Ii Naomasa's Monkey Mask

[Marius]

Maybe some katchu enthusiast would be interested and doesn't know it is being offered:

 

http://japanesesword.de/?site=armor&id=16&lang=en

 

You might want to read the description in German, as it is slightly...untidy?

[christianmalterre]

Dear Mariusz,

 

you just wonder?

 

Christian

[Marius]

  christianmalterre said:

you just wonder?

 

I won't even ask for the price So, I just wonder :lol:

[christianmalterre]

LOL!

Christian

[Justin Grant]

I don't even want to ask, simply because the price would depress me.

 

Althought, I have a very pretty wife... Maybe a trade is in order....

[sanjuro]

Justin.

You are either a very brave or a very foolish man. If she who should be obeyed gets wind of your post you may well be consigned to a monastery (Or the married man's equivalent..... Commonly known as the dog-house. You know how that goes ........ bread and water and absolutely NO you-know-what).

 

Seriously though, one wonders why if this is the genuine article it has not been reunited with the red armour of Li Niomasa that is still preserved, otherwise intact? (I cannot remember for the life of me where at the moment).

[Justin Grant]

Keith-

 

My wife has a great sense of humor, and depending on my latest transgression, would lovingly take anyone up on a trade to save herself form the bonds of shackles she would surely be placed in after she has finished using me for some odd form of medieval torture!

 

As for the mask, I now have some concerns, one would be best to research this to the ends of the earth.

[sanjuro]

Wise man........ Whatever the logic he may have used to arrive at a sensible and diplomatic decision. :D

[IanB]

All, Ii Naomasa's armours, and yes there is more than one, are in Hikone Castle together with the big reg and gold flag carried at Seki ga Hara.

Ian Bottomley

[christianmalterre]

Dear Ian,

i think we all do know that very well-at least myself i do know that..Laugh again!

I think-Mariusz,like myself(and perhaps others?)-very simply...just did wonder?

(Also about that given historical correctness of course!)

(LOL!)

 

Christian

[peterqu]

An interesting aside. I was in Kyoto about 3 years ago and Ford Hallam ,a friend and I visited an armour shop or museum as it was called although almost everything was for sale. We were surprised to discover that a Lord Ii was in fact alive and well.He told us that he was the x?th Viscount Ii and that his ancestors had fought at Sekigahara and that one had lost his life at Osaka castle.To say that I was totally overawed would be and understatement as he showed us red armour purportedly that of his famous ancestors and told us `war stories`involving his ancestors.We were later to discover that the title had in fact been acquired and that nothing was as it seemed. One of the first lessons I learned in Japan was not to take anything at face value and that one should get advice from trusted people who are only too willing to help.I am not surprised to now discover that the red armour we were shown was unlikely to be that of the Ii family if indeed all of it is in the Hikone Castle.We live and learn. Regards,Peter

[IanB]

Peter, Along similar lines, I was discussing a Momoyama armour with some friends in Tokyo and trying to make the point that it proved a certain feature was in use at that date. The answer came back 'No its an Edo feature'. I replied but this was so and so's armour - answer 'Yes'. He fought at Seki ga Hara - answer 'Yes'. So because he wore this armour at Seki ga Hara and it has this feature it must have been used in the Momoyama - answer 'No'. After having a few more drinks I finally grasped that it was quite usual for a family to enhanced an illustrious ancestor's armour at a later date. Perhaps having it re-lacquered, a better helmet and so on to reflect the enhanced status he had acquired following his exploits. Confusing ain't it.

Ian Bottomley