Clasping Hands Sarute on Gunto

[katanako]

Does anyone out there know the story behind the Clasping Hands or Shaking Hands Sarute? I have 2 of them.

 

Thank you .

 

KATANAKO

 

[Hermes]

I have heard them called "monkey's hands".

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessa ... 1b7c27c089

[Grey Doffin]

Here is a picture of a sarute from an itomaki no dachi koshirae, from Meiji or not much earlier I believe. This isn't clasping hands but something similar. Is it possible that the gunto sarute was developed from the earlier design?

Grey

[katanako]

SARUTE (Saru=Monkey, Te=hand) indeed does mean "Monkey Hands!!!" Of course! Now I understand!!!

 

Thank you very much for your comments! I'm always amazed at all the new stuff I learn on his message board, thanks to you guys!

 

KATANAKO

[Ted Tenold]

As far as I can tell, the term Sarute 猿手 is the same regardless of the design. Some have clasping hands others have different designs such as Grey's which looks more like a knot. Some gunto also have some with cherry blossoms or just plain. Perhaps the design of the clasping hands actually came from the term that was originally used(?).

[Chriso]

I actually came across a reference to these this afternoon while reading 'The arts of the Japanese sword' B.W.Robinson pp 73 but this was in reference to the mounting of Tachi.

 

Chris O

[Stephen]

somewhere back in the recesses of the gray matter one Asia comes to mind, may be wrong.