Am I looking at the right thing

[Nickupero]

Have this marvellous tsuba and I'm curious if the theme is of the legend where the carp swims up stream to be transformed into a Dragon (sorry I forget the Japanese name). Or is it another theme?

 

Also please feel free to give opinions as to which school.

 

 

 

[lonely panet]

Would or could it be from he Hizen area

[Stephen]

For sale Nick?

Fan of both but seldom seen the koi changing into dragon.

[vajo]

Its in Namban style and i would go with Hizen.

 

I would say it shows 2 waterdragons and one dragon.

[Stephen]

Guess i read that wrong.

[Pete Klein]

Hizen is probably the call and I would say three Shachi from different perspectives.  This is a Ko Kinko kogai along that line:

 

[Tanto54]

Nick, I think that you are correct about the theme.  According to Japanese/Chinese mythology, a Koi (carp) who manages to swim upstream and jump over the "Dragon's Gate" (a famous waterfall) will be transformed into a dragon.  I think that yours shows the three stages of transformation (carp, hybrid & dragon).  For a Samurai, this would symbolize making an extreme effort to accomplish something great.

[Pete Klein]

George - you may be correct as I just realized the one on the right has an arm which shachi would not have.

[Nickupero]

Thanks for chiming in gents, Hizen would have also been my guess, wondering if anyone had more to say about origins. That is what I saw George, thank you for confirming at least I know I'm not making it up in my head   . I like that extra explanation regarding the meaning to a Samurai. Would have been an even nicer piece in its prime, appears to have had far more gold overlay throughout which has mostly come off/or covered by the more aggressive rust.

 

Stephen wasn't for sale at the moment... was intending to bring it to the Show in Holland this summer.