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Grass writing oh boy

matthewbrice

By matthewbrice
in Translation Assistance

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Bugyotsuji Grand Master

Bugyotsuji

Posted
Posted

This may be totally wrong in some essential aspect, but just to get the ball rolling...　please feel free to adjust!

 

Excellent for (killing and?) severing the heads of your dead uncouth enemy, this blade is full of promise.

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kyushukairu Experienced

kyushukairu

Posted
Posted

I got something a little different:
‘At the desire of this sword, a ruffian was killed by having their head truncated which served them right!’
(野人死て頭を打ち切り様見也、此刀所望す) 
 

野人 - countryfolk/ruffian/ civilian

死て - to die

頭を打ち切り- head was truncated

様見也 - serves you right/ see what happens 

此刀 - this sword

所望す- desire/request/wish

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Bazza Grand Master

Bazza

Posted
Posted

Tachimei as well.  This a very interesting sword indeed, thanks for showing it.  Kudos to Morita san and other efforts.  Considering the translation work it would be nice if we could see a suite of photos of the entire sword - blade full length, koshirae full length, with closeups of tsuka etc etc etc. 

 

BaZZa.

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tbonesullivan Proficient

tbonesullivan

Posted
Posted

Oh wow! I'm totally lost on grass writing, so that was very impressive Mr. Morita! Thank you so much.

 

I also would love to see the rest of the sword, as well as the fittings. With two plugged holes in the tang, it definitely must have had an interesting history. If only it could talk.

matthewbrice Proficient

matthewbrice

Posted
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Posted

Here are a couple of quick photos.  This sword was shortened by—at least—4 inches.  So it would have been at least 30 13/16” originally.  Having said that, I suspect that the bottom mekugi-ana may not have been the original one.  If that is in fact the case, it was originally at least 34”+.  
 

 

 

—Matt

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273CCC9E-C5EF-429A-B3B1-5459B4FE7730.jpeg

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Peter Bleed Veteran

Peter Bleed

Posted
Posted

Matt,

Thanks for presenting this sword. Unfortunately, it arrives to me as a rather unsavory message about "the soul of the samurai." Basically, this sword seems to have been used to kill a peasant. And the thug who did the murder bragged about it. Sorry, but this ain't art. It reflects the worst of pre-modern Japanese society.

Peter

PNSSHOGUN Grand Master

PNSSHOGUN

Posted
Posted

I had interpreted it more as a ruffian or bandit attempted to rob or kill the owner but chose the wrong person and found his head separated from his body. Stories like this were (and still are) popular and strengthening for people dealing with marauders while trying to go about their business.

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