Nbthk Hozon Help

[SwordGuyJoe]

All,

I was hoping you'd be able to help me with the translation of this NBTHK origami. I can read mumei higo, but lost otherwise. Thanks for the help.

 

[SteveM]

I may have some of the English terminology wrong, but it should be close enough. 

 

左右餌畚鐔　無銘肥後

Bag-shaped openings on left and right, openwork tsuba. Mumei Higo

 

竪丸形鉄篠鑢地

Circular shape, file-marked

 

左右大透金布目象嵌丸耳

Large openwork (sukashi) on left and right, gold-inlay shading, rounded edge

[SwordGuyJoe]

Brilliant!  Thank you so much Steve.

[Shugyosha]

Hi Joe and Steve,

 

I don't know if this adds anything but in the Kodogu volume of Nihonto Koza I stumbled across 餌畚 (Esa Mokko) described as bait baskets. 

 

Best,

John

[SteveM]

Yes I learned a new word and kanji today - 餌畚（えふご）　efugo

 

Seems to refer specifically to the bag or basket which holds the food used to feed/reward falcons when going out on falconry/hawking expeditions. Apparently the hitsuana on the tsubas resemble these baskets (I didn't quite catch the resemblance, but for sure I am more literal-minded than the people who came up with these words).

 

Today the word comes up in the tea ceremony, where there is a specific tea container that is supposed to resemble this basket as well. (picture below)

 

http://verdure.tyanoyu.net/kensui_efugo.html

 

Yet another case where the sword world has expanded my vocabulary.

[John A Stuart]

More like mesh bags than a basket. Probably hemp or rush. John

[John A Stuart]

The mesh ones used in Chado are like this one of mine. I should add the bag holds a gourd. John