Onin Tsuba Symbol Deciphering.

[svarsh]

What is this tsuba about? What the motif? I have no idea... Help would be very much appreciated.

Sergei

[Kurikata]

Ladybirds? Butterflies?

[Higo-san]

Hi Sergei,

 

this could also be the lacing of an armor. I have seen an old Owari tsuba in Japan showing what looked like the outlines of many rice fields seen from above and was told that this was indeed meant as a reference to the shikoro of a helmet.

 

Kind regards,

 

Chris

[svarsh]

Bruno, butterflies is a possibility. But may be something else. It would be great to find similar/likely design in any form and age, already explained by an authority. Or just brainstorm!

[svarsh]

Can this be a horseshoe crab?

http://www.exploringnature.org/graphics/horseshoe_crab_diagram72_color.jpg

[Ken-Hawaii]

Sukashi-bori? I like it!

[Henry Wilson]

I would say it has an esoteric meaning, possibly related to Buddhism...

[Higo-san]

I like Henry's idea. These could be Buddhist prayer beads on a string.

[Tanto54]

I like Henry's suggestion too.  Might be related to Buddhism's Three Jewels and the Six Paths in different configurations (showing there is more than one way to enlightenment).

 

On the other hand, it could be proof that it is a modern tsuba with a secret message containing the evil plans of a racist organization intent on a terrorist act.  For those of you who read Morse Code or who have too much time on your hands, here's the Jewels and Paths as dots and dashes on this Tsuba reading top to bottom and left to right...

 

_._  _._  _._      _  _. _    _  .  _.  _

[svarsh]

Morse code was the first suggestion that arrived to me over Facebook. The latest explanation acquired from my friend in London is: a butterfly on the left and a dragonfly on the right. Seems logical.