tuck them under the fabric of the haidate where it comes in contact with the armour box. These stop the corners of the box damaging the fabric. Nice armour Ian
Bugyotsuji Posted December 17, 2008 Author Report Posted December 17, 2008 Ian, thank you so much for your input. Those are very good ideas. I learn a lot from your experience. Come to think of it, the Do is hanging from the shoulder fastenings and somehow I always feel a subconscious reluctance there. Great hints.
IanB Posted December 17, 2008 Report Posted December 17, 2008 Piers, Yes, the shoulder-strap fastenings are very prone to stretching or breaking when an armour is mounted on a stand, because the do itself is not supported, as it is supposed to be, by the hips. Another couple of tips for long-time display is to do away with the 'mushroom' on top of the stand and cut a piece of plywood or similar that fits against the koshimaki of the helmet. You have to cut notches in the periphery to allow for the helmet cord. This stops the ukebari getting damaged by the weight of the helmet being concentrated in a small area. Finally, and I do this for armours with weak lacing, run a linen thread behind the mimi ito of the gessan and sode, passing it through the holes under the braid. This takes all the weight and is invisible. If you do this kind of thing you can leave the armour mounted indefinitely, covered with a cloth. This causes far less damage than mounting and dismounting it and packing it in a box. Ian
kusunokimasahige Posted December 22, 2008 Report Posted December 22, 2008 Ikeda residence, Lady of the house speaking....... Doyusha Himeji-Jo 1/350 hope u like it...... KM
Bugyotsuji Posted December 22, 2008 Author Report Posted December 22, 2008 I like it! Thanks for posting! Do you work with a die-cast model set, or do you make everything yourself? Himeji Jo... not far from here, and we have and had lots of interaction. They will be entering a period of refurbishment lasting something around 5 years, I hear. At 10:45 am on Friday the 26th December on the Educational channel, NHK Kyoiku, there will be some scenes of our lot demonstrating the use of guns protruding through various Hazama holes in Himeji Castle walls. The program/programme is for school kids and shows how things worked in the past. 'Mieru Rekishi' or Visual History. The NHK flim crew were astonished at the quality of the armor/armour brought along.
kusunokimasahige Posted December 22, 2008 Report Posted December 22, 2008 Hey Piers, what a great story about the NHK documentary! wow wish i d experience such a thing one day.. My Himeji model is made from a plastic model kit. next on the list is either Osaka Jo or Matsumoto-Jo... Also have the Kinkaku-ji still boxed... Himeji isnt totally finished yet, i just added some more vegetation: Personally thought the Ikeda family Banners were a nice lil touch... make it a little more lively.. Also have all 20 kits of the 1/35 Aoshima samurai, still to be built.. I like the Samurai model kits way better than any WWII kit, more colourful, more rare, and well a lot more interesting and challenging... KM
Bugyotsuji Posted December 31, 2008 Author Report Posted December 31, 2008 On Sunday the 28th I found myself at an early-morning antiques market and discovered this large dish for sale. Normally I won't touch porcelain as I can't 'read' it at all. In this case I liked the design, and mentally formed a vision of how much I might be prepared to pay for it, but luckily the stall-holder was away for breakfast, so I deliberately walked away from it to see if it would remain in my heart. My friend came over and reckoned it was Edo Period; when the dealer turned up later he said it was Imari, and confirmed late Edo. No chips and no cracks, and a deep BOnggggg when knuckled. Well, that just about checked my boxes for me, so I asked how much. I could have pushed him lower, but there is a saying here that you can force an antiques dealer down one day but he'll get it back from you later. If you allow him his margin today, he will repay you one day. Well, I live here, unlike some of you lot who come flitting through, so I took the cut that he offered and left it at that!!!
Bugyotsuji Posted January 2, 2009 Author Report Posted January 2, 2009 Three day's New Year sale on at the temple antiques fair and I found several interesting little bits. The stall-holders traditionally offer something special at knock-down prices. Two pairs of old beautifully carved ivory chopsticks, and... this week's piccie: This smoker's set is just about perfect; the drawer with the hidden slide even contains a bunch of individually hand-carved sharpened toothpicks.
Stephen Posted January 2, 2009 Report Posted January 2, 2009 Bugs your going to need to open your own Edo store. nice find!
Bugyotsuji Posted January 3, 2009 Author Report Posted January 3, 2009 No plans, Stephen, although one day I will have to make some kind of decision! John, forgive my obtuseness...
John A Stuart Posted January 3, 2009 Report Posted January 3, 2009 At the sumo they give smokers a similar kit. Lesser quality of course, but, tres gentil. John
Bugyotsuji Posted January 3, 2009 Author Report Posted January 3, 2009 Ah! :D I should have put two and two together. This could be from a Ryokan, of course, or even ex-basho kit... "The past is another country", as my father was fond of saying. (Although the past is still partly with us here and there...) Watching Kabuki in Kyoto a couple of years ago I was pleased to see an actor with such an accoutrement/accouterment by his knees, filling a kisseru, smoking it, and tapping it out, following all the subconscious processes from beginning to end. Real smoke, too...
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