Viper6924 Posted September 10, 2011 Report Posted September 10, 2011 Hi guys! I´m sitting and study little dif kanjis. One question pops up: In the book "The samurai sword handbook" by Yumoto there is a section with kanjis. There are four dif kanjis for Bishu. Which he calls Bi provinces; Bizen, Bitchu and Bingo. Whats the dif between Bishu and Bizen when You write it in kanji? Whats the kanji for: "Bizen Osafune" compared the "Bishu Osafune"? Thanks! /Jan Quote
Veli Posted September 10, 2011 Report Posted September 10, 2011 Hello Jan! "Bishu" and "Bizen" are written by a pair of kanji: Bi+Shu 備州 and Bi+Zen 備前. You can find these in handwritten examples in Yumoto's book on page 112-113 (Bishu) and in inscription examples on page 35 (Bizen no Kuni ju Osafune...). Yumoto gives usually several examples of different writing styles for each kanji in his "commonly used characters" table. Veli Quote
Viper6924 Posted September 10, 2011 Author Report Posted September 10, 2011 As always, Jean and Veli! On both threads :D THANKS!!! /Jan Quote
Viper6924 Posted September 10, 2011 Author Report Posted September 10, 2011 Another question on this subject: When did the the smiths start using the "Bishu Osafune"-kanji combination? The "Bizen Osafune" goes way back. /Jan Quote
Veli Posted September 10, 2011 Report Posted September 10, 2011 My guess is late Kamakura (early 14th century). The earliest example I found with a quick search was Bishu Osafune Motoshige, Bumpo Ninen Jugatsu (October 1318) Veli Quote
Viper6924 Posted September 10, 2011 Author Report Posted September 10, 2011 Thanks again, Veli. /Jan Quote
Jacques Posted September 10, 2011 Report Posted September 10, 2011 Hi, There is a tachi with a katana mei reading Bishu Osafune ju Nagamitsu dated from Kagen ni nen (1304). Quote
Viper6924 Posted September 11, 2011 Author Report Posted September 11, 2011 Hi Jacques! Thats really intresting. I don´t suppose You have picture or some other info about this tachi? I´m trying to get me head around my own old Bishu Osafune "tachi-looking" sword with a katana mei. Driving me crazy I thought that the change from wearing tachi to katana started around 1380-1400. This Nagamitsu blade is almost 100 years earlier. Well, you learning something new every day. Thanks again, Jacques! /Jan Quote
Jacques Posted September 11, 2011 Report Posted September 11, 2011 Hi, Here, There is also an uchigatana signed Signed Kuniyoshi (Awataguchi) and made around Koan (1278/1288). Quote
Viper6924 Posted September 11, 2011 Author Report Posted September 11, 2011 Thanks again, Jacques for taking the time to help me. Highly appreciated! /Jan Quote
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