Juyo Harutsura Menuki

[nagamaki - Franco]

https://www.nihonto.com/harutsura-menuki/

 

Quite an interesting set. Now I know what I'm wishing for for xmas.

 

I think a certain NMB member might be pulling a few extra teeth out over these, ha!

[Brian]

WOW

[jlawson]

The pictures are wonderful but I have to tell you in person and in hand these are incredible. I had a chance to look at them in Tokyo a few weeks ago. 

[Doug]

They are indeed awesome. I’m probably reading way too much into this but the one man and cock seem so much more serene then the other I couldnt help but be reminded of a Chinese tale by Chuang Zhu:

 

Chi Hsing Tzu was a trainer of

fighting cocks for King Hsuan.

He was training a fine bird.

The king kept asking

if the bird was ready for combat.

 

“Not yet”, said the trainer.

“He is full of fire.

He is ready to pick a fight

with every other bird.

He is vain and confident

of his own strength.”

 

After ten days he answered again,

“Not yet. He flares up

when he hears another bird crow.”

 

After ten more days,

“Not yet. He still gets that angry look

and ruffles his feathers.”

 

Again ten days.

The trainer said,

“Now he is nearly ready.

When another bird crows,

his eyes don’t even flicker.

He stands immobile like a block of wood.

He is a mature fighter.

Other birds will take one look at him and run.”

[Surfson]

They are truly gorgeous.  Was there any betting involved in cock fighting during Edo, or was it for bragging rights, deciding disputes or another reason?