Keigyoku Wolf Tsuba, female tosogu artist!

[terminus]

I recently acquired this tsuba from the SF Token Kai show. I got the chance to see some very impressive tsubas both on the table and under, however I ended up falling in love with this wolf tsuba for it’s subtle elegance, design and quality of work. It’s papered TK and the artist is Kamiyama Keigyoku, who interestingly enough is a female artist from the late Edo period. Thought I would share:



 

[Vermithrax16]

Well done Tony, I really like it and the moon itself is a joy to observe and study.

[Curran]

Interesting. Until today, the only female kodogu artists I knew about were Jochiku's daughters.

[terminus]

Thanks! Yes, I love seeing the very subtle and “less is more” nature of how the moon + clouds, and the ura side’s waterfall is done.

 

The Shakudo wolf is very interesting to study. I’m not sure if it was by accident or on purpose, but there are these copper colored striations along the wolf’s head, ribs, spine and legs that really accentuate the dimensions of the carving.

 

Yea! I only knew of Jochiku’s daughters as well. It also seems they becomes artists together as sisters lol.

 

Here’s some more work from Keigyoku:

[Henry Wilson]

A very interesting and nice tsuba. The theme of a wolf is not common I think. Does anyone know it's significance? I don't know where my Henri Joly is

[Ford Hallam]

Henry, I think the lean wolf motif is a reference to the desolate plains of Musashino, after battle.. Lots of nibbles for hungry wolves. Wild animals are the only creatures that benifit from battle.

 

It looks to me to be a really lovely carving, I'd love to see more. Actually I've been wanting to do this theme myself for some time.

[Curran]

Henry, I think the lean wolf motif is a reference to the desolate plains of Musashino, after battle.. Lots of nibbles for hungry wolves. Wild animals are the only creatures that benifit from battle.

 

 

That is my understanding too,

but I've been wrong before.

[paulb]

that is also my understanding. However how about an alterantive theory? The wolves are always depicted as starving. If they were feasting on after battle remains they would be well fed not emaciated. So what if this was really a positive message? in times of peace there is less for the wolf to scavange hence the starving form.

Realise this flies in the face of accepted intelligence but it is a much more positive and optmisitc way of describing a beautifully crafted image

[Ford Hallam]

Well the wolf was traditionally regarded as a messenger of the Kami in Shinto. It was also said to protect farmers crops, and there are still today many shines dedicated to the wolf, Okami.

 

Paul, I'm pretty sure the lean wolf on a battle field is a haiku. Basho, as one example, was no fan of the military dictatorship so it might have been a form of criticism of the Bakufu , given that many, if not most, of the more artistic tsuba of the Edo period were made by the machibori and for non-samurai clientele. Government mismanagement resulted in frequent rice and grain shortages and famine during the Edo period so hungry wolves would still have been a very potent symbol and critique of that sort of failure. 

[TETSUGENDO]

-S-

[Henry Wilson]

Ford and Paul, thank you for the interesting comments. They have sparked my curiosty as I have never encountered wolves in Japanese art before. More from wiki if others are interested

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_wolf

 

 

The above print is of a fox. Foxes and wolves are different animals, right?

[TETSUGENDO]

Yes Henry, it should be obvious to everyone as the text states it and the image speaks for itself.  I posted it because I found it aesthetically related.

 

-S-

[ROKUJURO]

.....Here’s some more work from Keigyoku:

387C1379-FCC7-4B20-9515-F1905ED74421.jpeg8E734300-7E9C-4F23-8864-DFC004DA6642.jpeg

It seems the subject has been used by other artists as well:

 

https://www.aoijapan.com/kozuka-shozui-old-pine-tree-and-bear/

[Henry Wilson]

Yes Henry, it should be obvious to everyone as the text states it and the image speaks for itself. I posted it because I found it aesthetically related.

 

-S-

Thank you for your explanation.

 

PS. I detect some frustration in your post. If so I am sorry, if not, just ignore me...

[SteveM]

Very interesting artist, and very nice tsuba. This was a great purchase. 

[terminus]

One thing I’ve always wondered is every Japanese depiction of a wolf and moon has the wolf looking the other way of the moon. Why is that?

[Vermithrax16]

One thing I’ve always wondered is every Japanese depiction of a wolf and moon has the wolf looking the other way of the moon. Why is that?

Same with rabbits; I have my own theory for one piece, but it's not a rule.

[Henry Wilson]

One thing I’ve always wondered is every Japanese depiction of a wolf and moon has the wolf looking the other way of the moon. Why is that?

I say it is an aesthetic convention. By looking at the moon it would be fixed in the wolf's locality. This would reduce the implied scale of the composition and its overall artistic depth.

 

Or something like that. Perhaps!!!

[Tanto54]

Hi Tony,

 

Can you show us a closeup of the wolf's face and eyes - they look unusual.

[terminus]

Hi Tony,

 

Can you show us a closeup of the wolf's face and eyes - they look unusual.

Here you go:

[Brian]

Just to bump the "hungry wolf" theme....saw this one today on FB. Was thinking maybe it is relevant.

 

[vajo]

Wow Brian, thanks for sharing. I was searching this tsuba motif. This is one of the best wolf motif ever. He looks so scary and hungry. 

[Guido]

Just to bump the "hungry wolf" theme....saw this one today on FB. Was thinking maybe it is relevant.

 

Looks like that hybrid from Jurassic World - I'm not sure even his mother could love that ugly bastard ...   

[Gunome]

Here is another nice example

[Stephen]

They dont look like wolf's to me.

Maybe Japanese version of chupacabra?

[Greg F]

The last one reminds me of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger.

 

Greg

[vajo]

I found these "hungry war" wolf very good. 

The motif shows the cruelty of the war where even the wolves are starving

 

 

 

 

ok, this is a dog found in venezuela...

[vajo]

I reduce the red color in the wolf tsuba. I would be proud to have such a tsuba in my collection. It looks incredible for me and i think i didnt see such a wolf on iron before.

 

 

[PietroParis]

On the Facebook post where I first saw this tsuba, somebody was pointing out how the wolf encroaches on the seppa dai, and speculating that the tsuba was never meant to be mounted on a sword. Could that be the case?

 

Cheers, Pietro

[vajo]

I heard this often, but i see also mounted tsuba. The motif is plain to the seppa dai. Why should it not be mounted?