Tsuba Inscription

[Edward G]

Gentlemen:

 

Attached are photos of a high grade tsuba with many characters inscribed on it.  The makers' name appears to be Tamagawa Yoshihisa.  However, this is all I have been able to determine.  I would like to know the full translation of what is written on the tusba as well as any information on the maker if possible.   Many thanks in advance.

 

 

 

Edward G

 

 

[SteveM]

Left side is 

水府住玉川義久（花押）Tamagawa Yoshihisa of the Mito-han

Right side is

草木柏氏囗囗九種為  Kusagi Kashiwa shi ~ ~ kyushū no tame

 

The right side would be a dedication, presumably to the person who ordered the tsuba, but I'm not sure of the reading of the name. Kusagi (or Kusaki) and then Kashiwa, followed by 氏 which typically is used as a neutral honorific. Kusagi and Kashiwa are both viable last names, so their combination here stumps me. The following two kanji are a mystery. The final kanji, 為, is used to indicate a dedication (it basically means "for"). 

[TETSUGENDO]

Tamagawa Yoshisa

approx.1779-1839 (dates vary)

Mito School

[Stefan]

There have been several  Generations  of Tamagawa Yoshihisa.

 

Stefan

[Edward G]

Thank You Steve M, Steven K, and Stefan, your information has been quite helpful.  However, the right side inscription dedication is still a bit of a mystery.   If anyone else could add to or clarify, that would be most helpful.

 

Thank You

 

Edward G

[mywei]

A couple of weird characters as Steve has mentioned. I think it can be read top down outside-inside as 草木囗囗九種為 柏氏 - i.e Plant _ _ Nine seeds/types for Mr. Kashiwa, which would make sense given the plant motif of the tsuba.

The first unclear kanji could be a form of 花(flower) or 巻(scroll) - not sure.... the second kanji could be a another 九???

[SteveM]

Yes! That's it. 

 

草木花囗九種為　柏氏

 

A variant of 花 is used. 

https://glyphwiki.org/wiki/twedu-a03439-012

 

Still unsure of the one middle kanji, but I think it only has interest for us kanji fanatics.

Unless that mystery kanji drastically alters the meaning, 九種 here refers to "nine varieties".

So the meaning is indeed something like "Design of nine various plants, flowers, trees for Mr. Kashiwa", as Matt says. 

[mywei]

Nice resource Steve. Last mystery kanji could be a form 丸 (circle) maybe?

[John A Stuart]

How about, 草木花忙九種為 ? John

[SteveM]

I'm at a loss as to what it is. If I had a gun to my head I'd say its a variant of 九 (mindful of a discussion that Morita-san and Moriyama-san had some time ago about the conventions of calligraphy, and that if the same kanji appears twice in a phrase, that kanji should be written two different ways). But when I think of the meaning (99 varieties?) it doesn't make much sense, unless its a way of saying "many". If I search for that phrase I get nothing. If I search for "9 varieties" I get a bunch of hits related to mahjong, which seems to be a dead end as well. 

 

If not 九, my next thought was 仇 but that is even more of a dead end. 

[Edward G]

Thanks to John A Stuart, Steve M, mywei,and Steven K...............I appreciate all the input.

 

Edward G