Museum book mei translations

Spartancrest · April 28, 2021

I am trying to compile a book on a Museum collection of tsuba, many of the images in the collection are supplied with inscription information but a number do not. I was hoping for some help with those that have no information. Any help would be appreciated - I realize the images are poor but they are all I have access to. Let me know if you would like to be included in the credits. Rather than post one at a time I have a single image of seven to start with, with reference numbers. I also realize that some inscriptions will be unreadable and/or gimei.

Thanks for any help.

There are only seven more inscriptions so I will add them here as well.

Edited April 28, 2021 by Spartancrest
new data

uwe · April 28, 2021

A great project Dale :thumbsup:

(I’ve been doing something similar for armor for some time)

So let me start with #248: “武州住正方” (Bushū ju Masakata).

....ok, fast yet #288 seems to be: “珍久” (Chinkyū)

Shugyosha · April 28, 2021

#273 - Signature is 武州住梅忠重義作 - Bushu ju Umetada Shigeyoshi Saku.

Sorry, the other side is too faint for me to read.

Shugyosha · April 28, 2021

A little more:

#294 - Shoami Yoshishige -正阿弥吉重

42-405 - Mogarishi Soten saku - 藻柄子宗典作

Some bits and pieces that hopefully others can add to:

#280 - 越前住記[ ] 作 - Echizen ju Nori[ ] saku

#343 - 長州 [ ] 住友次 - Chōshū [ ] ju Tomotsugu

Spartancrest · April 28, 2021

That is fantastic service Uwe and John, can I add your N.M.B. names to the credit list in the book? That is already half the inscriptions done, many thanks to all. :thumbsup:

Shugyosha · April 28, 2021

Hi Dale,

I feel awkward about taking any credit for this, so I hope it's OK if you don't mind leaving me out.

#343 - 江府住辰壽 - Kōfu ju Tatsutoshi. An example of his work here:

https://kojiki-gallery.com/en/tsuba-tatsutoshi-akao/

Spartancrest · April 28, 2021

That is OK john, if you change your mind let me know. I will just put up a credit [ information aided by members of Nihonto Message Board ] how would that be?

That's two translations for 343 ? The guard style I am researching does not match with the style in the link you sent.

Shugyosha · April 28, 2021

Sorry Dale, the Choshu one is 444 - I read the wrong number. That’s fine regarding the credits. I’m confident that the name and first character of the place are correct and a bit of a google lead to the overall conclusion. This one here is a better likeness:

...also discussed here with a reference to tsuba at the Toledo museum of art described as being in his style. Thanks Pietro!

Spartancrest · April 28, 2021

Yes sorry I panicked! I did find other guards like the one in the museum - he seems to have liked to try his hand at several types. [I suppose like everyone you could get bored doing the same, same.] Thanks again.

uwe · April 28, 2021

John,

I think the missing link for #280 is “内”. Hence “Echizen ju Kinai saku”!

...and for #444 it could be “萩” (Hagi)!

Shugyosha · April 28, 2021

Hi Uwe, you’re right both times. Many thanks.

I did consider Hagi but it didn’t look right at the time and I should have thought of Kinai - I was looking for the artist’s name rather than a place name.

That’s two more sorted. 👍

Spartancrest · April 29, 2021

Thank you both very much, It is great to add some lost information that will help future generations [I hope]

Probably a few weeks away from finishing the book (so far about 330 pages) if only I had some influence on production costs, or a big firm was interested in doing a big print run to bring costs down. Print on demand has its advantages but cost is not one of them.

Nobody · April 29, 2021

[288]

珍久 - Yoshihisa

[291]

長刕住 – Choshu ju

賢久 – Yoshihisa (reading?)

[426]

珍重 – Yoshishige (reading?)

uwe · April 29, 2021

Moriyama san,

am I right in the assumption that both readings are possible for #288?!

Chinkyū (珍久) also read as Yoshihisa?

Nobody · April 30, 2021

10 hours ago, uwe said:

Moriyama san,

am I right in the assumption that both readings are possible for #288?!

Chinkyū (珍久) also read as Yoshihisa?

Yes, you are right.

Actually, I thing that no one knows the correct reading.

uwe · April 30, 2021

Well, now

#277,

#358,

#421,

#448

and parts of #277 are left. So let the guesswork begin... ;-)

Spartancrest · April 30, 2021

I am very thankful for the translations that have been done. I am looking into 421 and 448 in a list of kao I have [there are so many that are very similar it may come down to a guess] I was never convinced 277 was genuine - may be a cast fake. In any case I have incorporated some ruled pages at the back of the book for devotees to insert their own opinions.