Sosho Mei Help

[pcfarrar]

Does anyone have any idea on this katana mei?

 

As its in sosho I haven't got a clue what it says :?

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[nagamaki - Franco]

[k morita]

Hi, Peter,

 

Date is August ,1858.

 

Thanks.

[k morita]

again

 

I got the smith name.

Mei is Morikuni saku.もりくに作(Morikuni made).

[John A Stuart]

That's an interesting way to use On readings in combination to give a Japanese name. The furigana shows how it works. I noticed something similar when reading some Chinese documents about Japanese history. When translated to English it is difficult to know the person referred to. John

[reinhard]

With all due respect to Morita-san, but this mei doesn't make sense to me. Translating the Kana for vocal "a" as "AN" doesn't make sense to me. Asking for enlightment.

 

reinhard

[Nobody]

In this case I think that the “あ” on the nakago is not Kana. That should be thought as 安 in Sosho style.

(But this might be rather confusing as the origin of Kana is Sosho.)

[Guido]

Reinhard, Sôsho is kind of an abriviation of Kaisho, and later developed into Onnade, now called Hiragana - see attached chart.

[reinhard]

Domo arigato gozaimashita. I have a long way to go.

 

reinhard

[k morita]

Peter,

 

Did you understand my answer?

 

Perhaps, no one might have been able to read this signature(Morikuni) before you posting here and in U.K.

There were 3-4 sword smith Morikuni(守國,盛國,護國)in around Ansei(安政) period.

Therefore, Morikuni(もりくに,your sword) might be someone in 3-4 swordsmith.

 

Morita

[pcfarrar]

Morita San,

 

Thanks for your help. It belongs to a friend of a friend and in the 20+ years he's owned it no one has been able to translate it until today.

 

Your assistance is much appreciated, I will check out the Morikuni smiths.

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[k morita]

Peter san,

 

You're welcome.

Good luck!