Motif - Tale?

[vajo]

I decide to buy this tsuba.

 

It's a solid made, bigger tsuba by saga kaneie and i was catched by the, for me unknown story that the tsuba shows.

 

Could you help me to find out what tale is told here?

 

 

Thanks 

 

Chris

[Tanto54]

Dear Chris,

 

This is the story of the presentation of the Tide Jewels from Ryujin (Sea God with Dragon) to Hoori.

 

The following is from Wikipedia:

 

In Japanese mythology, the tide jewels – individually, the kanju (干珠, literally "(tide-)ebbing jewel") and manju (満珠, literally "(tide-)flowing jewel") – were magical gems that the Sea God used to control the tides. Classical Japanese history texts record an ancient myth that the ocean kami Watatsumi 海神 "sea god" or Ryūjin 龍神 "dragon god" presented the kanju and manju to his demigod son-in-law Hoori, and a later legend that Empress Jingū used the tide jewels to conquer Korea. Tide jewels interrelate Japanese dragons and wani sea-monsters, Indonesian mythology, the nyoi-ju 如意珠 "cintamani; wish-fulfilling jewel" in Japanese Buddhism, magic jewels of Nāga kings in Hindu mythology, and the pearl associations of Chinese dragons in Chinese mythology.

[vajo]

That was very fast. Many thanks George.

[vajo]

I try to understand.

The Ryujin is the dragon god who held the jewels ebbing & floating. Who are the guy in the boat? Is this Hoori? Is the person on the backside the daughter of Hoori (the water is away, the two jewels lay on the seafloor)? The wikipedia article is very cryptic for me. Is this the korean story or another?

[Tanto54]

Dear Chris,

 

This is a Japanese Legend (Korea is mentioned in the Wiki article because supposedly the Tide Jewels were used by Japan to defeat Korea).  There are many variations to the story.  Basically, Ryujin is the Dragon King (who is the ruler of the seas) who owns the two Tide Jewels (one can make the tide ebb and the other makes the tide flow).  In the story, Ryujin (who is represented wearing a dragon crown or with a dragon on his back) or his messenger Hakuja (who is a white serpent with the face of a man) gives the Tide Jewels to Hoori (his son-in-law).  Hoori (also known as Hohodemi or Yama Sachi Hiko) is the mortal Hunter from the Tale of the Happy Hunter (about two brothers - one a fisherman and the other a hunter).  The Hunter (Hoori) borrows his brother’s (Umi Sachi Hiko - the fisherman's) magic fish hook and then loses it.  Hoori goes into the sea to find the fish hook and ends up staying for several years and marrying the Dragon King’s daughter.  Later, when he decides to return to dry land, the Dragon King gives/sends him the two Tide Jewels.  Some variations of the story includes Hachiman (the God of War) as an infant in the arms of Takenouchi no Sukune (usually represented with a long white beard and royal clothing) who is in a boat being presented the Tide Jewels from the Dragon King (or his messenger) who is in the water.

 

In the case of your Tsuba, I believe that the guy in the water is Ryujin (the Dragon King), the guy in the boat is Takenouchi no Sukune and the fisherman on the backside is the fisherman brother (Umi Sachi Hiko).

 

[vajo]

Twice, a big thank you George for spending your time and knowledge to explain me this not easy to understand tale.

Very nice.

 

Best regards

Chris

[vajo]

So if the man in the boat is Takenouchi no Sukune the picture shows the preparing of the war against the 3 kingdoms (Korea) in the year 199 under empress Jingu.

 

According to legend, the Empress Jingū was able to carry out her attack into Korea with the help of Ryūjin's tide jewels. Upon confronting the Korean navy, Jingū threw the kanju (干珠"tide-ebbing jewel") into the sea, and the tide receded. The Korean fleet was stranded, and the men got out of their ships. Jingū then threw down the manju (満珠 "tide-flowing jewel") and the water rose, drowning the Korean soldiers.

 

Great story on that tsuba and the faces speaks a lot.

 

I had a lot of fun to dive into the story.

[vajo]

I picked up the tsuba today from our customs after nearly 3 weeks of waiting from the States. Unboxing at the customs, i was really impressed. This Tsuba is very big and looks fantastic.

 

A shot at the customs table in the office. 

 

 

Dimensions: 10,8 cm x 10,2 cm x 0,3 cm (Nakago ana) x 0,5 cm (Mimi)

[Tanto54]

Looks very nice and big!