Koto period Blade, Shira Saya translation

[smac401]

Afternoon,

I posted this sword under the general Nihonto section and got great feedback from the guys on the blade and a little on the saya I also began thinking I should have posted it here also for the translations on the saya. The sword is an unsigned Koto period blade in old Japanese polish, with a bright hamon, mumie, 28" cutting edge. a deep sori and 3-holes in the Nakago.

The active inscriptions in the saya have a lot of history in them and I am trying to get it translated and working on it myself as well. It would be great to have the history of the sword and saya. I will get it to the shinsa next year when the details of one become available. Thanks in advance.

 

Steve M.

 

[Nobody]

I guess as follows;

 

本阿弥光遜 +kao – Honami Koson

 

長弐尺参寸四分余有之 – The length is a little more than 2-shaku, 3-zun, 4-bu.

 

代金子百五拾枚 – Value; 150 gold pieces

 

相州行光 – Soshu Yukimitsu

 

現住所 京城府中區 +something (maybe, 本町五丁目…) – Present address: Keijo-fu (=Seoul), Chunku +?

湯村辰二郎 – Yumura Tatsujiro

 

原籍 宮城縣伊具郡 +something – Legal address: Miyagi-ken, Igu-gun, +?

 

昭和拾弐年丁丑五月中浣 – The middle of May of Showa 12th year Hinoto-Ushi

[smac401]

Thats interesting, Honami Koson has been said before, can you explain the value of 150 gold peices. I was told the sword resembled ones created by Soshu Yumimitsu, and who is Yumura Tatsujiro.

What does the 12th year Hinoto-Usi?

 

i know it's a lo of questions about one sword but thank you again for the help

 

 

Steve M.

[DirkO]

Hinoto Ushi is the 14th year of the 60 year cycle (which began at 1924)

Showa 12th year is the same seeing showa began at 1926

So they both mean 1938 - it's not uncommon to have both descriptions

 

For more info :

http://www.jssus.org/nkp/kanshi.html

[nagamaki - Franco]

can you explain the value of 150 gold peices

 

Gold was valued at $20.63 per troy ounce in 1926, translate that into today's world economy/markets and relative values, ha! It might be easier to simply do a market study of current values of similar swords for sale. But, first there needs to be agreement on exactly what this sword is. No doubt, in 1926 a sword of that value was worth a pretty penny.

[DirkO]

Here's a bit from Darcy's excellent site which might put it into context :

 

The origami is dated Showa 16 (1941), and he attributes the sword to Saeki Norishige, and places a value of 200 mai on the sword. This is a high value, one mai is a gold coin, and in old times for example, a famous tanto by Toshiro Yukimitsu was purchased for 32 mai. Quoting Dr. Sato:

 

... it was bought by Kimura Hitachi-no-suke for thirty-two gold mai. [...] Thirty two mai, equivalent to 320 silver ryo, was an enormous

sum.

 

Over time, swords had increased in relative value and also Japanese coinage had been debased, and it is difficult to impossible to compare relative values from a sword valued early in the Edo period to one valued later in the Edo period and on into modern times. My own impression on reading this valuation by Honami Koson is that it shows a great deal of respect for the piece and its value, and he does not usually place a valuation in his origami.

[Nobody]

............ and who is Yumura Tatsujiro.

.....................

Yumura Tatsujiro who seems to be the owner at that time was a high government official, according to Dr. Google.

 

http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=5jp8 ... ro&f=false

 

http://www.yumani.co.jp/np/isbn/9784843333945

[smac401]

Franco, Moriyama San and Dirk,

 

Thank you all very much, translation class has begun. That is a lot of information, and several names I have not heard in reference to this sword. It is attributed to Saeki Norishige and mentions Soshu Yukimitsu and has several dates on it along with a value placed by Honami Koson which is not normal and was owned by Yumura Tatsujiro , a government official at one time.

 

Keeping alll this in mind I will be making a shinsa at some point in the next year with sword in hand. As stated before it is a beautiful sword to hold and admire at any given time.

 

One last question though is there any reason it would mention two smordsmiths that both were pupils of Masamune, and I have found out that Norishige was junior to Yukimitsu in the student ranking. Is it possible that one tutored the other in the making of the sword?

 

Just another thought. Thanks you again

 

Steve M.

[DirkO]

It is attributed to Saeki Norishige

 

Hi Steve, Norishige has nothing to do with it, that was just the smith's name from Darcy's example

[Jean]

Hi Steve, Norishige has nothing to do with it, that was just the smith's name from Darcy's example

 

No kidding, Dirk :D

[smac401]

Good morning Jean,

Glad you stopped by for a look, if I am not asking to much could you give me an opinion on the blade and such. I have other photos posted on the Nihonto main page under old period Katana. I am really enjoying the expert imput from you guys. If I get this to the shinsa next year and it passes it will have a lot of history.. Thanks ahead of time and to all responses. Franco, Moriyama San and Edward G.

 

Steve M.

[smac401]

Sorry didn't mean to leave you out of the thanks Dirk.

 

Steve M.