Old Kanji Kozuka

[Henry Wilson]

Hi everyone

 

I have a kozuka with some old kanji on it. I can't translate it . Can anyone help me out?

 

Cheers

[Markus]

Hi Henry,

 

Just alone, the combination of the two characters "hashiru" (走る, to run) and "ikiru" (生きる, to live)

makes no sense, but IMHO they allude to the saying "shiseru Kômei ikeru Chûtatsu o hashirasu"

(死せる孔明生ける仲達を走らす, about "the dead Kômei makes the living Chûtatsu run away").

 

When Kômei (孔明), leader of the troops of Szechuan, was confronted with Shibai (司馬懿) of the Wei,

at the Battle of Gojôgen (五才原), he got very ill, and seeing his own death coming, he had him made a

life-sized wood statue of himself, mounted on a chariot. In the meanwhile, Shibai got informed that

Kômei has died, but when he ordered a major offensive, he caught sight of the statue, thinking that

Kômei is still alive and the entire attack is a trap. He lost his head and fled.

 

The saying above was then applied to dependants of persons which were very powerful and influental

when still alive, and who are afraid of the latter (or their ghost) also when they are already dead.

 

[Just edited to delete some typos ...]

[Henry Wilson]

Thank you so much Markus. There is a lot there to research.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

  Markus said:

Hi Henry,

 

Just alone, the combination of the two characters "hashiru" (走る, to run) and "ikuru" (生きる, to live)

makes no sense, but IMHO they allude to the saying "shiseru Kômei ikeru Chûtatsu o hashirasu"

(死せる孔明生ける仲達を走らす, about "the dead Kômei makes the living Chûtatsu run away").

 

When Kômei (孔明), leader of the troops of Szechuan, was confronted with Shibai (司馬懿) of the Wei,

at the Battle of Gojôgen (五才原), he got very ill, and seeing his own death coming, he had him made a

life-sized wood statue of himself, mounted on a chariot. In the meanwhile, Shibai got informed that

Kômei has died, but when he ordered a major offensive, he cought sight of the statue, thinking that

Kômei is still alive and the entire attack is a trap. He lost his head and fled.

 

The saying above was then applied to dependants of persons which were very powerful and influentel

when still alive, and who are afraid of the latter (or their ghost) also when they are already dead.

 

(Sorry, people, can't resist).

[Henry Wilson]

absolutely indeed.

 

I need to agree with Carlo. A most excellent response and thank you again Markus. Just the two characters

 

走生

 

where beyond me and my "kanji reading" wife.

 

  Markus said:

Just alone, the combination of the two characters "hashiru" (走る, to run) and "ikiru" (生きる, to live) makes no sense

 

How about "run for your life" as another way of interpreting the meaning of the characters?

[Markus]

  Henry Wilson said:

How about "run for your life" as another way of interpreting the meaning of the characters?

 

Yes, this would be a possibility too, but then, I think the problem is exactly the missing context.

Why one would make or have him made a kozuka which reads "run for your life"? The Sangoku-shi,

the legends of the Warring States in good old China, were among standard samurai education, and

I think, an educated hanshi understood such an allusion.

[Markus]

Just one thing to complement:

 

"Chûtatsu" is the Japanese reading of Shibai´s Chinese "nickname", namely "Zhòng-dá" (仲達).

[Henry Wilson]

Thank you Markus for your reply.

 

My thinking is that the kozuka could read either way depending on who is reading it and what side of the sword they are standing. The owner can understand what you put forward but the opposition can read my humble suggestion. Just an idea off course as what I have learnt from Japanese language is that sometimes the context can be vague and unclear and on occasions individual interpretations are expected and necessary.

 

Just food for thought and trying to generate discussion.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Henry, I remember an old movie that had a phrase like ' ..fight and run away and live to fight another day.' Although bushido may be unrealistic in the actuality of war it's spirit was quite real. I do not think 'run for your life' would coincide with the bushido spirit. The idea would be that 'it is better to die in a glorious loss than live in ignomy.' John

[Guido]

I think Markus' explanation says it all. The Kozuka was made for the bearer of the sword. What are the chances of an opponent bending over, reading the Kanji (which are facing the Kimono of the wearer anyhow), drawing the right conclusion and running for his life?

 

There might be an alternative meaning (which I highly doubt), but whaterever it may be it wasn't a courtesy to the potential enemy.

[Henry Wilson]

Thanks everyone for their thoughts. If anyone is interested, it is part of a koshirae that I bought a few weeks back.

 

http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/KOSHIRAE6.htm

[John A Stuart]

All the way from Calgary? That is where I got one of my kagami. John

[Henry Wilson]

Actually all the way from Saitama to Musashino, in the Kanto area. Would love to see your Kagami.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Henry, I know the shop in Calgary and have corresponded with Boris. I know he has partners in Japan. I didn't know they had a shop in Saitama. The mirror I have is still pictured on their front page under MISC.

http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/

John