Kamon (motifs and shapes) of tsuba.

[Dan tsuba]

So, all-

 

I am certain many of you know of this.  But it is fairly new to me, so I thought I would post the information for other newer members.

 

I purchased (rather recently) a book on kamon designs.  I used it and referred to it on the “16 petal chrysanthemum tsuba” thread.

 

The book is titled “Handbook of Designs and Motifs” introduction by P.K. Thomajan, Tudor Publishing Company, 1950.  It shows nearly 7000 kamon!

 

I found that many of the tsuba in my collection, which I thought just had a nice motif or shape, could be representations of family kamon!  Personally, I find it quite amazing how many of my tsuba are shaped or have motifs that could represent a family kamon.

 

I have included some pictures of my tsuba with the corresponding picture in the kamon book.

 

I probably could have found more examples, but I got tired “flipping” through the pages of the book!

 

The adventure continues!

 

With respect,

Dan

[FlorianB]

In Edo period books with collections of kamon were published and those were a source of inspiration for the Tsuba makers.

 

It is possible, that indiviuals purchased such a Tsuba because it shows the personal mon. But I dare to doubt that was the intention of the tsubako. At least everyone could buy and wear these.

 

There are formal sword fittings which have the function to show the kamon and thus the family representing, but these were Kinko works. Daimyo and Samurai wore them on special occasions.

 

BTW: It seems to be an interesting question at which point a motif could be called kamon. The lobster Tsuba for instance show IMHO no kamon - sometimes lobsters are just lobsters…

 

Best,
Florian

[Guest Simon R]

You've got some lovely tsuba there, Dan.

[sabiji]

I see it the same way as Florian.

 

On the one hand, there are koshirae who show or have to show kamon/futsuumeishi on formal and official occasions.

 

On the other hand, we have the fashions of "urban bourgeois culture", or even those who follow these fashions. These are purely decorative aspects without any deeper meaning. It's just meant to please. You can see certain identical designs on tsuba in different qualities in order to be able to serve a broad clientele.
Of course, some tsuba may have a direct connection to a clan. But often people simply wore what they liked - which is the main purpose of an uchigatana koshirae in civilian life. It is a calling card of the wearer's status, aesthetic taste, education or simply certain preferences within the social rules of the time.

At least that's my opinion. 

[Guest Simon R]

This, I believe, is the Earp family:

[Bugyotsuji]

Just getting my hat and coat...

[Baka Gaijin]

Also five element theory ( Gogyou 五行 )

[Spartancrest]

4 hours ago, Simon R said:

This, I believe, is the Earp family

Are you sure it isn't spelled "Twerp" family? 

I believe that star was made by our old backyard blacksmith  dj2hmyuc     https://www.jauce.co...j2hmyuc?search=tsuba  Fresh off the forge!

[Dan tsuba]

I am still chuckling about the Earp family  (or Twerp as it was called) tsuba!

 

Anyway, upon research, the 5-pointed star theme is a kamon (picture included).

 

I have a 6-pointed star type tsuba in my collection (picture shown).  That motif is also a kamon (picture included).

 

What is interesting in the last picture included here,  I found a page which also shows the “thread and spool” motif as a kamon.

 

I never knew what that design was until I read that great thread (listed below).

 

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/47066-thread-and-spool-tsuba-pictures/#comment-488085

 

Onward!

 

With respect,

Dan

[Dan tsuba]

Well, my friends-

 

Added with my previous posts, this just about does it for my collection of kamon tsuba!  Pictures of tsuba and corresponding picture in kamon book displayed.

 

Throughout my posts, I have tried to only display tsuba that have a kamon shape or a large kamon incorporated in the motif (I also have several tsuba that display small kamon or parts therof – but felt no need to include those here).

 

Onward!

 

With respect,

Dan

[Spartancrest]

Thanks Dan for showing the other kamons linked to the silk spools - I noticed one eight point "star" with clipped points that matches a tanto guard I have. It may well have started life with a rim as the images show but I can at least think it still may represent that kamon now.  

[Dan tsuba]

So, I just wanted to add a few more of my tsuba that seem to have family kamon on them to this old thread.

 

I have also (once again) added the pictures from my book containing about 7000 family kamon pictures that are a close match to the tsuba shown.

 

Although some of the pictures in the kamon book are not a perfect exact match to the kamon on the tsuba, I think they are close enough to discern that the motif on the tsuba must have been some sort of family kamon.

 

One of the tsuba shows the entire tsuba was styled in the family kamon (as several of my tsuba in the above posts show).

 

The other tsuba show that the family kamon made up only a small part of the tsuba (that tsuba with hawk feathers motif continues up over the mimi and onto the ura - picture included).

 

Now I know (and this has been stated on this thread) that maybe the samurai that had these tsuba on their blades just liked the design and motif, so they put them on their blades.

 

However, I wonder. 

 

Could there have been some sort of fine or punishment in place if it was found that the samurai that had a tsuba with a family kamon on his blade was not part of that family or clan?

 

 

[Spartancrest]

Not the best quality piece I have but I do love the Kawari-gata nature of it.

 

https://en.m.wikiped...File:Gion_Mamori.svg

 

Gion Amulet - 「祇園守」

The Gion Mamori is a special amulet sold at the Yasaka Shrine in Gion district in Kyoto.
The origin of the Gion Mamori kamon is shrouded in mystery and is still debated: some think that it represents a cryptic map of the woods that used to surround the Yasaka shrine, while others say that it is in fact a hidden Christian cross. There is also a third interpretation linking the amulet to an obscure Gion-shoja temple in India, where the guardian deity Gozu was said to inhabit. Chinese characters for "Gozu" mean "cow" and "head", and therefore some say that the Gion Mamori mon represents the head of a cow.

The Gion Mamori mon is a rather rare emblem with about 50 known variations.

[Bugyotsuji]

The Ikeda Daimyō family used a version of this Gion Mamori as one of their Mon; this is still said to be a link to their Sengoku time as Christians. As with many of these things it contains lashings of deniability, though.

[Teimei]

Honda Aoi Mon

 

[Teimei]

Shimazu Mon... maybe. Also often described as Jumonji or Kutsuwa, whatever you prefer i guess !

[Dan tsuba]

Hi Florian!

Thanks for sharing.

Some really nice examples of kamon motifs on tsuba that you posted!

[GeorgeLuucas]

For the love of the KIRI 

 

[Dan tsuba]

Thanks Sam!

Very cool kiri (the Paulownia tree and the wood of the Paulownia tree) leaves kamon!

I found those kamon in my kamon book (picture attached).

Thanks for sharing!

[Dan tsuba]

Well, just came across another one of my tsuba with a kamon.

 

[Dereks]

5 hours ago, Dan tsuba said:

Well, just came across another one of my tsuba with a kamon.

 

Hey Dan, i think those are not the same mon.

[Dan tsuba]

Hi Derek!

You may be correct about the kamon on my tsuba and the kamon picture I found in my book are not the same.

My book only shows about 7000 kamon, but I figure there are a lot more kamon out there!

Although, I think my tsuba shows some sort of kamon.  Just giving it my best guess!

But who knows, it may just be a snow flake or something else and I could be wrong about it being a kamon.

Thanks and onward!