Monkey and kakihane

[kissakai]

1

Was on my earlier post but I’m really keen to find out if this is a kanji and what it means

I would expect some reference to the monkey but can never be certain

I have also seen this in a Gallery 3044 (San Francisco) 1982 catalogue

Described as:

The sosho kanji is well cut with monkey and bamboo cane. The face of the monkey is copper without detail. This style is typical of the Kyote area in Genroku era ca 1700 (Shoami work). Out of curiosity it sold for $300

They didn’t elaborate on the kanji and my image didn’t have a copper face

 

 

2)

Is this a mei/kakihane?

Or may it be a family mon?

 

 

 

Grev UK

[kissakai]

I forgot to add that this shape was in a book of mon as Asai Nagamata 1545 - 1573

 

 

Grev UK

[Marius]

# 2 - variation of the wachigai crest. The kakihan depict kikko - tortoise shell. Not necessary a mon, just a symbol.

[k morita]

#1 tsuba:

The kao resembles Tokugawa Ieyasu's kao,and the monkey means Toyotomi Hideyoshi.??? ----It's just my feeling. :|

http://www.tokka.biz/fittings/TS533.html

[John A Stuart]

That is a really good idea and would have been a grand insult worn by a Toyotomi clan retainer. John

[kissakai]

Thanks Moriusz - your reply would suggest that the variation on the Wachigai crest doesn't have any real significance being placed under the seppa

Thats another one sorted - thanks

 

Morita

What a great suggestion - With such a strong design I felt it had to have a significant meaning

 

It fits in well with:

'Toyotomi Hideyoshi had been given the nickname Kozaru, meaning "little monkey", from his lord Oda Nobunaga because his facial features and skinny form resembled that of a monkey. He was also known as the "bald rat"

I tried searched for the kao but without success but it doesn't really bother me

 

Many thanks for all your help with my two posts

 

 

Grev UK

[kissakai]

The Hiragana for Kozaru ‘Little monkey’

 

 

The third character is the same as on the tsuba

 

 

Grev UK

[Marius]

Grev,

 

The two overlapping circles (I know, they are elypses) are reminiscent of wachigai. The honeycomb on the seppa is a tortoise shell.

[Markus]

As a reference, Ieyasu´s kaô.