This Week's Edo Period Corner

[IanB]

Piers, Your comment about the 'busty do' worn by Tomoe Gozen reminds me of a European armour floating around France some years ago. The breastplate was just that, embossed with a very impressive pair of bosoms. The owner insisted it was the armour of Joan of Arc and was asking a fortune for it. Total fake of course but what fun.

Ian

[Bugyotsuji]

LOL, that is very good. In the following link towards the bottom of the page you can see a statue of Tsuru-hime and below that her Do, (normally in a glass case), which is very popular with Japanese men. O-yamazumi-Jinja.

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/raishou0213/e/6dd ... 9064393b5e

[IanB]

Piers, I don't want to be a party pooper, but was that really her do? As it happens I have one from that era with exactly the same narrow waist. I'm not sure it really was a period when lots of amazons dashed around in armour swinging their naginata. I think it far more likely that the armourers of that period had at last realised that hanging the whole weight of do and sode on the shoulders was not the best way of ensuring freedom of movement to the arms - particularly when the watagami of these armours are very narrow and at best padded with wood and rawhide. I think these were attempts to relieve the shoulders of some weight by making the waist narrow and transferring it to the hips.

Ian

[Bugyotsuji]

Many of the myths need a good popping, I agree. With this particular 'do' on Omishima Island, the explanation given is that it is the only remaining 'kosher' woman's armour/armor in Japan. There is even a one-line description of how the bust is generously built to allow for the fullness of a woman's breasts, something that with a little concentration most of us can figure out, I am sure. Either way, a healthy measure of doubt is always a good thing. There was a real Tsuru-hime in Okayama who was left by her husband to defend Tsuneyama Castle with the other women. When surrounded by Mo-ri's army, they all 'swallowed' their swords, whatever that is supposed to mean.

 

As to what you say about wearing the 'do', my own experience backs that up 100%. There is a peculiar ache that starts in the shoulders and becomes unbearable after an hour or two of marching and waiting. The tighter you can close the waist, the more the whole thing floats off the shoulders and the longer it staves off the pain.

[Nobody]

Many of the myths need a good popping, I agree. With this particular 'do' on Omishima Island, the explanation given is that it is the only remaining 'kosher' woman's armour/armor in Japan. ......

I read this recently on a news paper.

It says that these armors are thought to belong to the lord of Satsuma, and they might be for husband and wife.

Ref. http://sankei.jp.msn.com/life/trend/091 ... 000-n1.htm

[Bugyotsuji]

Now that is interesting. The article says that after examination, armor/armour' researchers have concluded that the possibility they are genuine is 'high'. I have an armor/armour specialist friend here in Japan, (not to mention the one in the UK :lol: ) and must ask him about this.

島津忠義（１８４０～１８９７）と同夫人のものだった可能性が高いことが、市教委と歴史資料センター黎明館（鹿児島市）の調べで分かった。甲冑研究の専門家は「夫婦の甲冑が確認された例は聞いたことがなく、研究資料としても価値が高い」と注目している。

 

 

(There has to be a strong possibility that these were made after the beginning of Meiji, though, I guess.)

[John A Stuart]

Piers and Ian,

This is from the catalog from Oyamizunijinja that has this piece of armour. The kanji are correct. I can’t say as much about my translation. It does not mention to whom it belonged.

重要文化財

Important National Treasure

 

萌黄糸素懸威鉄腹巻

An iron ‘do’ with yellow thread showing an elementary dignity when hung and tied.

John

[Nobody]

This is from the catalog from Oyamizunijinja that has this piece of armour. The kanji are correct. I can’t say as much about my translation. It does not mention to whom it belonged.

重要文化財

Important National Treasure

 

萌黄糸素懸威鉄腹巻

An iron ‘do’ with yellow thread showing an elementary dignity when hung and tied.

It is not the armor of Tsuru-hime. The armor which is thought to have belonged to her is 紺糸裾素懸威胴丸 (Kon-iro Susogake odoshi Domaru).

[Bugyotsuji]

The wording in their records, and presumably on the display cabinet is:

紺糸裾素懸威胴丸 1領 伝鶴姫着用。

 

Notice the word 伝

[IanB]

One of my most cherished memories is getting into the armour store of Sendai Museum. There, was a long row of mounted armours of all the Date Daimyo dating from Masamune to the end of the Edo period. Two or three were described to me as being for wives. Far be it from me to question what may well be properly documented attestations, but there may well be another explanation. A glance at the images posted by Nobody gives the clue - the size. Were these so-called 'wives' armours really armours made for the individuals in their teens. There are plenty of armours surviving made for the young children of very rich families. It is known from European examples these must have been the very devil to make since the armourer would have to allow for the child growing during the period between being measured up and receipt of the finished product. This succession of armours would need to be continued during the teen years - and this is what I suspect is really happening here. They are armours made for young men, that are soon outgrown and hence show little use and remain virtually pristine.

Ian

[Bugyotsuji]

That seems quite likely, Ian, and may in fact be the answer.

 

Another thought is that the second one was made for a look-alike to sit on the lord's horse and attract bullets. (As small a target as possible?) :lol:

[John A Stuart]

Sorry guys, As Moriyama san pointed out I made an error in the description. I do not know how I did it, but, I have the correct one now. #34 in the catalog. The text does mention it being made for a woman and used in two battles. Anyhow it took a couple of hours to transcribe so I hope it helps. A poor shakey pic included showing #34. John

 

三四、重要文化財紺糸裾素懸威胴丸

一領 室町時代

小札長七 糎 幅O・九種胴高(胸板より胴)

尻まで) 三四糎腕廼七一・五糎 草摺長

二九・五糎

黒漆塗成上げ本小札を鉄札と革札の一枚交ぜに

紺糸で毛引 威しにして、胴の立挙は前二段、後三

段とし、衝胴は五段、 草摺は十一 間五段に仕立て、

金具廻は黒漆塗の敏章(しわかわ)で包み、境粧板

を付けずに八重菊笠鋲二個宛の八双鋲を打つ。緒

所はすべて白の丸打紐を付る。この胴丸は兜・

大袖を欠いているか、胴の構造極めて細散で、蜘

廻りが著しく広く、嗣尻が細く引綿って引合せと

脇板に二間と三聞の冠板を付け、草摺は十一間に

分けるなど、普通の胴丸にはみられないめずらし

い構造である。 社伝に天文十年(一五回二の大

三島合戦に、 大祝安剖 (やすもち) の息女鶴姫が着

用した胴 丸と伝えている。

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Anyhow it took a couple of hours to transcribe

 

So, many thanks for the efforts, John.

[Bugyotsuji]

John I am sure you did that for the sake of your soul, a labor/labour of love, but why don't/didn't you just take a photograph of the relevant paragraph?

[John A Stuart]

Well, half way through, I thought the same. My photography is even more poor. It is good for me anyway. :lol: John

[Bugyotsuji]

The final weekend of 2009 and Twenty-Ten approaches.

 

Two of my Tanto have loose-shutting Saya. This can be dangerous, so I have asked for the Koikuchi and Saya inner to be adjusted with a sliver of something to create a tighter fit.

 

Yesterday I purchased a very good book on Tanto, put out by Sano Bijutsukan for an exhibition running from Nov 28 till Dec 23 2009. Tanto no Bi, Kurogane no kirameki. I was assured by someone that I respect that this book is excellent. The photos are so clear that even unwanted scratches show up. (!) For anyone studying Tanto, this book is quite informative, indeed eye-opening, I was told. Goes into why Tanto of Shintogo Kunimitsu are so highly prized. Unfortunately a different friend wanted it, so I now have to go and beg another. (In Japanese)

http://www.sanobi.or.jp/shop/shop.html

[b.hennick]

Hello Piers:

I would be interested in a copy. If you don't mind sending them out perhaps a few of us could add enough to the cost of ours to pay for yours (That way everyone will be happy!)

Happy New Year!

[Bugyotsuji]

Hello Piers:

I would be interested in a copy. If you don't mind sending them out perhaps a few of us could add enough to the cost of ours to pay for yours (That way everyone will be happy!)

Happy New Year!

 

These can probably still be ordered direct from the Museum, as in the link above. A friend had a few copies and there are two left. One of those I have asked him to put aside for me and I have just asked him to keep the other one for you, Barry. (If you could PM me your address.)

[Bugyotsuji]

Barry, I have your copy sitting here and waiting to be sent. Forgive the delay. Just laziness.

 

A while back I saw a Fuchi kicking around at a stall and bought it on impulse. I do not collect furnishings separated into pieces like this. I was planning to give it to my daughter who is a bit of an artisan. This week I bought a new digital camera with the ability to get within 1 cm of an object, and these are the very first attempts. Low density pics, most with no flash. What do you people think?

[David Flynn]

Not too bad, now you will have to try it on a sword.

[Bugyotsuji]

Not too bad, now you will have to try it on a sword.

 

Whoah, you're pulling me into deeper water. I like my paddling pool here.

[Bugyotsuji]

Trawling an antiques fair this morning I came across some Ukiyo-e in terrible condition. The dealer said to me, "Well, you're not going to believe this, but they are genuine Hiroshige." :lol:

 

Utagawa Hiroshige, 1797-1858. There were five from an 1855 set originally called 五十三次名所図絵 or Pictures of Famous Places on the 53 Stations. (No 13, Numazu; No 17, Yui; No. 49, Saka-no-shita; No 52, Ishibe and No.54 (!) Otsu.) There was also one from an earlier set, 江戸名所　titled Toeizan Temple in Ueno. (He threw in another as a gesture, but later print, not Hiroshige.)

 

Well, I like a challenge. The backs looked as if they had been pasted onto a Byobu screen at one time, and then pulled off with parts of the screen still attached. This evening I decided to attempt to clean one of them, the one in the worst condition. No heartache if it fails, I thought. Terribly faded, stained and torn, it has probably been burnt brown in the sun too. Below you can see a before shot and an after shot. Can anyone see a difference? I used the super gentle method, twice for good measure.

 

You can see a thumbnail of No 49 Sakanoshita, here:

http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=QvTY ... 55&f=false

[Toryu2020]

Piers -

Since you are in Japan, I found that the best fix for loose fitting saya was a small shim made of "Hyogi". I am sorry I do not know the kanji, but it is paper thin slices of cedar that are used to line packages at the fish-shop. I found a single sheet is enough for years worth of repairs. A small patch inside the koiguchi applied with rice-paste or simple white glue does the trick. Make sure any glue is thoroughly dry before reinstalling the sword/habaki...

 

-tom

[Bugyotsuji]

Piers -

Since you are in Japan, I found that the best fix for loose fitting saya was a small shim made of "Hyogi". I am sorry I do not know the kanji, but it is paper thin slices of cedar that are used to line packages at the fish-shop. I found a single sheet is enough for years worth of repairs. A small patch inside the koiguchi applied with rice-paste or simple white glue does the trick. Make sure any glue is thoroughly dry before reinstalling the sword/habaki...

 

-tom

Tom, Many thanks for the good advice. In fact that is pretty much what the guy did. He had a drawer full of curly shavings and did the work in front of me, eventually cutting the sliver down to such a small size. He said that it should go above or below the Habaki, depending on the resultant 'look' but not at the sides. As you say, give it plenty of time to dry. His final advice was, once dry, file it gently down until the tightness feels right.

[Nobody]

Piers -

Since you are in Japan, I found that the best fix for loose fitting saya was a small shim made of "Hyogi". I am sorry I do not know the kanji, but it is paper thin slices of cedar that are used to line packages at the fish-shop. ...................

The name of the slices is Kyogi (経木).

Ref. http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~kyougi/newpage5.htm

[b.hennick]

Hello:

If you know a cigar smoker you can ask for a metal tube that the cigar comes in. Those are also lined with thin cedar. I have a few of those and they have lasted for years.

[Bugyotsuji]

Piers -

Since you are in Japan, I found that the best fix for loose fitting saya was a small shim, paper thin slices of cedar that are used to line packages at the fish-shop. ...................

The name of the slices is Kyogi (経木).

Ref. http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~kyougi/newpage5.htm

 

Excellent link, Koichi san. Many thanks.

[Bugyotsuji]

On a trip out of Japan recently and someone (a former Japanese Imperial Army soldier from WW2) unwrapped a roll of newspaper and showed me a Chokuto from the Asuka Period. About the length of a Wakizashi, with a single Mekugi-ana very near the Nakago-jiri. Hugely rusted and chipped. What was even more interesting (for the sake of the blade, any readers, please DO NOT do this if you are tempted, and if you are in Japan, remember that it is illegal to do so) was that this individual had polished a window into the blade and kissaki to see if there were any features in the steel of the blade. Yes, there were. He told me that a friend of his is pushing to buy it off him for a nominal sum. I said that for that sum I would buy it on the spot, but that, as it will be a reference work for scholars of history and Nihonto, he should definitely donate it to a museum back in Japan.

[Bugyotsuji]

Over 80 yrs old, this bloke, a collector of some wonderful things, including well-known blades and mythical Tsuba was mumbling away and I was finding it very hard to follow him. How he carried cigarettes in his cartridge belt to exchange for food shortly after the war, etc. Some very interesting things came up in the conversation, however. He was explaining why a Japanese sword in Koshirae often feels 'loose', as though the Tsuka and Mekugi etc. needed tightening up. Towards the end I realized that having listened to him rambling on for a couple of hours, he owed me some direct information in return, so I dared to ask him what he thought was the true role of the Tsuba. Ha!? he replied turning to stare at me and I realized he was pretty deaf. Easier to speak than to listen, then!

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

On a trip out of Japan recently and someone (a former Japanese Imperial Army soldier from WW2) unwrapped a roll of newspaper and showed me a Chokuto from the Asuka Period. About the length of a Wakizashi, with a single Mekugi-ana very near the Nakago-jiri. Hugely rusted and chipped. What was even more interesting (for the sake of the blade, any readers, please DO NOT do this if you are tempted, and if you are in Japan, remember that it is illegal to do so) was that this individual had polished a window into the blade and kissaki to see if there were any features in the steel of the blade. Yes, there were. He told me that a friend of his is pushing to buy it off him for a nominal sum. I said that for that sum I would buy it on the spot, but that, as it will be a reference work for scholars of history and Nihonto, he should definitely donate it to a museum back in Japan.

 

Some people is working on these things just now (of course not the same sword). Still lot of work, but if you're interested in these things I'll let you know.

 

For now ejoy this one :

 

 

 

so I dared to ask him what he thought was the true role of the Tsuba. Ha!? he replied turning to stare at me and I realized he was pretty deaf. Easier to speak than to listen, then!

 

 

The same, with a longer way to walk on. For now get this one, T'ang Dynasty :