New Oshigata Notebook Acquired

[Randy McCall]

Well, I've recently acquired a new oshigata notebook at auction; it would appear to be late Meiji or Taisho, though I haven't had a chance to examine it in person yet.

The contents will be listed for appreciation / identification on my new website (hidensho.com), when it gets re-launched.  At the moment the rebuild is still a work in progress

      

 

    

 

      

 

        

 

    

[Surfson]

That is very cool Randy.  Somebody put a lot of time into their own study book.  I assume it is one of a kind.  Looks like he had a good collection or a lot of friends with nice swords that let him make oshigata of theirs.   b

[Randy McCall]

The book has just come in... amazing.  Around 100 pages, each page with an average of 4-5 rubbings.  Unlike the previous oshigata notebook, the author of this work put few notes next to oshigata, but did put some text at the beginning and end.  However, the author wrote in sosho, in a very refined brushwork, also but very tiny and idiosyncratic in style, which may make it hard to decipher.  I'll post  pictures of the text below for the use of those who might be interested, full size so they can be blown up (click to view)

On a side note, the paper of the book itself is very light, and on some pages you can see text through the page, on the inner part of the pocket fold... so this paper for this work was salvaged from something else.

I'll eventually be posting the page images from this notebook on the hidensho.com site, once I have the rebuilt site functional.

Inner front cover notes

Glued-in insert note, second last page


Inner back cover notes

[Brian]

Such amazing art just in the handwriting. Can't imagine how difficult the translation would be. But that book is a labour of love for sure.

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Randy.,

 

Do I see Gassan on the close up of the inner back cover note page, almost at the bottom of the second line from the left?

 

月

山 

 

 

[Randy McCall]

Hi Randy.,

 

Do I see Gassan on the close up of the inner back cover note page, almost at the bottom of the second line from the left?

 

月

山 

 

 

It could be, Malcolm.  I was also wondering if the first character might be 日

 

For viewers, I'll post two closeup pics of the text.  The first will be the two characters in question.  The second, for context, will be the entire two-line passage;  you may need to click on the thumbnail to see the image full size.

 

Characters                                                         Two line passage