Translation Choshu

[kissakai]

Hi

I just realised that I had miss-translated this tsuba

I had Masa?

I'm sure it is a very late Choshu Edo tsuba

 

 

 

 

Grev

 

[Stephen]

Could be sho not masa

[kissakai]

Hi Stephen

I think the first kanji is masa but I was looking more at the second kanji

The kao would clince it

[Surfson]

Is Shosankin possible?  

[ROKUJURO]

There are many CHOSHU TSUBAKO with MASA in their name, but this one is a riddle to me. I read MASA YAMA YASU (or SHOZAN YASU?)..

[kissakai]

Just beem through Joly's Shosankenshu for the kao but found nothing

[John A Stuart]

Have you tried Masataka 正崟 ? John

[kissakai]

Originally I had this as Masamine and if you see the kanji it is easy to see why although close I'm sure it is wrong

Phew

Checked alt the kao in Joly's book

From the earlier reply I believe the first kanji to be Masa or Sho

I've further checked for Masa and Sho in:

Wakayama
Sesko
Haynes

No luck

I could next check Sesko's family names but I'm still assuming it to be Choshu

This now getting annoying 

Thanks for all the pointers

[ROKUJURO]

MASATAKA it is, thank you John!  (Edit: I thought....)

[kissakai]

Thanks John and Jean

Just off to bed but 1st thing tomorrow I'll check this maker out especially to see if I can find out which Masatake and the kao

Hopefully one from the Choshu school although that doesn't really matter as it is a nice tsuba

Also just starting Makus's book 'The Tosogu Classromm Part 2

 

 

Grev

[Bazza]

Permit me to disagree.  Not Masataka.  I'll give my reason after some research.  I'll be back...

 

BaZZa.

[kissakai]

Just a couple of final points for clarification

Is this likely to be from the Choshu school?

Would it be described as:

O-mikuji or noshi

Strips of paper used in temples, prayers and poems 

Size = 71 x 69 x 5.2mm

 

Front and back images

 

 

 

 

Grev

 

 

[SteveM]

Here is another tsuba design, described as "noshi". Looks similar, excepting of course yours look ripped and frayed. I don't know what the significance is. 

https://www.tsubanomiyako.jp/SHOP/T-303.html

 

For the mei, I am leaning towards 正峯 (Masamine). The kanji for mine has two common forms: one with the mountain radical on the left (峰), and one with the mountain radical on top (峯). Yours, I think, is Masamine with the mountain radical on top, and this is probably the Chōshū Masamine mentioned in Wakayama on page 366. In the reference, Wakayama uses the mine with the radical on the left, but I don't think that has any significance here.

 

One of the things that makes me think this is mine, is the  crossed diagonal lines just under the mountain radical. I think these are a shorthand for the 久 that is written just after 山. Hope this makes sense. 

https://kakijun.jp/page/mine10200.html

[kissakai]

Thanks Steve for the examples

Why is it so difficult!

[kissakai]

PS

I can't find this

Wakayama on page 366

 

I have the 3 volume Wakayama and can not find a 'Masamine'

Would you have a scan?

[SteveM]

I just have one Japanese volume. Page as attached:

 

[kissakai]

Sorry Steve

I'm not sure which kanji I'm looking at

[SteveM]

Try this. I've highlighted the Masamine from Chōshū. 

 

[kissakai]

Thanks Steve

[John A Stuart]

Yes, that seems very well reasoned and likely. John

[kissakai]

One last bit of help

Does anyone have information for the following two smiths?

 

Masataka (I have no record of a Choshu smith with this name

 

Masamine from Chōshu is recorded but I can't find out anything about this smith