Hozon ko-kinko tsuba description

[Ron STL]

Just returned from Chicago with a very nice ko-kinko tsuba with Hozon origami. First, I'm trying to determine just what the design is (similar to wisteria) and am thinking this is on the Hozon paper. I read "mokko gata" and "yamagani mu..." but lost after that. Will someone fill in the gaps please. Thanks Ron STL

[John A Stuart]

鋤出彫 Sukishutsubori, type of carving. 鋤残耳  Sukisan mimi, type of edge. 魚子地 Nanako-ji, fishroe surface. John

[John A Stuart]

Thinking on 鋤出 彫 maybe better said sukidashibori. John

[Ron STL]

Sukidashibori...was thinking that was in there somewhere. Thanks John. If anyone has any idea on what to call the leaf design, pass it along. My learning process when bringing home a new purchase. RonSTL

[Guido]

If anyone has any idea on what to call the leaf design, pass it along.

That should be on the papers, too, in large characters at the top right side.

[John A Stuart]

A mistake I correct 鋤残耳 is suki-no-koshi mimi. Sorry. I checked sukidashi bori and that is correct. John

BTW, these terms appear often in the context of Kamakura bori.

[TETSUGENDO]

Ron STL, while searching for your tsuba motif I came across something that should interest you.  The righthand image was identified as belonging to http://www.legacyswords.com, it is no longer on the site but you may find the information you seek there.  

 

-S-

[Ron STL]

Thanks again, John and Steve. I didn't realize this line on the papers referred to description (old dog learning new tricks?). Will post the info here, but will also see what can be found on the Legacy link. Thanks again. Nice ko-kinko tsuba. May include in our KTK catalog for 2020. Always enjoy these early works, especially kinko. RonSTL

[John A Stuart]

I don't know how to take 一菱実図鐔 Ichibishi mi zu tsuba. Water chestnut seed drawing tsuba. Does this not refer to having good luck? Help? John

[TETSUGENDO]

I've actually grown Water Chestnuts and I'm having a hard time seeing the resemblance here.  Perhaps it is, yet it seems a strange rendition.

 

-S-

[John A Stuart]

I think it is maybe an artistic rendition of the flower and leaves of Trapa Japonica as it grows, not the fruiting body. John

[Guido]

一、is just a counting word, i.e. “one (item),”. 菱実 ryōjitsu is indeed the water chestnut, and after that follows 図 zu (motif) and of course 鐔 tsuba.

 

There’s a saying that you can’t harvest water chestnuts without getting your sleeves wet.

 

[Surfson]

Same guard as Ted had.  You might contact him as well Ron.  

[Ron STL]

Searching around Google for "water chestnuts, symbolism in Japan," turned up a number of sites on this, mostly referring to water chestnuts being a food staple in Japan for centuries. So I would say the use of the leaves of a water chestnut would relate to this long history when used on a tsuba like this ko-kinko example. As John pointed out, this particular motif would seem to be the leaves and not the chestnut fruit. I'm satisfied with this explanation, at least it is a likely explanation. Here is just one brief explanation found online. Many thanks to everyone for their help on this, especially the translation of the origami kanji. RonSTL

 

 

Chestnut Foods: The Flavor of Autumn in Japan

Chestnuts are a favorite autumn food in Japan. Known as “kuri” in Japanese, they are sometimes is also referred to by the French name of “marron”, particularly when used in Western-style desserts. Chestnuts have been cultivated in the Japan for centuries, with people from as far back as the Jomon period using wood from chestnut trees for their homes.

[Guido]

Ron, kuri 栗 (chestnuts) are not ryōjitsu / hishi no mi 菱 (の) 実 (water chestnuts).I also would be surprised if they were chosen as a tsuba motif because of the symbolism of “the long history as a food staple”. I think the Japanese proverb I mentioned above (although for the life of me I can’t remember the exact words) would make more sense: in order to reap the reward, you sometimes have to get your hands dirty (or rather wet, in this case) – no pain, no gain.

 

But what do I know … 

 

[Ron STL]

Thanks for clearing this up, Guido, I failed to realize the different. It definitely makes more sense that the tsuba motif would carry a more "no pain, no gain" symbolism. I did search through Joly's today and found some reference the ryōjitsu / hishi no mi 菱 (の) 実 (water chestnuts) standing for "success" and  "bravery" and such. I have very much enjoyed studying this ko-kinko tsuba since my brief ownership and may use it in our 2020 KTK catalog. As an aside, reading your postings brings back memories of when we first made contact a few "decades" ago. How time flies by! Ron.

RonSTL