samurai7202 Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 Hi everyone, I was able to acquire a Sankoku Yari from the Edo period. It's in excellent condition with original pole handle. Though it doesn't have actual signature, it has inscription of #910 in Japanese Kanji. Does someone know what this could mean? I was told it might have been used by some of the 47 Ronin legend early 18th century. Please, let me know if you have any ideas. See picture below. Thank you. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 Just one possibility, Roman, even if others laugh hysterically, so here goes. Many smiths moved to northwest Kyūshū in the 1590s to make spears for the military units gathering there for the Korean invasions. Since Christian symbolism was outlawed, one way of adding talismanic power plus ‘deniability’ was by incorporating a 十 cross into what looks like a production number with 十 ten in it. I have a Kumamoto Castle Hosokawa gun for example, covered in numbers, but each series seems to contain at least one 10, …and we know the Hosokawa were Christians, even if not openly. Just a romantic theory for the pot, Roman, but we love the romance of these things! 3 1 Quote
Hokke Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 30 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said: Just one possibility, Roman, even if others laugh hysterically, so here goes. Many smiths moved to northwest Kyūshū in the 1590s to make spears for the military units gathering there for the Korean invasions. Since Christian symbolism was outlawed, one way of adding talismanic power plus ‘deniability’ was by incorporating a 十 cross into what looks like a production number with 十 ten in it. I have a Kumamoto Castle Hosokawa gun for example, covered in numbers, but each series seems to contain at least one 10, …and we know the Hosokawa were Christians, even if not openly. Just a romantic theory for the pot, Roman, but we love the romance of these things! Im certainly no christian, but even I find this theory fascinating, if only from a sociological perspective. Outlaw ANYTHING and you will ALWAYS have those who find a way to navigate around those laws. Humans.....what a species 1 Quote
KungFooey Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 What has #910 got to do with the 47 ronin? Did they have 863 backup guys that nobody bothered mentioning? 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 By the way, 三角 'Sankaku' means three facets, (triangle cross-section). You can find this kind of yari blade with equilateral facets, or isosceles, i.e. one larger flat side. Quote
Shugyosha Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 Another reason for the number might have been that a local lord ordered a number of spears for his armoury and each one got a number on the tang. 1 Quote
Shugyosha Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 1 hour ago, KungFooey said: What has #910 got to do with the 47 ronin? Did they have 863 backup guys that nobody bothered mentioning? Didn't you hear about the ronin in the gloaming? 2 Quote
John C Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 Is the number one a variation of one of these? I can't seem to find a reference for the way it is written on the nakago. John C. Quote
Shugyosha Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 Hi John, It's 九百十 - the middle one isn't very clearly carved. 1 Quote
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