Hakogaki translation

[paulb]

Dear all,

I am trying to obtain a clearer understanding of the attached inscription which I beleive to be by Masayuki Sasano. So far I have idetinfied the date, Muromachi, that is mumei sukashi and I think it refers to excellent work but am struggling to porperly understand what is being said.

Any help would be gratefully accepted.

Best regards

Paul

 

 

 

 

 

[reinhard]

Paul,

 

Freely translated it says:

 

On the cover: Owari tsuba

 

On the inside: Karabana (Toka?) sukashi (this is referring to a flower/blossom unknown to me)

Unsigned and dating from late Muromachi period

Metal is pierced in positive silhouette design

Kei, Ken, Juko (strength, health, composure and dignity) are outstanding

Written in the year of Showa Hinoto-U (Showa 2nd or 62nd year; 1927 or 1987)

 

Sasano Masayuki was born in November 1920 and passed away in January 1993.

 

reinhard

[Bugyotsuji]

Karahana seems to be the reading, and refers to certain patterns on materials. Comes in many forms. It is also a Mon. A shot of the Tsuba might clear up what it is referring to.

[John A Stuart]

I'm thinking it means Chinese flower, karabana 唐花. Piers you are thinking karakusa as in arabesque might be related, right? John

[Bugyotsuji]

  John A Stuart said:

I'm thinking it means Chinese flower, karabana 唐花. Piers you are thinking karakusa as in arabesque might be related, right? John

 

I ran a Japanese Google search on it and looked at the common readings and meanings, John. There was so much that it was difficult to reduce to one line!

[Martin]

Dear Paul,

 

may I ask if it is possible to see a picture of the Tsuba?

 

Best,

[John A Stuart]

第一章　唐花

The first chapter of the Tang dynasty flowers

 

 

　　这种“花”有一个名字。

　　名字就叫做“唐花”。

　　

 

This kind of flower has a name.

The name is called Tang dynasty flowers.

　　

I found this book on-line and have translated the first passage that uses 唐花. In Mandarin it is called Tang Hua, in Cantonese Tong Fa, in Korean Tong Hwa. 花 in Chinese used by itself can mean ‘pattern’, so maybe in this case it just means ‘Chinese pattern’ which would be just another word meaning the same as 唐草karakusa ‘Chinese grass’, arabesque. Best I could come up with. A look at the tsuba will solve this. John

[Nobody]

Ref. Karahana

http://www.otomiya.com/kamon/kika/karahana.htm

[John A Stuart]

I see, Moriyama san. It is a mon of a flower. Do you know what this flower would be in an English equivalent? John

[Bugyotsuji]

  John A Stuart said:

I see, Moriyama san. It is a mon of a flower. Do you know what this flower would be in an English equivalent? John

 

You are right in that it can be used interchangeably with Karakusa, according to the explanation beside Nobody's Mon link. It does not refer to any particular flower, but is a Kara-type pattern that found its way over from the continent way back in Nara times. The 5 petal version is most popular. (Can I see shades of the Chinese bellflower in some of those Mon?)

[John A Stuart]

Thanks, I should have read the side description. Used in the Nara period and came from China where it was also a crest. John

[paulb]

Many thanks to everyone for their help. I am always staggered (and envious) by the abilities of members here.

Martin please see the image below it was thoughtless of me not to put it in the original post for which I apologise.

Thnaks once again to all

Best Regards

Paul

[Martin]

Dear Paul,

 

many thanks for showing a picture of your fine Tsuba.

Without the translation of the motif description, I would have thought these were 2 butterflies arranged at both sides of the Nakago-Ana.

Is this just me?

 

Best,

[paulb]

Hi Martin,

I think like much art it is more important how the viewer sees the result than how the artist originally percieves it. It would not have said butterflies to me but then again I am not sure I would have gone with Chinese flowers either!!

It is a very imposing piece. I have to say when I first saw it I would not have thought Owari, it is totally different in design to what I thought an Owari tsuba should be. It is very early which may explain this. The more you look at the iron the more interesting it becomes and I have gone from thinking it was an ok early work to one that exhibits all the trends described in the description.

As a blade collector I have a long way to go before better understanding fittings but I hope I am learning

Glad you enjoyed this one

Regards

paul

[Martin]

Hi Paul,

 

Owari wouldn´t have been my first call either I suppose.

At least not the classical Ji-Sukashi style of piercing that we usually associate with "Owari" school.

[Stephen]

rabbit ears to me

[Pete Klein]

Sasano had three grades when writing his hakogaki:

 

Kei Saku 傑作 outstanding, remarkable / made [masterpiece]

Shu Saku 秀作 refined, elegant, graceful / made [superb]

Ka Saku 佳作 beautiful / made [beautiful]

 

You can see the two kanji at the bottom of the box script.

[Nobody]

  Quote

Kei Saku 傑作 outstanding, remarkable / made [masterpiece]

傑(ketsu)作(saku) ---colloquial reading---> Kessaku

[Bugyotsuji]

秀 so this is superb work, if not of the highest grade of excellence, according to his grading system?

 

I am starting to see Ran (orchids) in the sukashi.