andreYes Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 Hello! Is anybody here a specialist in Japanese plants ? I'm trying to define the leaves on the following tsuba. My guess that it could be Nymphoides peltata - asaza, "floating heart" - アサザ （浅沙、阿佐佐）. Any other ideas? Besides, the overall design resembles me a kamon, but I've never seen this kind of leaves on a kamon... Quote
John A Stuart Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 Why not the ubiquitous hollyhock, aoi? Quote
andreYes Posted March 29, 2011 Author Report Posted March 29, 2011 John A Stuart said: Why not the ubiquitous hollyhock, aoi? If you mean the Asarum caulescens (futaba aoi), like on the Tokugawa's mon, - the leaves' shape is quite different. It resembles the leaves of Alcea rosea (tachi aoi), but I've never seen it's leaves in decorations or kamon. And the footstalk seems too long in this case... Quote
John A Stuart Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 I was thinking the alcea rosea. The stem is too long and it must be a water plant. Not lotus I think but, something close. John Quote
Thierry BERNARD Posted March 29, 2011 Report Posted March 29, 2011 Petasites japonicus giganteus ?? Quote
Ronin Akuma Posted March 30, 2011 Report Posted March 30, 2011 Petasites Japonicus aka Fuki 菜蕗 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petasites_japonicus Also Butterbur or Rawan-Buki Quote
andreYes Posted March 30, 2011 Author Report Posted March 30, 2011 Quote Petasites japonicus giganteus ?? Thank you for the suggestion! The shape looks very similar. The only problem, I'm afraid to imagine the size of caterpillar that could bite off nearly a half of such giant leaf :D Quote
John A Stuart Posted March 30, 2011 Report Posted March 30, 2011 Steve's smaller variety looks very like the plant depicted on the tsuba and certainly caterpillar sized munchies. Thierry's would require caterpillars from Mothra's brood. John Quote
Thierry BERNARD Posted March 30, 2011 Report Posted March 30, 2011 andreYes said: The only problem, I'm afraid to imagine the size of caterpillar that could bite off nearly a half of such giant leaf :D Quote
Ronin Akuma Posted March 30, 2011 Report Posted March 30, 2011 John A Stuart said: Steve's smaller variety looks very like the plant depicted on the tsuba and certainly caterpillar sized munchies. Thierry's would require caterpillars from Mothra's brood. John Mothra!!! Quote
Mark Green Posted March 30, 2011 Report Posted March 30, 2011 These plants don't start out that big. Plus, I feel the tsubashi was just making open space, with something that would look good. Mark G It looks like giant rhubarb. :lol: Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted March 30, 2011 Report Posted March 30, 2011 we often see, especially with 'samurai fittings', recognizable windows into our natural surroundings. "A caterpillar munched leaf", perhaps slightly exaggerated, is presented to give pause, a reminder to stop and smell the roses, appreciate and notice the little things in life, because, for a samurai, there is the understanding that death may come at any moment. Quote
Muki Posted March 31, 2011 Report Posted March 31, 2011 Isn't the "munched" part simply the space for a kogotana cleverly done? Forgive me for being obtuse... :? Quote
andreYes Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Posted March 31, 2011 Muki said: Isn't the "munched" part simply the space for a kogotana cleverly done?Sure, it's a kozuka-ana! Thanks to everybody! I think it's actually the Petasites japonicus. I'm curious, why it was depicted on this tsuba: it was someone's mon, or just culinary preferences ? Quote
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