Kanji Horimono

[vajo]

I would like to ask for a translation of the Horimono Kanji in the sales thread.

 

What does it mean?

 

⽊ ⼤ ⼠ ⾦ ⽔

 

Any idea?

[Ray Singer]

I believe that is intended to refer to the five elements (per Chinese philosophy).

• Metal
• Wood
• Water
• Fire
• Earth

[Ray Singer]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Xing

[vajo]

Another idea from me was.

 

"buried me under a big tree near the water as a golden samurai"

 

What you think Ray.

 

But it sounds nice what you mean with the god of movements.

 

That is very cool. Thanks.

[Ray Singer]

Japanese sword as treasure map, leading to a golden armour. Now you just find a big tree near water. I think there's a great potential novel in there somewhere . 

 

"buried me under a big tree near the water as a golden samurai"

 

What you think Ray.

[vajo]

Japanese sword as treasure map, leading to a golden armour. Now you just find a big tree near water. I think there's a great potential novel in there somewhere . 

 

   

[vajo]

Ray is this then more a martial arts theme or philosophy?

 

In Martial arts there is the 5 elements like this

 

Like a building that collapses, to duck.

When blocking outward explode, like a cannon.

Cross the attack line when turning.

Like an ax that chops up and down to split.

Horizontal, boring forward like a geyser.

[Ray Singer]

Applicable to martial arts but no, my understanding is that Wǔ Xíng is a larger philosophy describing laws which govern the universe as a whole.

[vajo]

Wu Xing was a chinese philosoph as i read. Was there so late in time so much influence of the chinese philosophy to decorate a sword with abstracts? 

I expect bonji as religious symbols, or pictorial horimono like dragons. 

[Ray Singer]

I am getting to the point where I would be more comfortable deferring to someone more familiar with this subject. Will simply say that one could commission any horimono which aligned with the owner's beliefs. And also that 木火土金水 is seen in other Japanese art forms. I have attached the 木火土金水 series from Utagawa Kunisada. 

 

[vajo]

Ray what shows the third picture in the row. That with the eagle?

 

Btw very intersting. One step more in my learning curve.

[Ray Singer]

In each of the prints the red circle contains the subject. That is the print for 土 (Earth/Soil/Ground). I do not know the specific story behind what is being shown, however if I was being carried away by a giant eagle, what I would want most is to have my feet back on solid ground. 

[Ray Singer]

BTW, it also seems like an apt phase given that those are all elements intrinsic to the creation of a Japanese sword. All play a role, down to the clay used during yaki-ire.