daimyo Koshirae

[DanielM]

Daimyo aikuchi

 

I would like to share with you an interesting discovery that i tryed to place into its historical context….any comments is welcome.

 

It is a Daimyo aikuchi koshirae, with a simple black laquer saya decorated in gold laquer with cherry flower and a phenix bird all with fine details.

The tsuka with samé without lacing and 2 round menuki with a central dragon and six Kirimon.

And a sober Futakoromono with Kozuka and Kogai Kyo Goto school Suisen no zu (Daffodil design)

 

The real interest concern the Kashira, the Fuchi/Koiguchi, the Kogiri and the Kurigata, in simple black horn but decorated in gold laquer with 2 Mon on each ..the « Kuro Mochi Tate Mokko » and the « Tanoji » they are the primary and secondary Mon of the Clan « Hotta  from Sakura ».

 

I suppose that the union of these 2 Mon is due to a special event..as a marriage or an anniversary or an important birth….as normaly for the day to day wear only the primary mon is in use.

 

The Hotta from Sakura is not a very old clan, founded by Hotta Masamori in around 1626 thanks to his relation with the nurse of the Shogun Iemitsu (Lady Kasuga) 

It is also not a great clan with high revenue but as this is a mid to end Edo period koshirae it has most probably belongued to Hotta Masayoshi (1810-1864) or his son.

 

This is the 5th Daimyo of Sakura and an important political person

He was one of the principal of the « Rangaku » it is an organisation in charge of the study the knowledges of the Holland people residing in Deshima – more specificaly the medicine, the astronomy and the military equipment (let us remember that the Holland people are the only foreigners authorized to commerce with Japan from 1641 to 1853)

He is a supporter of the opening of Japan (in 1853-1854 Commodore Perry and the black ships...try to force contact with Japan)

1855 Masayoshi is at the head of the « Roju » replacing Abe Masahiro. He is now the principal adviser for the Shogun, control the relations between Nobles and the different Daimyos.)

He is also in charge of the diplomatic contact with the american Townsend Harris and will be a co-signer of the Harris Treaty (without obtaining the agreament of the Emperor Komei (in favour of the joi faction – wanted to expell the foreigners by force if necessary….)

At that period the shogun is Iesada, he is very ill and its succession give rise to a struggle between 2 factions…

With these issues unresolved Hotta was replaced by Ii Naosuke

Hotta Masayoshi resigned his posts in favour of his son but continued to support the Hitotsubashi partisans for the succession of the Shogun, which was opposed to Ii Naosuke and during the Ansei, purge of Hitotsubashi partisans, Hotta was placed under house arrest...where he died in 1864.

 

Hotta Masatomo 6th Daimyo of Sakura, a son of Masayoshi had also some problems as during the Boshin war he was partisan for the Shogun...and as we know it is the Emperor faction that win the battle…

 

So we can understand that Hotta Masayoshi and his son where after a rather glorious period not very happy at the end...and probably in financial difficulties...and having priviledged contact with Holland people...they could have sold this (or given) this aikuchi to one of these barbarian...i know it is speculation but as a coincidence ? this aikuchi was discovered in an old Holland province ….where it was possibly kept in a Holland family for several generations….but ...maybe the reality is totaly different...who knows….thanks for reading.