INSCRIPTION ON SWORD

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

Someone has sent me the picture below wondering if I can translate. These Kanji are carved on a sword from WWII, on the shinogi-ji slightly above the machi. Also, they are carved upside down (you have to point the kissaki to the floor to read them).

I would appreciate both the Romanji and a translation. Thank you. Grey

[John A Stuart]

Maybe this 瞭長王慰英贈 A presentation of an Imperial consolation prize??!! I have the first kanji wrong. John

[george trotter]

John san,

you are correct...it is a presentation piece, but I am unsure of the exact meaning...

I think the kanji read

Ken Cho O Kan E Zo...which I think say

Kencho...Prefectural Chief (ie. governor?)

Okane...the Crown of England

Zo...present/gift

If this is correct it seems that the Prefectural Governor presented this sword to (a member) of the Royal Family of England.

 

The only thing I can add is that the Crown Prince Edward visited Japan in 1922 and was presented with a number of swords...this may be one of them. If so it is highly significant...can you give us maker name, details etc?

Regards,

[Grey Doffin]

I saw the sword briefly and later the owner sent me the rubbing for your help. If I remember correct the blade is mu-mei. It was more interesting than the standard Showato but probably not Nihonto. Longer than the normal Gunto and in Gunto mounts, if I remember.

Grey

[Nobody]

縣長王冠英贈

 

I think that 王冠英 is a name of a Chinese, who seems to be a prefectural governor.

[John A Stuart]

王冠英 is Wang Guan Ying and may be the man below.

Biography of Mr. Wang Guan-Ying / written by Duan, Cai-hua; translated by Chang, Jenny Lichu

 

 

 

Bib ID

 

1592151

 

 

 

Format

 

Book

 

 

 

Author

 

 

 

 

Duan, Cai-Hua

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Description

 

[Taipei : Taipei Municipal Library], 2001.

508 p. ; 21 cm.

 

 

 

 

ISBN

 

957029020X

 

 

 

 

Notes

 

 

'September, 2001'.

 

Cover title.

 

 

 

Subjects

 

Guan-Ying, Wang. | China - Social life and customs - 20th century. | Taiwan - Social life and customs - 20th century.

[John A Stuart]

http://www.amazon.ca/Biography-of-Mr-Wa ... =1-1-fkmr0

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the help so far; do any of you know more about the man or the inscription? If the governor is presenting a Japanese sword does that make him a puppet of the occupying Japanese? Does the inscription say the sword is being given to British royalty or does the fact that it is probably Chinese alter the meaning? Why would British royalty be visiting occupied China?

The sword's owner is anxious to learn he owns the king's sword; any information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again, Grey

[John A Stuart]

It means, in Chinese, "Presented to county magistrate Wang Guan Ying." If the book is about this same man I do not know. The book was on Amazon for 5 dollars. Maybe research can be done to see what characters are in this man's name and if this sword refers to him. It may be some other person altogether. I hope my idea about this is not misleading. John

[Grey Doffin]

Hi John,

This would make better sense: gift from the occupying forces to a puppet governor rather than from the puppet to British royalty.

Anyone else?

Grey

[cabowen]

Given that the kanji are engraved upside down, I wouldn't be surprised if they were done by a non-Japanese.

[Brian]

One thing I did notice is how many fake Chinese Gunto on eBay have inscriptions in this same place, reading the same way down.

Not the same inscription, but there are obviously many variations. Not saying your friend's one is a fake, but you will have to see more than just the blade inscription to verify it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/w171-1219-Japan ... 35c2b2bcd0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/w74-1219-WARRIO ... 35c2b2a966

 

Brian

[Grey Doffin]

When I saw the sword it didn't suggest Chinese fake to me: none of the fake Damascus and no weird mei on the nakago. The inscription is smaller than those on the 2 fakes Brian just posted, and very well cut. But now you have me thinking: maybe I need another look at it.

Grey

[george trotter]

As the culprit who started the British Royalty lead which is evidently unlikely...I think I should add my thoughts on the Chinese inscription perspective.

Looking at F & G's "Pink Book" pp.81 - 84 there are given 3 or 4 oshigata of the blades (not nakagos) of Japanese swords which were returned from China in 1980s...all are genuine signed and unsigned Nihonto which have unusual and difficult to translate inscriptions generally mentioning a presentation to some Chinese person of note.

Given that this sword is very similar in inscription and mysterious meaning, it does look as though the inscription is Chinese, by a Chinese. The swords in question were probably captured in China, and during/after the war were inscribed to certain persons as mementoes and gifts....much as we see captured swords from the British sphere of combat (Malaya, Burma, southern China etc) which have small engraved plates affixed to the saya which commend some British Officer, Unit or Official in some way...usually dated 1945 or after...I think this sword is most probably a Chinese version of a a trophy sword for apprciation of service.

Sorry for the earlier comment...although my reading was not strictly incorrect...just unlikely as it turned out.

Regards,