Bugyotsuji Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Posted November 9, 2009 To flesh out the story only seems to be digging my own grave deeper, but I went in on Saturday to pay off the remainder of my tab. Yes, they trust me in there! In order to get the Shacho in a good mood, I told him that I had bought one of the two Kayaku-dameshi the other day, to which He said Arigatou gozaimasu. The Shacho wouldn't take the money I had brought, however, saying it was between me and the Banto. I know the Shacho's son, but I don't know the top man himself very well, being only a minor customer there, I guess. He poured me a cup of good strong Japanese coffee and it was then that I asked if I could I take photos of the other? I did say that I would be putting the photos up on a website, which might possibly lead to a sale. This increased his willingness to talk, and he actually sat down for a few minutes to chat. A victory of sorts for me, but at what price?
Aloof Pegasus Posted November 9, 2009 Report Posted November 9, 2009 Piers... there's no need to explain to US! But I would smooth out some of the rougher bits before running it passed She Who Must etc. Philip
Bugyotsuji Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Posted November 9, 2009 Thanks for the gentle reminders Philip. I do have a general personal rule here never to mention prices I have paid for something, or the names of particular businesses. In the above case, Jean asked me a specific question and I attempted to avoid it. Nothing of mine is up for sale particularly, although a couple of members have asked me to sell something in the past. If and when I do decide to sell something off, it will probably be internet auctions, but I have not yet tried the selling end of things, and to tell you the truth, I actually dread the thought of that hopefully distant day. Within the Castle Matchlook Company we buy and sell between ourselves but there is an unwritten rule not to make a profit. Next Sunday will be the 15th and the big local antiques fair. I will as usual be keeping my eye out for some rare or interesting object for this corner. With the wife ever on my back to get rid of stuff, though, it will have to be small and concealable... :lol:
IanB Posted November 9, 2009 Report Posted November 9, 2009 Piers, A model of tact and diplomacy as usual. I too must face the inevitable one day (although I have no intention of dropping off my perch just yet) and the thought is frightening. The very idea of disposing of armours I have had for well over 40 years is too much to bear. I am convinced they have a personality and have almost become good friends. Very many years ago my wife had to go into hospital for what could have been a life or death operation. I set up about half a dozen armours around the living room to keep me company and give me reassurance. The plan worked. Their kami gave me comfort and all went well. I told you I was a loony. Ian
Jean Posted November 9, 2009 Report Posted November 9, 2009 I do have a general personal rule here never to mention prices I have paid for something, or the names of particular businesses. In the above case, Jean asked me a specific question and I attempted to avoid it. In fact Piers, I did not ask for the price. You mentioned These used to go for around 70,000~80,000 JPY a few years ago. It meant the price have changed, but do not indicate the way (increase/decrease)
Bugyotsuji Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Posted November 9, 2009 I do have a general personal rule here never to mention prices I have paid for something, or the names of particular businesses. In the above case, Jean asked me a specific question and I attempted to avoid it. In fact Piers, I did not ask for the price. You mentioned These used to go for around 70,000~80,000 JPY a few years ago. It meant the price have changed, but do not indicate the way (increase/decrease) When you asked me "and now?" I felt some pressure to reply in an intelligent way... but I see what you meant now!!! Please excuse me Jean. As someone very clever once said, "History is a record of people's mistakes. None of the good stuff is ever recalled."
Bugyotsuji Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Posted November 9, 2009 Piers, A model of tact and diplomacy as usual. I too must face the inevitable one day (although I have no intention of dropping off my perch just yet) and the thought is frightening. The very idea of disposing of armours I have had for well over 40 years is too much to bear. I am convinced they have a personality and have almost become good friends. Very many years ago my wife had to go into hospital for what could have been a life or death operation. I set up about half a dozen armours around the living room to keep me company and give me reassurance. The plan worked. Their kami gave me comfort and all went well.I told you I was a loony. Ian Well, the world should be full of loonies, then! I love your story, Ian.
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted November 9, 2009 Report Posted November 9, 2009 Ian, I can host your armor indefinitely for free, no matter how many they are. If interested please PM me :D
Bugyotsuji Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Posted November 9, 2009 Ian, I can host your armor indefinitely for free, no matter how many they are. If interested please PM me :D If you want to repatriate some, I'll take half with Carlo then... indefinite hosting! :lol:
Jean Posted November 9, 2009 Report Posted November 9, 2009 Taking into account that Paris is the nearest place from Ian's, I'll vote for me
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted November 9, 2009 Report Posted November 9, 2009 Taking into account that Paris is the nearest place from Ian's, I'll vote for me Nope, you already have too many Juyo...
Jean Posted November 9, 2009 Report Posted November 9, 2009 Carlo Your ancestors should have said "Audaces Fortuna Juvat"
IanB Posted November 9, 2009 Report Posted November 9, 2009 Do I detect large birds gliding in majestic circles overhead? I hope than when they do leave the ancestral hovel they go to guys as great as you. Ian
Bugyotsuji Posted November 11, 2009 Author Report Posted November 11, 2009 Piers, They also had, on my first visit, a large-bore gun with an oak barrel bound with iron bands having a 65mm bore and weighing 13kg. Not a cannon but a very large hand gun. The label said it had been made for Oda Nobunaga by Kuki Yoshitaka (a ship's captain) for the attack on Isshiyama Honganji. It was later used at Seki ga Hara by Ishida Mitsunari. I made a little sketch of it at the time and noted the trigger was above the lock sticking out above the lockplate behind the serpentine. Even more interesting one exactly like it was sold in the UK about 1994 or thereabouts. I only saw it in a catalogue some time later. On my second visit to Seki ga Hara a few years later the gun wasn't there and I failed to convey my query as to what had happened to it. Ian Having reread your post, Ian, it has become clear that I was not really understanding the nature of what you saw. Must keep my eyes peeled for that. In the meantime I have asked around about guns and cannons with wooden barrels bound with twisted bamboo. There is quite a good description in an old standard reference on ancient Japanese guns, Yoshioka Shinichi's book, Furuju 古銃 , Showa 40, page 35. What he says sounds obvious, that they were cheap and easy to make in times of sudden emergency. They were generally made of pine, split in half down the middle and carved out. After a few shots with regular ball they would lose their viability, at which point they took on a life as signal flare apparatus. He gives an example of a Choshu ship sinking and a sailor being saved by clinging on to a floating wooden cannon. Many ended up being launch tubes for fireworks and continued in use for many years afterwards.
IanB Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Piers, That makes a lot of sense. I would imagine the erosion rate in the bore would be horrendous. Having said that, my dear old dad used to recount the tale of when he made a wooden piston for his motor cycle during WWII. When his faithful old bike conked out, he was unable to get spares and being a joiner, decided to try and turn one in the wood from a table leg. Apparently it worked after a fashion but tended to over-run after he had switched off. I suppose the wooden cannon would be similar. I am reminded of a small cannon (about 2" bore) we have in the Royal Armouries from China. The bore is lined with a very thin copper tube around which is wound a considerable thickness of silk and iron wire. There are four loop handles made from silk and wire worked into the structure so that you could tie it to a log or something. I love to imagine four coolies holding it but I doubt that was how it was used. Ian
Bugyotsuji Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Posted November 19, 2009 More amazing stories from Ian. I love these. Many thanks. Here is something I showed you in the summer, but to put it in perspective I shot it next to a genuine 1580-1600 Japanese matchlock cavalry pistol, signed: Kunitomo-ju Tokusaemon Ju-to.
IanB Posted November 19, 2009 Report Posted November 19, 2009 Piers, You were a brave man to fire the miniature - not because I thought it wouldn't take a charge, but because it was a true work of art and in such pristine condition. The Kunitomo gun reminds me of the set of guns in Nagoya and the one we have in the RA that I showed you. I know ir isn't quite the same just that it has that look. Ian
Bugyotsuji Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Posted November 19, 2009 I mean I shot the picture Ian, not the gun!!! :D
Bugyotsuji Posted December 2, 2009 Author Report Posted December 2, 2009 Got a copy of Art of the Samurai 1156-1868 Metropolitan Museum of Art today! Very pleased with this. New Yorkers don't know how lucky they are. They can just wander in and with minimal effort sample the cream of Japanese history.
IanB Posted December 2, 2009 Report Posted December 2, 2009 Piers, Yes, somebody had some pull getting some of those items out of Japan. When I was planning the 'Shogun' exhibition I had the idea of bring together the surviving armours of the big names who were present at Seki ga Hara. As far as I know this has never been done anywhere. Sadly most of the holders of these treasures refused to part with them for the duration. Ah well. Ian Bottomley
Bugyotsuji Posted December 3, 2009 Author Report Posted December 3, 2009 Piers, Yes, somebody had some pull getting some of those items out of Japan. When I was planning the 'Shogun' exhibition I had the idea of bring together the surviving armours of the big names who were present at Seki ga Hara. As far as I know this has never been done anywhere. Sadly most of the holders of these treasures refused to part with them for the duration. Ah well. Ian Bottomley That is a brilliant idea. Many people would like to see something like that, I can imagine!
Bugyotsuji Posted December 6, 2009 Author Report Posted December 6, 2009 Braving cold, whistling winds I shuffled around the Farmers' Market, a twice-a-month anything-goes early-Sunday-morning fair today. Besides getting everyone's coughs and sneezes, I managed to find some interesting Hanga color/colour prints. The wind was tearing at them as the dealer tried and failed to read the artist's names, and he slashed the prices for a quick sale. I took them home, spread them out on the kitchen table and spent a Sunday afternoon taking off some of the grime and attempting to discover how to read the art name and who had created them. Four turned out to be from a set of the 47 Samurai by Ogata Gekko, 1859-1920 but not in very good condition, and the last single beautifully hand-painted (?) Kuchi-e print of a woman in armour with sakura (Heike Monogatari?) turns out to be by an artist called Kajita Hanko 1870-1917
IanB Posted December 6, 2009 Report Posted December 6, 2009 Piers, By sheer chance I read your last comment whilst waiting for her ladyship to get ready for our monthly trip to a local Sunday antique fair. I can confidently state that it is most unlikely that I will find anything worth buying. Still, you mustn't grumble. Ian
Bugyotsuji Posted December 6, 2009 Author Report Posted December 6, 2009 Just such times, Ian, when you find something. Good luck.
Bugyotsuji Posted December 12, 2009 Author Report Posted December 12, 2009 Kajita Hanko's resting lady in armor/armour with Sakura as in above post.
Bugyotsuji Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Posted December 13, 2009 Well, that is a very good question, Koichi sama. Do you know something that I don't? These Kuchi-e or Sashi-e were folding inserts for novels around the turn of the century and usually featured Bijin, I have read. Kajita Hanko illustrated for the Bungei Kurabu, etc. http://www.oberlin.edu/staff/fzwegat/Default.html#Iris http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/kuchie.htm I have searched for another example of this picture but have not yet been successful. Was there a famous man in the Tale of Genji who looked like a woman? Or in the Heike Monogatari? The Tales of Ise?
Nobody Posted December 13, 2009 Report Posted December 13, 2009 I do not know anything about the picture. If the background is Genpei War and the person is a lady, she might be Tomoe Gozen. Ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoe_Gozen BTW, Minamoto no Yoshitsune has been said to be a handsome boy, although that is not true historically.
Bugyotsuji Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Posted December 13, 2009 "A white face and long black hair"? "Good with the sword and with the bow"? She is wearing a busty Do. And the portrayal looks very similar. By Jove, Koichi sama, I think you've got it! Tomoe Gozen. That's brilliant. We live and learn. I have the Heike Monogatari beside my bed. This what I am now going to read next.
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