estcrh Posted January 1, 2011 Report Posted January 1, 2011 Piers, am agree with you and in honor of that I am renaming my files , no more bashaku. I have been trying to put names to some items I have or just things I have seen and it gets confusing at times due to the conflicting multiple names I run into. Kanabo and tetsubo are quite hard to pin down for example, there are several conflicting descriptions by credible references. Some things you just cant find a name for at all. Thanks for the information!
IanB Posted January 1, 2011 Report Posted January 1, 2011 Piers, a scholarly description - thank you. The image of the groom is from a 19th century edition of Zobyo Monogatari and all the ashigaru are shown with two swords. I suspect the later artist who re-drew the images made the mistake of giving the soldiers two swords since they were military. He has however been careful to depict the sword bindings in the correct way and contrasting them with the criss-crossed bindings of conventional swords. Some grooms in the book wear a spare bridle around their necks whilst others wear a set of reins. The latter have a riding whip stuck into their belts at the back. Whether they were different grades or had different functions I know not. I attach another image showing this variation. Piers - note the pistols carried in holsters at the saddle and the girth tied around the pommel of the saddle. Ian 1
Nobody Posted January 1, 2011 Report Posted January 1, 2011 ..................................... To summarize, I am sensing that the term 'Bashaku' used by many Japanese and Western dealers of Japanese antiques is wrong. I cannot find any examples of this word with these Kanji and this meaning in any Japanese dictionary. .......................... I think that the conclusion is rather premature. Dictionaries are not always proper guides to control actual language. They are only reflections of actual language, and they do not include all words especially technical terms. I am not going to confirm Bashaku, but also I do not agree to deny the term for now only because you could not find the term in your documents. BTW, do you know “目黒のさんま- A saury of Meguro”, which is a famous story of Rakugo (落語; traditional Japanese comic storytelling)? A version of the story wrote down in 1891 includes Bashaku (馬杓) worn by retainers. Ref. http://app.m-cocolog.jp/t/typecast/6275 ... 069?page=1 農具揃 (Nogu-zoroe), which was a book on agricultural techniques written by Ohtsubo (大坪) in late Edo period, includes the term Mashaku (馬杓) as one of horse tools. Ref. http://www.geocities.jp/sashichi2004/di ... nougu.html
Bugyotsuji Posted January 1, 2011 Author Report Posted January 1, 2011 Thank you Koichi san. Perhaps you are right. We need to wait until all references are collated. Certainly in speech humans tend to shorten words, and the Japanese are no exception. If we agree that Mabishaku and Babishaku were shortened to Mashaku and Bashaku, then we have come full circle. I am a bit surprised by the 1891 writing in which the English word 'speed' is used in Katakana. It makes me wonder whether the writing has been subsequently altered or retold... Ian, that is such a good picture you have found there. Anyone who doubts the use of Tanegashima matchlock pistols on horseback should see your illustration. I am going to print it out for my collection.
estcrh Posted January 1, 2011 Report Posted January 1, 2011 Well maybe this item will be easier to find an exact name for, a pair of snow boots. I was told that straw was stuffed inside them while wearing to help with insulation from the cold. Fukagatsu is the name the seller used.
Bugyotsuji Posted January 2, 2011 Author Report Posted January 2, 2011 I wonder how warm those are, especially when wet. A Japanese friend climbs mountains every winter and stuffs her socks with crushed Togarashi peppers...
Nobody Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 The boots in your picture look very neat. I like them. They have several names. Fukagutsu (深靴 / 深沓) – deep boots Yukigutsu (雪靴 / 雪沓) – snow boots Waragutsu (藁靴 / 藁沓) – straw boots Ref. http://shofu.pref.ishikawa.jp/shofu/shi ... hes06.html
ububob Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 I'm guessing the soles wore out quickly. Piers, what do the togarishi peppers do for one's feet?
Bugyotsuji Posted January 2, 2011 Author Report Posted January 2, 2011 I'm guessing the soles wore out quickly. Piers, what do the togarishi peppers do for one's feet? Hot chilli peppers to keep the circulation warm. She swears they make a big difference.
estcrh Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 The boots in your picture look very neat. I like them.They have several names. Fukagutsu (深靴 / 深沓) – deep boots Yukigutsu (雪靴 / 雪沓) – snow boots Waragutsu (藁靴 / 藁沓) – straw boots Ref. http://shofu.pref.ishikawa.jp/shofu/shi ... hes06.html What an excellent link, thanks for th information.
estcrh Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 I'm guessing the soles wore out quickly. Piers, what do the togarishi peppers do for one's feet? Bob, I imagine that there would be several layers, tabi socks to keep the feet warm, waraji sandals to protect the soles of the boots and for the snow there would be snow shoes.
Bugyotsuji Posted January 5, 2011 Author Report Posted January 5, 2011 Vaporis' book looks like a good read. The author himself appears and comments in the linked thread, if anyone has too much time on their hands! http://forums.samurai-archives.com/viewtopic.php?t=4007
estcrh Posted January 6, 2011 Report Posted January 6, 2011 Piers, I guess I have to much time on my hands, sounds like a good book. I was just reading some old accounts by westerners in Japan on the same subject...sankin kôtai or alternate attendance, maybe some of the same same accounts that Constantine Vaporis also read while writing his book Tour of Duty: Samurai, Military Service in Edo and the Culture of Early Modern Japan. I havnt read it yet but its on my ever growing list. I think I remember that you have attended the modern re-enactment of the sankin kôtai parade, I think you also mentioned that your gun troop preformed at the same time? I have seen some of the original elaborate regalia dating from the sankin kôtai, everyone was showing off their best stuff!
estcrh Posted January 6, 2011 Report Posted January 6, 2011 The rain here got me thinking about this mino rain cape along with the hood and skirt. Low end rain and snow equipment. I can not find exact names for these items either except for possibly "mino" for the cape and Fukagutsu for the boots.
John A Stuart Posted January 6, 2011 Report Posted January 6, 2011 蓑 サ, サイ みの which is pronounced sa, sai or mino. I believe mino is the usual way. 藁靴 わらぐつ waragutsu; straw boots. John
estcrh Posted January 6, 2011 Report Posted January 6, 2011 蓑 サ, サイ みの which is pronounced sa, sai or mino. I believe mino is the usual way. 藁靴 わらぐつ waragutsu; straw boots. John Thanks John, any idea if mino refers to just the cape as I have heard or does mino refer to rain gear in general.
John A Stuart Posted January 6, 2011 Report Posted January 6, 2011 The ones I usually see are one piece units with a hood. In any event it is a 'straw rain coat'. John
ububob Posted January 6, 2011 Report Posted January 6, 2011 John, a "straw raincoat" is an interesting concept to grasp. I'd be willing to trust that gear in snow but I would not like to get any of it wet.
estcrh Posted January 6, 2011 Report Posted January 6, 2011 John, a "straw raincoat" is an interesting concept to grasp. I'd be willing to trust that gear in snow but I would not like to get any of it wet. Actually the system is quite ingenious, the hood or hat is lined with a type of waterproof paper and a cloth lining, the water runs off of the hat and the cape is thick and woven in a way so that it acts like a thatched roof so that the water runs off of the cape, same with the skirt. 1
ububob Posted January 6, 2011 Report Posted January 6, 2011 I should have known better. Some of our native American tribes wove baskets of similar material that were tight enough to carry water.
Bugyotsuji Posted January 6, 2011 Author Report Posted January 6, 2011 Well, if a Wara-buki-yane わらぶき屋根 (thatched roof) is/was able to keep out the rain, then why not on a personal level too?
estcrh Posted January 6, 2011 Report Posted January 6, 2011 Here is some upgraded rain equipment, a gappa or kappa travel cape which from what I have read was based on the Portuguese capa (cape,cloak,mantle) and a waterproofed fabric zukin or hood. The cape would have a layer of waterproofed paper sewn between two layers of fabric. 1
Bugyotsuji Posted January 27, 2011 Author Report Posted January 27, 2011 Not sure where to put this little nugget. Something I heard years ago, but suddenly thought it should be written down for posterity. Maybe Barry's post yesterday triggered the thought. When removing the Mae-date from its fixture in front of the helmet, never 'wiggle' it off from side to side. This is said to be a big no-no. Always go straight up, firmly and gently.
IanB Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 Piers, That makes some sense because a large proportion of these ornaments were of nerigawa and wood, lacquered and gilded. Wriggling it from side to side would enlarge the hole that is designed to fit the tsunamono. I have several where the wood has been split by people trying to wrench them off the helmet. I suppose those made from metal, either gilded copper or brass sheet, would be a little more robust. Ian bottomley
Bugyotsuji Posted January 30, 2011 Author Report Posted January 30, 2011 Ian, yes, the Maedate connector may start to become misshapen, but I think it is the integrity of the tsunomoto attachment into the helmet itself that is the real worry. And now for another jump, this time into boxes. Not too long ago there was a thread about Katana-bako. Well, I have been sorting through boxes and trying to find nice presentation boxes for some of my treasured pieces. Why? Well, as everyone knows, the Japanese have a predilection for wrappings, coverings and boxes. My matchlock pistol for example has no box. It is naked. It needs, no, it's shouting out for a wrapping and a box. I couldn't 'see' this before, but now I can. Well, boxes are a dime a dozen here, if you can find repositories of them. They are expensive to have made up, but many good, old boxes are ripe for recycling. There are boxes for cups and dishes, and boxes for lamps, and boxes for hanging scrolls, and boxes for anything really. You may have to erase some brushwork, and you may have to find a calligrapher to write something suitable, and you may have to carrry out repairs to the box, and find the right kind of cord or ribbon for it, but it is all fun. You can't rush it. It all takes time, but there is an enjoyment in the process as you move towards a fitting and respectful sanctuary or repository for your valued item. (To be continued)
Bugyotsuji Posted January 30, 2011 Author Report Posted January 30, 2011 Some boxes have a simple flat lid which may be tied down, but others have a tight-fitting lid that allows no air in or out. Yesterday I was thinking about air. Air is air, right? Well, no. An acquaintance once told me of the swords he had upstairs which he would have liked to be able to show me, but it being the wrong season, he couldn't. As with the Shirasaya, a box would also serve to keep humidity out. Just opening the lid in the rainy season could completely change the nature of the air inside. One of the reasons that so many objects in the Sho-so-in in Nara are in such good condition after a thousand years is owing to the use and understanding of the nature of wood and the boxes that things were stored in, I am sure. Personally I like boxes and to my wife's dismay I occasionally bring one home because it surely wants saving. One box had a broken section at one end. Recently I had great fun shaping a piece of wood to fill the gap, drilling holes in it, fashioning wooden pins to knock into the holes, and finally adding age to the repair. The box is not long enough for my katana, but just right for a wakizashi. On the underneath there is a Tempo date and a name. I showed it to a friend and he asked me what I could sense from a name of five characters. So... hehehehe... Question: what does a 5-character name tell you? PS Attaching a photo in due course.
John A Stuart Posted January 30, 2011 Report Posted January 30, 2011 A five character name tells me it is probably a noble or bakufu official. John
Bugyotsuji Posted January 30, 2011 Author Report Posted January 30, 2011 Actually John, you probably know a lot more about this than I do. He said it suggested that the owner was a Bushi, not a farmer or merchant.
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted January 30, 2011 Report Posted January 30, 2011 What's in the background ? "Lone Wolf and cub"'s baby carriage ? :lol:
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