Translation Request

[JapaneseArtFan]

Dear community,

 

You may wonder why I have arrived at a Japanese Sword forum with the attached item.

 

Whilst I have an ever growing passion for Japanese art and culture I admit to only owning a few Tsuba. This being said, I do posses a deep interest in Japanese metal works, and the origin, and own a humble collection of Kagamibuta.

 

Perhaps the only link to Japanese swords on the following item is that I believe it to be crafted in a similar spirit as the Japanese Sword, and that the case top looks to be made of the metal composition Shakudo.

 

I have tried to decipher the Kanji on this item for a while with very little success (I have been slowly learning to read Kanji but have a long way to go). I believe it may make reference to a temple around the Nara region. The masks around this item make me reminisce of temples in Nara. I suspect the work comes from a circle of hands around an artist named Kano Tessai. Beyond this I am floored. I recently showed it to a friend with Kanji skills, who suggested I visit this forum to ask if anyone can help translate.

 

As there are a number of sections with kanji, I have taken separate photos to try and capture all the kanji in a readable format. Please click on images for the larger views.

 

I realise this is a big ask - and if it's not possible, or the item off topic for this forum, I fully appreciate your stance and thank you for taking the time read this post.

 

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Martyn, give this a few days here. In the meantime the Mei top right looks like "Ga +(?) + to" 我口刀, maybe connection with Garaku?

[SteveM]

Section 2 - 熱田社宝物 蘭陵王面　

Atsuta-sha treasure (reference to Atsuta Jinja in Nagoya, is my guess https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atsuta_Shrine)

Ranryō-ō men (Character mask from Gagaku https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%98%AD%E9%99%B5%E7%8E%8B_(%E9%9B%85%E6%A5%BD))

 

Probably the design is influenced by (or a copy of) a mask in the treasury of Atsuta Shrine. 

 

Section 4 bears the date 久安元年十二月八日 (Kyūan 1, December 8th). This is 1145 on the Gregorian calendar.

Section 6 bears the date 弘安四年八月日 (Kōan 4, August), which is 1281 on the Gregorian calendar. 

 

These are the easy pickings. 

[k morita]

Hi, Martyn san,

 

The signature says "carved by Tekkan"(鐡寒刀),not Tessai.

 

[JapaneseArtFan]

Hi, Martyn san,

 

The signature says "carved by Tekkan"(鐡寒刀),not Tessai.

 

Dear Morita San,

 

I humbly thank you for the translation of the artist's go. Please forgive my poor command of the English language - I did not mean to infer it was by Tessai. Whilst I could identify the second Kanji was not sai, I noted the first Kanji was signed in the same manner as Tes (鐡). That, along with the work, lead me to believe this artist may have been a monjin of Tessai (or circle of hands, as I poorly described). Your generous translation has opened up a wide research opportunity and I have been devouring any material I've been able to find in my library on the artist you identified.

 

I will return to share the information once I have gathered everything together to create a meaningful post.

 

Thank you again for your time.

[JapaneseArtFan]

Section 2 - 熱田社宝物 蘭陵王面　

Atsuta-sha treasure (reference to Atsuta Jinja in Nagoya, is my guess https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atsuta_Shrine)

Ranryō-ō men (Character mask from Gagaku https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%98%AD%E9%99%B5%E7%8E%8B_(%E9%9B%85%E6%A5%BD))

 

Probably the design is influenced by (or a copy of) a mask in the treasury of Atsuta Shrine. 

 

Section 4 bears the date 久安元年十二月八日 (Kyūan 1, December 8th). This is 1145 on the Gregorian calendar.

Section 6 bears the date 弘安四年八月日 (Kōan 4, August), which is 1281 on the Gregorian calendar. 

 

These are the easy pickings. 

 

Dear Steve San,

 

Truly an epic translation, in which I remain indebted for your help. As you have identified, the masks shown on this work are a collection of Bugaku and Gagaku masks from the Atsuta shrine treasury. This fits in with the artists history as a monk that studied these treasures with Tessai.

 

I suspect the dates are a reference to the date that each individual mask was created.

 

Thank you for your help with this translation.

 

A wonderful forum of very educated and helpful souls. Piers, thank you for suggesting I visit