need help on tang translation!!!

[LPC]

I really need help translating the kanji on this tang, any help would be appreciated.

 

Thank you very much,

Lou

[Markus]

Hi Lou,

 

These are Chinese proverbs about mastering/cultivating onself.

 

The first one reads:

 

有所恐懼、則不得其正。

Kyôku-suru tokoro areba, sunawachi sono sei o ezu.

When you are awestrucked, this hinders you from correct decisions.

 

And the second one reads:

 

有所忿懥。則不得其正。

Funchi-suru tokoro areba, sunawachi sono sei o ezu.

When you are full of rage, this hinders you from correct decisions.

 

[i´m still on holidays without my books, so please forgive any careless mistakes ]

[LPC]

Thank you so much Markus, that really is quite inspirational. Was it common for Japanese swords to have these Chinese proverbs inscribed on the tang? I really appreciate your help as I am a novice always seeking knowledge. I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation.

 

Thank you,

Lou

[Nobody]

The phrases seem to be quotations from The Great Learning (Ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Learning). That is one of the “Four Books” in Confucianism of China.

 

Ref. the part of the book

http://blog.livedoor.jp/active_computer ... 34862.html

[Markus]

Lou, it is not a common day to day phenomenon to stumble over an inscription

of chinese proverbs, so it has to be regarded as let´s say "rare". More usual are

inscriptions of the sword´s nickname, and much more frequent we find the name

of the owner chiselled on the nakago.

I can´t say from the pictures of the nakago if your sword is unshortened, so we

have basically three possibilities:

 

1. The owner had him chiselled these proverbs when he ordered the sword.

2. The owner had him chiselled these proverbs on an unsigned sword he owned or

obtained at a certain time.

3. The owner had to shorten a blade due to whatever reason and had him chiselled

these proverbs on this occasion on the new nakago.

 

I am sure someone can jump in for more possibilties :D

[LPC]

Nobody,

I am enjoying learning more about Confucianism. Quite interesting and inspirational.

 

Thanks,

Lou