Terukado Translation

[Mark S.]

Trying to add to my knowledge base…

One side reads: Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado

The other side reads: Oite Seki Yoshisada saku XX.  
 

Can someone help me with the last character which I know I should know and I’m sure I will be embarrassed (not the first and the not last time). Attached are nakago and NBTHK Hozon 

 

Thank you!

[Bugyotsuji]

エン is the reading but in this context it means koré, or this. Like Saku koré.

https://ja.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/焉

[Mark S.]

Thank you so much Piers.  So, putting together some pieces of research info and other on-line info…

 

Terukado is said to be from the Zenjo school and also has references to the Seki Yoshisada school (he also worked in Kuwana and Edo).  I would assume that means he received his early training in the Zenjo school, but was actively working in the Seki Yoshisada school when he made this blade?  I would also assume this part of the mei is in relation to the school and not an individual that Terukado worked with on this blade?  
 

After some more searching, I have also found some references that Zenjo and Yoshisada use the same characters, so could this also mean the Zenjo Ha and Yoshisada Ha are actually one in the same but have been referenced as two different schools/lines depending on who (and how) the kanji are translated?

[Mikaveli]

On 9/4/2023 at 3:18 PM, Mark S. said:

Thank you so much Piers.  So, putting together some pieces of research info and other on-line info…

 

Terukado is said to be from the Zenjo school and also has references to the Seki Yoshisada school (he also worked in Kuwana and Edo).  I would assume that means he received his early training in the Zenjo school, but was actively working in the Seki Yoshisada school when he made this blade?  I would also assume this part of the mei is in relation to the school and not an individual that Terukado worked with on this blade?  
 

After some more searching, I have also found some references that Zenjo and Yoshisada use the same characters, so could this also mean the Zenjo Ha and Yoshisada Ha are actually one in the same but have been referenced as two different schools/lines depending on who (and how) the kanji are translated?

My understanding is that 善定 (Zenjo) and Yoshisada are one and the same.

 

Zenjo being the onyomi reading, and Yoshisada being the Kunyomi reading. Usually for compound nouns and in most nihonto contexts, the onyomi reading is used. It gets a little complicated because most transliterations don't stick to a consistent romanization.

 

In Mino-to, he's described as being of the Yoshisada Ha (school).

[Mark S.]

14 minutes ago, Mikaveli said:

My understanding is that 善定 (Zenjo) and Yoshisada are one and the same.

 

In Mino-to, he's described as being of the Yoshisada Ha (school).

Thank you for responding and your thorough explanation!  I also reached out to Malcolm (author of Mino-to) and he agrees that Zenjo and Yoshisada are one and the same and Zenjo is the correct reading.  The Yoshisada reference was based on info at the time (book was written in 1993) but that Zenjo would now be the more correct reading.  

[Mikaveli]

The alternative reading is still definitely worth knowing / being aware of - you'll occasionally see it in listings (especially from automatic translations).

 

Likewise, sometimes I've seen Terukado referred to as Terumon for the same reason (alternative reading).

 

It's also worth noting that, even for Japanese native speakers, the correct reading of certain (family) names etc. isn't always known/obvious. You'll occasionally see web contact forms with entries for both the Kanji and Kana (pronunciation) of Japanese names.

[Mark S.]

Really appreciate your time and knowledge.

[Bruce Pennington]

@Mark S. @Mikaveli

Gentlemen - can you tell me anything about the Zenjo/Yoshisada Ha? 

 

Edit: After reading a few threads, I see the school has been around for quite some time.  Do we know if it was operating during WWII?  I'm trying to track down a few WWII smiths whose blades were stamped with the "TAN" stamp.  They were all from Gifu, and one, Ogawa Kanekuni, was said to be from the "Zenjo school".  The others with the stamp were:

Kanetsune – Gifu

Sadatsugu – Gifu

Kanetada – Gifu

Kaneaki (RJT) – Gifu

Kaneaki (RJT) – Gifu

Kaneaki (RJT) – Gifu

Kanekuni – Gifu

Kanekuni, Ogawa – Gifu

Kanesumi, Sato (RJT) – Gifu

Kanetoshi – Gifu

Kiyonobu, Nagamura – Gifu

Kiyonobu, Nagamura – Gifu

Kiyonobu, Nagamura – Gifu

Kiyonobu, Nagamura – Gifu

[Mikaveli]

I'll have a dig around my books - not sure when the latest smith was - but I'll see if I can find out.