This Week's Edo Period Corner

[loui]

Hi Estcrh, thank you for looking, I think it was made in 1848, I am putting together some info now. It would be really nice to have the whole thing translated as that would tell the whole story - but that is going to be next to impossible. I am expecting more woodblocks shortly so I will post them up when I get them, I had sold a few and am back into them again. The more violent the more I like them:) Did you see his print of the skeleton?

 

Louis

[estcrh]

Hi Estcrh, Did you see his print of the skeleton?

 

Louis

Louis, I am always surprised at the expressionistic or almost abstract quality of many old Japanese prints while at the same time they are a great source of information on armor,clothing and scenery of the times. The skeleton is a perfect example. Once again when you look closely you can see chain armor being worn. http://www.mfa.org/zoom.asp?file=SC162814.jpg

[Bugyotsuji]

Fpr more examples, click on Images, 4ｔｈ down.

http://www.google.com/search?aq=1&oq=%E ... D%E8%8A%B3

[Lindus]

These two little chaps have been pointing at this for decades...any idea why?

 

Roy

[loui]

Thanks for your help with the woodblock guys, much appreciated.

 

Louis

[Bugyotsuji]

These two little chaps have been pointing at this for decades...any idea why?

 

Roy

 

Look up Kanzan (Chinese: Hanshan) and Jittoku (Ch: Shih-te).

[estcrh]

A couple of Tanegashima related items that thanks to Ron and Piers I was able to recognize. A Karasu-guchi or crow beak ball dispenser and a couple of different Hayago

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Thanks for posting your finds, Eric. There are fakes around, but yours look good.

 

PS Is there a ring on the Hayago rope?

[estcrh]

Piers, there is no ring, but I know what you are talking about as I just saw a set with a metal ring attached to the cord. How does the ring work exactly?

[Bugyotsuji]

Piers, there is no ring, but I know what you are talking about as I just saw a set with a metal

ring attached to the cord. How does the ring work exactly?

 

When you put this set round your neck you may find that it slides down your front or down your back.

You can hang a tassel or tool at the back as a counterweight, and a small primer flask from the ring at the front.

We all tend to make our own rings or get one of the artisans to run one up. You can pull your Hayago down

for filling the the barrel, and the flask down for priming the pan. The counterweight may tend to pull them

back up afterwards if you have everything in the right balance.

[Tcat]

Louis,

Fantastic print there. A very desirable Kuniyoshi...

 

I had the pleasure of attending a large Kuniyoshi exhibition at the Royal Academy a year or so ago. This was one print I spent a long time looking at. I remember it being referred to by knowlegable commentators as an important reference point for the birthplace of Manga and modern Japanese animation, with all its intensity and flashing light. Really something. The skeleton was there along with all the classic Kuniyoshi prints but this one has always been one of my favorites.

[Bugyotsuji]

Unfortunately good-quality Ukiyo-e tend to be quite expensive, although perhaps

not in the overall scheme of things. Kuniyoshi can be very nice and maybe one day

I can afford a pristine one. In the meantime I continue to trawl the ocean bottom

and occasionally pick up a semi gem. Opened my folder for my university students

the other day for lack of anything else to discuss in the Zeminar, and they were

quite gratifyingly pleased to see and handle genuine Ukiyo-e from Japan's past.

Even my three mainland Chinese were fascinated by the Chinese (Tang) classic

theme they could see expressed, particularly in the rendering of the ladies' faces...

 

On another note, I was happy to meet the Italian Habaki maker Lorenzo at last. I do

envy those who can work artistically with their hands, and are able to organize their

life so that they can pursue their genius, even if it does not look like connecting to a

steady income.

 

Yesterday we did one of our biggest events, the Daimyo Gyoretsu in Yakage. We made

a big effort to dress splendidly and put on a good show for the crowd. They really

appreciated it, with friendly looks and loud applause. Some members of the Hino Teppou-tai

(Hino is next to Kunitomo) had come all the way to see us, curious as to how we work

with the old traditional procession. This is a real problem, how to contribute to a popular

event, and not, as some traditionalists see it, to steal their thunder. I wore my black armour.

 

My suitcase weighs 26 kg, and the gun case about 12 or 13 kg. It was hard to fit both

the Do and the Kabuto into the case. Had to kneel on it to shut it. I hope the airline is

gentle with it, or I could end up with a split and sundered Toppai Donguri. Let us hope

that in 1600 they knew how to make a strong casque. Does anyone know what to see

in Porto or Lisbon, by the way, either weaponry or Japanese connected?

[IanB]

Piers, There is an Army Museum in Lisbon but I've never been or really asked those who have. So you are setting out in reverse of the events of 1543 - taking guns back to the Portuguese. Nice thought that.

Ian Bottomley

[Bugyotsuji]

Pic 6 on this page:

http://www.cm-porto.pt/gen.pl?sid=cmp.sections/1025

 

You're right Ian. Looking at the descriptions it does seem that they take a fatherly interest in

how firearms took root, developed and grew in Japan. Now they come back to Mother? :lol:

 

PS Just read an interesting little book about the first journey of the Portuguese and how

they ended up on Tanegashima. The story then takes the reader to Negoroji and round the country

to meet Oda Nobunaga and see his fascination and tactics with the new weapon. In J, fiction, but

enjoyable.

[Bugyotsuji]

Just getting over sleepiness at the wrong time, the most obvious sign of jetlag. Been quietly working

on new ideas as the inspiration bubbles up, in between regular work hours of course.

 

One project that has suddenly taken me is to recreate the Sangan-ju, or Sanjian-bao more authentically.

I bought a broom-handle some years ago and experimented with ways to sit the neck/sleeve firmly on

the sharpened pole without using nails. The pole has been set in there ever since, but it looks brand new

and out of place. The fixing method was good; just recently I have been searching for a genuine old

spear pole of oak (Kashi) with or without a blade, or a Takeuchi-ryu staff for for example, from Bo-jutsu.

I think I may have found a candidate. All I need is to catch the guy in and then negotiate a price.

 

See the section of chopstick I bound into a cut into the pole point.

[estcrh]

Piers, I was looking at some of the pictures of your troop and I noticed all or most participants were wearing only 1 sword and I was wondering if there was a meaning to this. I have read were 1 sword represented the ashigaru and 2 represented the samurai. The armor etc your troop used looks samurai to me. Did samurai actually use Tanegashima in battle nor did they just train and supervise.

[Bugyotsuji]

Eric, a very good question and I am not sure I can reply in the detail that you require. One of our

members likes to wear an ashigaru outfit, but most prefer to look like samurai. With a pistol holster

strap round the neck, and a long gun, and a Tachi, and a Triton shell, we have more than enough clobber

to carry and watch out for.

 

Armies all had matchlock troops fighting for them; one section would be for wealthy privateer samurai

who could afford their own armour and they would carry and shoot relatively large caliber Shi-zutsu or

"Samurai guns".

 

The ashigaru would be fitted out with the Lord's castle loan armour, or kashi-gusoku. Their loan guns

would tend to be basic light army long guns.

 

Some horse-mounted samurai would carry a Bajo-zutsu or cavalry pistol, longer than the smaller Tanzutsu

short pistol carried by samurai in leadership positions.

 

Those of us who can afford Tachi Koshirae are encouraged to wear one, as it hangs free of the armour

and does not bang into it too much. Several of our members also wear a tanto slipped into their Obi sash,

or just a tanto alone. The style of wearing Daisho, ie Katana and Wakizashi came later, in Edo, I believe, and the breastplate is very unforgiving if you try to wear them pushed down through the Do-shime Obi.

[Bugyotsuji]

Today I came across a rather unusual item and perhaps rashly decided I had to have it.

The dealer called it a 元服刀　Genpuku-to. Later I showed it to some people who know

better and I was told it is more properly called a 稚児差 Chigo-zashi (or Chigo-to). When a boy was young his hair was free to grow long, until the ceremony where he became an adult and

started to wear a ちょん髷　Chon-mage hairstyle. What looks like a tanto or small sword is

actually a young boy's starter sword. The blade is made in exactly the same way as an

adult katana with yaki-ire, with a little Habaki, and the koshirae, although slim, is all

beautifully fashioned in exquisite detail. Now all I have to do is try to find a narrow Kozuka

which will happily fill the Hitsu slot.

[Brian]

Piers,

You know better than to mention such a nice sounding item, and then not post any pics!

So before anyone else does...

 

Brian

[IanB]

Piers, I don't know if this one will do, I bought it for a tanto of mine without checking the size and found it far too small. The kozuka measures 7.8cm x 1.1cm and the blade is 10.3cm. The design is in simple silver nunome.

Ian Bottomley

[IanB]

Piers, Silly me - forgot to add the image.

Ian

[Bugyotsuji]

Many thanks for the kind offer, Ian. I've only just seen your post, so later I will go home and measure the slot. It must be about three quarter sized. I tried some smaller ones this morning before heading to work (on a Sunday, grrrr...) but they were too small. (And the full-sized ones were just too big.)

 

It may even fit a tanto that I have. Please hold that thought for a day or so! (Later. No it wouldn't have)

 

Hmmm... looks like I will have to get the camera out again for Brian and force my turgid brain to work. Does anyone else find it hard to take simple, informative shots of Nihonto? Fun, but tough!

 

The fuchi and kashira are decorated with silver arrowheads, and the menuki look like... dogs. (?) Watch this space, then?

[estcrh]

Piers, thanks for your answer, it was helpful, and nihonto is the item I least want to take photos of, anything else you can eventually get enough good shots if you just take a lot, but unless you do it just right a good blade picture will not happen no matter how many you take..at least for me.

[Bugyotsuji]

Half a bottle of wine later and here are a few assorted shots. Difficult to realize how slim this whole thing is, so I have compared it to a couple of Tanto for reference.

[Bugyotsuji]

Last couple of shots

[Bugyotsuji]

The quality of the fittings suggests that a Daimyo might have had this made for his son. The missing Kozuka may well have had silver arrowheads on it. There is a slight scratching along a section of one edge of the blade, (just above and to the left of the flash reflection) which may necessitate a polish of some kind. Whether it will then need a new Saya, would be a question. I have had the Seppa and Habaki re-goldplated. The Mei appears to be too good for this sword, so the possibility presents itself that a top Mei was inscribed as a sort of incentive for the boy, as good luck, or as a mark for him to aim for.

 

Ian, are all Kozuka of differing widths? The slot seems to be very close to two Kozuka that I have, (1.4 and 1.5cm... the Kogatana will fit, but not the Kozuka) but slightly narrower, at about 1.1 or 1.2 cm. Actually (having an afterthought) it's not so much the dimension of the slot that limits the choice, but rather the size of the Hitsu-ana in the Tsuba. There is a good chance that yours might fit. Can you PM me a price?

 

In other news I have sent the crumbly rusty three-barreled gun for tidying up and impregnation with something to stop the rust. I have also found a section of old oak Kashi pole (half of a Yari with Ishitsuki) which should be a good solution for recreating this polearm to look more like the illustrations in old Chinese texts..

[MrJones]

Some horse-mounted samurai would carry a Bajo-zutsu or cavalry pistol, longer than the smaller Tanzutsu

short pistol carried by samurai in leadership positions.

 

At reading this, my eyebrows rose just a tad. Pistols, y'say? How interesting. I understand that matchlock pistols were made in Europe, but weren't terribly popular owing to the difficulty of keeping the slow-match concealed and lit, unreliability of the weapon in poor weather, short range etc. However, obviously the Japanese found in them sufficient merit to equip themselves accordingly; what was that merit?

 

I assume, by the way, that these pistols are something like this: http://www.kinko-koshirae-swords.com/sa ... tol__7.jpg

[Bugyotsuji]

Mr Jones, yes to what you say, and yes to the picture. (Well, it's quite a long example, but yes.) Very good point.

 

I believe that matchlock pistols were also made in one Middle Eastern country, (Iran?) but that throughout the world they were then and are today very rare. The reason is as you state.

 

What makes our castle matchlock company unusual is that every member carries and fires a genuine old pistol. Varying lengths. We have to be careful to call them "Bajo-zutsu" as the J cops do not like the idea of the image conjured by the other word for the short version. Other troops are trying to equip themselves, but the genuine original article is almost as rare as hens' teeth.

 

(I have seen cut-down long guns designed to look genuine Tanzutsu or Bajozutsu, and there are some modern repros, rumored to have been made in Kyushu, which are totally illegal. Some of those have even managed to get paperwork, but who could guarantee their safety under live firing? There is no 'body' or organization to check such things in Japan.)

 

As to their use on horseback there are woodblock prints of riders firing them.

 

The most famous usage was during the battle of Sekigahara when the Satsuma troops needed to break through the Tokugawa lines to escape the field. A body of horsemen set their matches to their pistols, charged, and broke through, eventually making it back to the south of Kyushu.

 

Incidentally my own pistol was probably made around 1600-1615.

 

Ah, sorry, to answer your question as to what their merit was. Well, as a foot-soldier the pistol gave you a second shot once you had discharged your main weapon, if you lacked time to reload. All you had to do was fire with both hands, or move your match to your right wrist and fire with the right. The pistol on horseback was much easier to hold and fire and load again than a long gun, and the match could be kept burning on the right arm. Certainly in the early days the element of surprise would be with you, as ashigaru had probably not foreseen horsemen shooting at them. One of the distinguishing features of Bajo-zutsu is the Ude-nuki-no-kan, a rectangular (sometimes oval) hole in the stock for passing a cord through and lashing the gun to your arm/holster etc. in case you should drop it from your horse.

[Bugyotsuji]

Quote from above: "The Mei appears to be too good for this sword, so the possibility presents itself that a top Mei was inscribed as a sort of incentive for the boy, as good luck, or as a mark for him to aim for."

 

No-one was able to guess the Mei on the Nakago. Everyone has given up then?

[John A Stuart]

Piers, I did not know there was a guessing game. I saw no pics of the nakago, so it is a blind guess, eh? Masamune. John