Mei / Inscription Help

[cuttingedge59]

Hi All ,

I am looking at a tanto  that is for sale and am I little unsure what to make of the nakago inscription .

I wouldn't call it a mei as such as is not a name but perhaps more of an inscription describing as to who the blade was made for .

I am relying on the sellers translation as my reading skill of kanji is less than basic. However does look well scribed and has age,

 

Hida Mamoru Fujiwara Clan

 

So made for the fujiwara clan but what do the first two words refer to . Have done some research online but have only managed to find resource to the fujiwara family name as such .

 

Any help would be very much appreciated.

 

Regards

Chris Nz

[ROKUJURO]

Chris,

a photo would help a lot, and then try it in the translation section.

Perhaps it is a MAMORI KATANA? (TANTO or AIKUCHI  carried for protection. Also first sword for a boy presented at boys' day)

[Geraint]

Sometimes sellers who do not have detailed knowledge ask a friend who speaks Japanese.  As the kanji are sometimes not in everyday use they might or might not come up with the correct reading so a picture would really help here.

 

All the best.

[cuttingedge59]

Hi

thanks for the replys.

I couldn't grab a picture of just the nakago so have linked the listing for reference.

 

 

http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d224623134

 

chris NZ

[Jussi Ekholm]

飛騨守藤原氏房 - Hida no Kami Fujiwara Ujifusa, seller has it correct in my opinion.

[Toryu2020]

not sure who your translator is but,

飛騨 守 藤原 氏房

Hida (no) Kami Fujiwara Ujifusa

the common reading of the Kami character is indeed mamori, or mamoru

the unwritten rules of reading sigs dictate we add the (no)

Fujiwara is indeed a clan, the mistake here however is that someone read the Uji in Ujifusa as a stand alone and since it can mean family or clan it almost makes sense. But the proper way is to read the last two characters as one name.

Good rule to remember is to start with the last two or three kanji and build your mei from there...

-t

[lonely panet]

Hida is a province north of mino

 

a major centre for trade was takayama, could this help??

[Toryu2020]

I should add

Hida no kami is the smiths title

Fujiwara is his traditional clan affiliation

Ujifusa is his artist name

 

You concentrate your searches on this line of swordmakers, Ujifusa...

-t

[cuttingedge59]

Thank you very much for the help .

Some great pointers there to help with the learning curve.T

the translation came from the sellers listing.

 

Will now do some home work on the smith .

Cheers

Chris Nz