Translation help

[Curran]

Could someone help translate the gaki on the tsuba box pictured below.

 

The box itself is interesting. I have never seen a tsuba box constructed this way, and the box seems very old. Perhaps the oldest non lacquer tsuba box I have ever seen. Constructed with many little wooden pegs, so despite its age it is still fairly airtight.

[sencho]

Aka dou mu sha .... (not sure on last character)

 

Yoshi Hide.... (again last character is tough)

 

 

Cheers

[Nobody]

It reads as follows.

 

Shakudo Musha Tsuba (赤銅武者鍔); Musha (samurai) Tsuba made of Shakudo

Yoshihide zaimei (良秀在名); a mei of Yoshihide exists

[sencho]

ahhhh.... Shaku

 

bloody hell you're good !!

 

Cheers

[sencho]

using my newly found dictionary online (see gen discussion forum)

 

shakudou　赤銅

 

Lit. gold bronze. Ornamental metal fittings, *kazarikanagu 飾金具 made of an amalgam of copper with about 6 percent gold and 3.5 percent silver. The material acquires a blackish-purple shine when steeped in a solution of copper sulphate, ryuusandou 硫酸銅, copper rust, *rokushou 緑青,and alum, myouban 明礬.

 

cheers

[Curran]

Thank you very much. That would describe the tsuba inside very well. I must learn the kanji for the various metals.

 

I will upload a photo tomorrow. The tsuba has some of the best shakudo I have seen, but is very highly reflective.

 

It is a nice Yasuchika tsuba dated 1853 and commissioned for a Mr. ???

 

Curran

[Bungo]

 

It is a nice Yasuchika tsuba dated 1853 and commissioned for a Mr. ???

 

Curran

 

the box doesn't say it's commissioned to anyone.

It means it is signed Yoshihide

If the tsuba is signed otherwise then it's a wrong box.

milt THE ronin

[Curran]

Of course, -you are right Milt.

 

It was very late and I was not thinking correctly. This box came with a different tsuba- but that tsuba was iron and it is not signed. So I think this box has long since lost its original tsuba. The tsuba that came with the box is currently in Japan for papers, and I have been keeping the Yasuchika in this box.

My very bad mistake.

 

I will post the Yasuchika tonight, so perhaps I can get a correct read on the signature.

 

Curran

[John A Stuart]

Hi Curran, I have a wak size tsuba that is so shiny it is mirrorlike and has often made me wonder if a mirrorlike finish was the result of time rather than chemical treatment. The colour and depth are wondrous. Some shakudo I have of lower quality seem to have had a treatment that actually reeks and tastes awful. John

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:57 am Post subject: Thank you.

 

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Thank you very much. That would describe the tsuba inside very well. I must learn the kanji for the various metals.

 

I will upload a photo tomorrow. The tsuba has some of the best shakudo I have seen, but is very highly reflective

[Bungo]

Some shakudo I have of lower quality seem to have had a treatment that actually reeks and tastes awful. John

 

 

so you are the one that tastes the tsuba and all the time i thought it's an urban myth !!

 

so waht does it taste like ? Like biting on a piece of tin foil ?

 

milt THE ronin

[John A Stuart]

Hi Milt, I recieved a goto fuchgashira a year ago that had a spurious signature and upon discussion, with much wiser tosogu fans than me, decided was not a good signature. It was upon handling them that my fingers warming them I noticed a strong odour. I wanted to see if the patina would rub off, it didn't. I don't do it as a rule but just tasted it for some unknown reason. Ugh, some kind of sulphurous chewing tobacco taste. I had heard of this before as well and maybe that is why, but, it could indicate chemical treatment newly applied giving a hint of age or lack thereof. Don't know. John

[Curran]

This is a 6th Gen Yasuchika. It is signed on the back, though I don't have a photo of the back yet. I'm hoping the photo will upload.

 

This tsuba is hard to capture. Even with a light hood on, it was highly reflective (as John stated). It is not the best shakudo I have ever seen, but in the 9 out of 10 range. Jim Gilbert had one which reminded me of gas floating on black-blue water. It does make most people pause who see it in hand.

 

Anyway, I like the tsuba. In a moment of absentmindedness- I thought it came in the box that started this thread...

[Curran]

I took a scanner version too. It has come out a little discolored, but you get the idea.

 

 

Mr. Nobody- thank you very much for the Translation help

[Nobody]

I took a scanner version too. It has come out a little discolored, but you get the idea.

安政三丙辰季冬 (Ansei san Hinoe-Tatsu Kitou)

late winter in 1856

 

應田宮則須君需

responding to Mr. Tamiya Norimochi's order

 

Actually, the translations also teach me a good lesson. :D