Suiseishi Akihide Help

[Jiro49]

Can’t figure out the first part of the mei.

 

Thanks in advance!

[SteveM]

皇囗囗骨

 

My guess is that it is a patriotic message, either in praise of, or swearing protection to, the emperor.

(The first kanji means emperor/imperial, and the last one is literally bones.) I can't get the middle two. 

 

If you don't already have the date, its February, Bunsei 3

文政三年二月

[Jiro49]

Thank you!

 

I thought the first character was “ko”.

[SteveM]

Yes - the pronunciation of 皇 is kō. 

The next two are defying me. Usually, four-word compound words like this are fairly well-known phrases or slogans. Even if its an obscure phrase, we should be able to figure it out using the words we already have. But I can't find any reference to a 4-word slogan using 皇 + 骨.

So if its not a well-known slogan, its the artist writing in kanbun, and we'll have to wait until someone can help with the other words. 

 

Candidates for the next one after 皇 are: 級、紋　

[Jiro49]

Thanks again!

 

I appreciate your time!!

[Jiro49]

With help...

 

皇敵貫骨

Kou Teki Kan Kotsu

Pierce the bones of the Emperors enemy.

The third kanji is slightly abbreviated.

[SteveM]

Excellent. Nice to get closure on these difficult/impossible to read inscriptions.

I would have never guessed 貫 for the third one.