How many tsuba?

[Dan tsuba]

Hello all!

 

Is it known how many tsuba did the “average” samurai have for his swords?

 

I tried researching it on the forum, but couldn't find anything (or maybe I missed it!).

 

I assume that not all tsuba were made for combat.  I have read (can’t quote the reference where I read it) that many samurai had 3 or 4 tsuba for each of their daisho.  Maybe a “combat” tsuba.  A tsuba for “everyday carry”.  A tsuba for “royal and court functions”.  And maybe a tsuba to reflect their “clan” with a kamon symbol.

 

Did they always have the same design tsuba for each of their swords?  Or could they have one motif on the tsuba of the katana and another motif on the tsuba of the wakizashi?  Although that would not be considered a “daisho”, but it would still be a long and short sword that would meet the “two swords” requirement that a samurai would have to carry.

 

With respect,

Dan

[Spartancrest]

These are European estimates of tsuba from the early 20th century - some of these quotes are taken from late 19th century sources as well.

 

Source: Bulletin of the Detroit Museum of Art,
Vol. 2, No. 1 (JANUARY, 1908), pp. 12-16 

THE WARRIORS OF THE 
SUN FLAG.

"A rich noble often possessed fifteen hundred swords, some of them costing $1,400 and the daimios vied with each other in owning elegant specimens of the armorer's craft. For all the metal work of Japan, the beautiful designs, and exquisite hammering, credit is due the many wars. The ornamentation of the guard and sword's accessories have been the craze of tourists and collectors for thirty years." 

 

 

 

A Gift of Japanese Sword Guards 
 Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, 
Vol. 9, No. 6 (Jun., 1914), pp. 140-142
Author: Bashford Dean 
 
    

    Japanese tsuba, or sabre guards, have ever appealed to the lover of Eastern art. They are exquisite in design and workmanship, beautiful in color and contour, and picture in miniature, a wide range of  the artistic history of Japan. That they have ever been numerous and this is not always a trial to an earnest collector one can well understand, for in the feudal days of Japan each member of the military class carried his familiar two swords, and for each sword he had a choice of tsuba, rarely less than a dozen and sometimes even hundreds, which could be changed to vary the appearance of his treasured blades from day to day, or month to month. If, then, we estimate that there were two millions of samurai in 1876, when prime minister Sanjo signed the decree forbidding the carrying of swords, we may assume that  tens of millions of sword guards came sooner or later into trade. It is certainly a fact that about 1880 the markets of all "curio" loving countries were flooded with sword guards, and that never before or since have such admirable specimens in any number at least, found their way out of Japan.

 

 

 

THE SWORD OF JAPAN
AND IT'S ORNAMENTS
by
 THE COUNTESS ANNIE DE MONTAIGU 

Illustrations from notable examples of ancient sword-guards. 
Source: The Monthly Illustrator, Vol. 4, No. 13 (May, 1895).

"There was a time when a man's rank could be determined by the quality of his armature; a person magnificently garbed, with an ordinary weapon by his side, would be adjudged of low degree, while to a poorly dressed person wearing a fine sword, would be extended distinguished homage. A fortune was frequently invested in arms, a rich noble often possessing fifteen hundred swords, some of them costing £I,400, and the daimios and wealthy nobles vied with each other in owning elegant specimens of the armorer's handicraft, many of which were ancient family heirlooms, and magnificent examples of the cunning workmanship of the artist-artisan." 

[OceanoNox]

I have found a citation from an old Japanese text (end of Edo ~ early Meiji) in a book by a Mr. Kawami (Tosogu wonderland, 2016) (this is my inelegant translation):
"The sword size and the fittings to be worn when attending at the castle were set in the Edo period, as described in “幕儀参考”by 越前福井藩主 松平慶永 (1828~1890). The katana should be 2 shaku 23 sun long, and the wakizashi should be 1 shaku 67 sun. The scabbard should be lacquered in black (蠟色塗), the handle should be wrapped in white ray skin with black lacing with a width of 5 bu in the nakabishi pattern (中菱巻). The tsuba should be polished shakudo (赤銅), the fuchi in shakudo with a nanako or polished ground, and the kashira in horn (角製). Finally, kogai, kozuka, and menuki (三所物) should be made by the Goto school/style (後藤家)."

 

Full reference:

川見典久, 黒川古文化研究所, 刀装具ワンダーランド, 創元社 (2016)

About combat in general, there have been many discussions online, and there is no consensus right now (I think they were meant as hand protection, at least in the beginning).
In general, several books (although I have little idea about their authors' credentials) state that tsuba were, at least in the Edo period, equivalent to neckties for our own businessmen, showing off fancy fabrics, patterns, and colours. However, samurai themselves were not all rich, far from it. There are records of samurai renting spare rooms in their houses or doing small jobs (in the famous 侍の絵日記, the writer is a good writer/painter and sells his services). In that sense, they may have had only two sets at minimum, the one for official appearances, and another for civil attire.

[Bugyotsuji]

Really interesting post, and yes, there were varying levels of samurai wealth, down to subsistence farmers.

 

I am guessing those  quoted blade lengths must be 2 shaku 2 sun 3 bu, and 1 shaku 6 sun and 7 bu.

[roger dundas]

I very much agree- a great question to ask and in turn, great responses.

Roger j

[Guest Simon R]

I find it a little odd that a samurai would have various interchangeable tsuba as, from my own experience, you often need to get a new pair of seppa made to accommodate any difference in thickness. Also, the entire sword's balance can be changed by even a slight variation in the weight or circumference of the guard.

 

Just my ha'porth worth.

 

simon

[Toryu2020]

Int the Sengoku-jidai you maybe had one sword - issued by your lord and carried whatever he gave you.

In the Edo period it all depended on your income - you might have four tsuba, one for each season - or four koshirae with different tsuba for work, play, practice and combat. The more money you had the more you were able to show off your money with your accoutrement. By the Bakumatsu people shared tsuba as gifts and collected and traded them much as we do today.

 

IMO the tsuba does little for the balance of a blade unless the weight is significant - a practiced swordsman can adjust to most any blade...

 

-t

[Spartancrest]

Thomas, I would agree. Besides this was a time of peace and did it really matter if the tsuba was a few grams different in weight if it was never used as a weapon in any case?

[Guest Simon R]

6 hours ago, Toryu2020 said:

Int the Sengoku-jidai you maybe had one sword - issued by your lord and carried whatever he gave you.

In the Edo period it all depended on your income - you might have four tsuba, one for each season - or four koshirae with different tsuba for work, play, practice and combat. The more money you had the more you were able to show off your money with your accoutrement. By the Bakumatsu people shared tsuba as gifts and collected and traded them much as we do today.

 

IMO the tsuba does little for the balance of a blade unless the weight is significant - a practiced swordsman can adjust to most any blade...

 

-t

Interesting points. I've seen swords with more than one koshirae and certainly, if a samurai was wealthy enough he would probably have four or more swords, each uniquely mounted.

Also, I agree that changing a tsuba is a fairly straightforward matter but you really do have to keep the spacers spot-on to avoid either a rattling guard or undue stress on the mekugi.

regarding balance, I have noticed a distinctly different 'feel' and a minor shift in the centre of gravity when I've changed a smaller, thicker tsuba for a thinner, wider one. However, I am by no means a swordsman and so I bow to your superior knowledge on this point.

 

Simon

[Toryu2020]

Simon - keep in mind, in those days the bloke that could adjust your seppa was just around the corner and his work was dirt cheap!

 

-t

[Guest Simon R]

9 hours ago, Toryu2020 said:

Simon - keep in mind, in those days the bloke that could adjust your seppa was just around the corner and his work was dirt cheap!

 

-t

An extremely good point!

 

I actually live in Japan and so getting new seppa made is still relatively easy - alas,  they are no longer dirt cheap! 🙄