Dan tsuba Posted December 10 Report Posted December 10 Showing inome shapes. How about sharing the tsuba you have that show some sort of inome motif? I have a few tsuba with the heart shaped inome (or boar’s eye) motif carved into them. I know that the inome motif translates into bravery and determination for the samurai. I also know that they most often appear four inome on a tsuba (I don’t know why they appear as four?). But maybe the inome are shown 4 on a tsuba because the number 4 in Japan is an unlucky number due to the way it is pronounced in Japan is the word for death? Perhaps the samurai wanted to show the inome (meaning bravery and determination) along with 4 inome to signify their bravery and determination even until death? Some information about the number 4 in Japan can be found here- https://heyjapan.net...panese-culture?hl=en The first 3 tsuba shown have definite inome shapes on them. The other 2 tsuba shown I am pretty sure are supposed to represent inome shapes (but I am not certain about that) or they could perhaps represent something else? Onward! Quote
Toryu2020 Posted December 10 Report Posted December 10 Inome is symbolic of Marishiten, God of War... -t Quote
Spartancrest Posted December 10 Report Posted December 10 I wonder what six inome amid waves means? 4 Quote
Dan tsuba Posted December 10 Author Report Posted December 10 Thanks, Spartancrest for that picture of the 6 inome tsuba! So, what does 6 inome on a tsuba mean (instead of the usual 4 inome)? Well, the craftsman needed glasses? Or he had a lot of love to give and added 2 extra hearts? Ha, ha, ha, ha, etc! Just having some fun here! Well, I searched through my 7000 kamon book and found the kamons pictured below. Maybe some of the motifs on tsuba that I thought were inome, may actually be some sort of leaves that symbolize a family kamon? The leaves look heart shaped and are 4 and 6 leaves kamon. Or perhaps the heart shapes that face inward, towards the nakago-ana are inome symbols. And the heart shapes that face toward the mimi are leaves and are a family kamon. I don't know! Just giving it my best guess! 1 Quote
Spartancrest Posted December 11 Report Posted December 11 Two inome on a gift I received from Roger Dundas back in 2022 1 Quote
Dan tsuba Posted December 12 Author Report Posted December 12 Spartancrest, Nice tsuba! Your inome are facing inwards towards the nakago-ana. So, I don't know. What do you think about the heart shaped symbols facing inwards towards the nakago-ana as being inome symbols. And the heart shaped figures facing outwards towards the mimi being more or less a kind of leaf or a kamon symbol? Who knows! Quote
ZH1980 Posted December 12 Report Posted December 12 A Heian-jo Style tsuba from my collection. 2 Quote
Dan tsuba Posted December 12 Author Report Posted December 12 Hi Zachary, A nice tsuba. Thanks for sharing! It may be a good example of how perhaps the heart shapes that face towards the mimi are leaves, and the heart shapes that face towards the nakago-ana are inome symbols? The heart shapes on your tsuba (that are facing towards the mimi) seem to have stems attached to them and are surrounded with stems, small leaves, and a flower. Or maybe I am just overthinking this! Quote
Davis Posted December 12 Report Posted December 12 Dan, I don't collect tsuba but this one is on a sword that I have. Quote
Dan tsuba Posted December 12 Author Report Posted December 12 Hi Mick! Thanks for sharing. That looks like a nice tsuba with heart shaped symbols. Quote
Spartancrest Posted December 12 Report Posted December 12 20 hours ago, ZH1980 said: Heinan-jo Style Hi Zachary one very much like yours in the Norwegian National Museum - I just thought you might like to know you have a museum quality piece. https://www.nasjonal...tion/object/OK-09433 https://www.eldreds....-openwork_2E02EACA27 https://page.auction.../auction/f1106215209 The six lobed ones are slightly outnumbered by the four inome versions - the actual flower decoration tends to vary from piece to piece, maybe some personalization to each customer like a Mon? 1 Quote
ZH1980 Posted December 13 Report Posted December 13 Thanks Dale! Mine was courtesy of Aoi-Art. They have a collection of such beautiful pieces. 1 Quote
Dan tsuba Posted December 13 Author Report Posted December 13 So, looking through my collection I found another tsuba with the inome symbol. What is interesting is that this is one of the first tsuba that I purchased. At that time, I thought it was interesting that the craftsman included hearts in his motif! I had no idea (like I do now) of what that symbol represented! Ha, ha, ha, ha, etc! 1 Quote
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