Kabuto Shaped Kashira

[EdWolf]

Hello to all,

I have a tsuka with an interesting Fuchi and Kashira with an armour motif. At least I find this interesting. The Kashira has a Kabuto shape. I have tried to search for similar Kashira but I can’t find anyone! Are there members here with a similar Kashira and if so, please post pictures. Are this type of decorations related to a certain school or period? All information will be highly appreciated. The menuki on one side is a dragon and the other side has a disc. What is the meaning of the disc?

Best regards,

Ed

[Geraint]

Dear Ed.

 

This is a known design, over time you will come across more though I must say that yours seems much nicer than the majority.  Most of the ones I have seen are soft metal and rather basic, yours seems very nicely done.  

Thank you for sharing these.

 

All the best.

[EdWolf]

Dear Geraint,

Thanks for your reply and thought!

Best regards,

Ed

[Tanto54]

Dear Ed,

 

For what it is worth, I agree with Geraint - you will see these fuchigashira from time-to-time and yours is considerably better than most.  The menuki disc is a tama (or sacred jewel).  it is unusual to see it separate from the dragon (usually the dragon is clutching the tama in its claws.  I've literally seen thousands of dragon & tama on tosogu, and this is one of the very few that I've seen where the tama is separate from the dragon (another was a tsuba where the dragon was on the front chasing the tama which was on the back).

 

From Wikipedia:

 

Jewels, pearls, moons, and tides are common motifs among Indian, Chinese, and Japanese dragons (Ingersoll 1928, de Visser 1913:13–14, 71, 88, 107). The Japanese word for "pearl", shinju 真珠 lit. "true jewel", compares with kanju 干珠 "tide-ebbing jewel" and manju 満珠 "tide-flowing jewel". This kanji 珠 is also pronounced tama, cognate with tama 玉 "jewel; gem; jade"...

 

[EdWolf]

Dear George,

Thank you for all the information regarding the Tama and your help!

Best regards, Ed