Theme

[Henry Wilson]

Does any one have any theories on what theme is in this Kanayama tsuba?

[Steve Waszak]

Hi Henry,

 

Very nice guard. The metal looks excellent, and that hitsuana is intriguing... ;o)

 

I've been thinking about your question here, though, and I can't say that I'm able even to narrow it down very usefully (maybe some morning coffee will help). I get the sense that the subject is not merely pure abstraction, but that some "thing" is being abstracted here. Just can't make out what that is yet... Do you have any thoughts on it yourself? )

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[Ford Hallam]

lotus leaves ?

[Brian]

Yeah..been pondering it myself...but no inspiration has struck.

Someone will narrow it down I am sure.

 

Brian

[christianmalterre]

Dear Henry,

 

i fully do agree with Stevens former post-fantastic iron and Hitsu-ana execution!

Congratulations!

Actually can not definite any symbolism in this one-so at least to give you an answer on your´s question.

I do think there is no symbolism or archaic/religious meaning mentioned by the Tsubashi who worked it out.

(could with much fantasy express the wings of an dragonfly-what i do not like in this theory is why the worker did show just one-single wing on the Up and Top each time-so only one upper and under-wing pairs- from those insects.(The under pair is the more round-shaped one)

(did also think about the theory of an other(us) very known Tsuba-Lover who mentioned symbolism of Pommel and Cantle Plate of an Kura but also here i am very uncertain)

If you like playing think on an tortoise with it´s tail.... in two dimensional expression(but also here me i personally have mine doupts)-So?

 

Either way-very interesting and an nice and seldom find!

 

Christian

[Ford Hallam]

lotus leaves....

 

 

 

[Pete Klein]

I think Ford got it. There is a lot of religious symbolism with the Buddhist Lotus Sutra being a part.

[Henry Wilson]

Thanks all for your comments and thoughts. I was thinking along the lines of

 

rabbit ears

 

but lotus leaves sounds a lot more convincing.

 

Have a nice one

[docliss]

Personally, I would interpret this design as being that of a butterfly. John L.

[Steve Waszak]

The problem I have with the lotus theory is that, assuming we're reading it as a lotus leaf rising from the bottom to meet another descending from the top, the area in the middle is much wider than it has to be to accommodate the seppa-dai, and yet, all that metal would not be needed for the lotus design either, so why is it there? Lotus leaves could easily be rendered more gracefully by simply removing some of the middle from the center to the right and left of the seppa-dai, so why wasn't this done?

 

The butterfly theory is made problematic for me because of the elements shooting off of the rim to meet the "wings" of the butterfly; what are these structures pursuant to achieving a butterfly motif? They do appear as some sort of "stem" in my eyes, and yet...

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[xxlotus8xx]

Prayer wheel.