colours of tsuka-ito

[darkness2]

Hin Guys

 

i have just joined and although i do not yet own an origional Japanese samurai sword , i am fascinated by the history of the samurai warrior and his weapons..

i understand that the colour of a warriors tsuka-ito was reflected by his warrior status ?

could anyone please point me in the direction of any articles on the web that explain this in detail ?

 

Jon Brook

[John A Stuart]

Hi Jon, Try JSTOR, http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0073-0548(1964%2F1965)25%3C123%3ASRASIE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-2

 

http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/2002/2002-November/027850.html

 

Or google 'Tokugawa Sumptuary Laws' You will find the above and plenty more. John

[darkness2]

thanks John

 

i have searched google and cant find full info

the JSTOR wont let me access it... :?

[John A Stuart]

That is the problem with JSTOR it is expensive. You need a friend who has access or an institution that has it. The most restrictive laws were instituted by Ienari, maybe start there. I shall go through my archives but be patient. John

[darkness2]

John, i am very grateful ..

thank you !!

[darkness2]

Hi John

 

Have you had any chance to search your archives yet please ?

 

Jon Brook

[John A Stuart]

Hi Jon, I've gone through my files on the hard drive and can't find it. It may be in one of my books but the passage may be so brief I have not found it. next week Iwill be in Japan and will ask there. I have not forgotten, and will post an answer when I find something. John

[John A Stuart]

Aha, I found it It is an article by Mr Schiller and Professor T. Here is the part you may be interested in. John

 

As with many other things, wearing of swords was also formally regulated in the early Edo period 江戸時代 For example, in Genna 元和 9 (1624 AD), red Saya 鞘, swords over 2 Shaku 尺 9 Sun 寸 (87.87 cm) and square Tsuba 鍔 were prohibited. Commoners were not allowed to wear Katana swords at least legally. Another Shôgunate’s 幕府 executive order issued in July of Shôho 正保 2 (1645 AD) specified the maximum blade length of Katana 刀 to be 2 Shaku 8 Sun or 9 Sun (= 84.84cm - 87.87cm) and Wakizashi 脇差 to be 1 Shaku 8 Sun or 9 Sun (= 54.54cm - 57.57cm).

 

Samurai 侍 in the Shôgun’s 将軍 castle of Edo 江戸城 wore the Banzashi-Daishô 番差大小 (or Tojôzashi-Daishô 登城差大小) as specified by the strict military laws.

 

The military sepc. swords Same 鮫 had to be white, the Saya 鞘 black lacquered and with horn fittings. The Kojiri 鐺 of the Katana 刀 was flat, and that of the Wakizashi 脇差 rounded. The Kashira 頭 had to be horn, with the black Tsukamaki 柄巻 crossed over it (Kakemaki). The Fuchi 縁 and Midokoromono 三所物 ("things of the three places": Menuki 目貫, Kôgai 笄 and Kozuka 小柄) had to be Shakudô-Nanako 赤銅七子 (fish-roe-pattern) with the only decoration being the family Mon 紋. The Tsuba 鍔 was polished Shakudô 赤銅 without any decoration. However, this was not always strictly enforced, and Kanagu 金具 with Shishi 獅子 (lion dogs), dragons or floral motifs seem to have been tolerated.

[darkness2]

argh very interesting !!!

 

thanks john !!

[Guest Simon Rowson]

Hi Jon,

 

In the kabuki theatre and jidai-geki movies a ranking system of tsuka-ito is often employed starting with black and running through blue, brown, grey and finally white (for daimyo).

 

How historically accurate this is I have no idea.

 

All the best,

Simon