Help on Tsuba?

[Logan09]

Does anyone know what this is depicting? Looking to sale it but haven't a clue what the "structures" are.

Thanks.

 

Edit: Whoops, wrong section.

[b.hennick]

It looks like ferns and perhaps a well cover.

[Tanto54]

It's the symbol for Chapter 22 of the Tale of Genji.  Here's a list of these symbols which are often used on tsuba.

 

[Logan09]

Thanks for the replies. And thanks George! I never would've guessed this.

[Brian]

Great info George. Will have to remember that.

[SteveM]

I would never have guessed that. This is completely new to me. Fascinating stuff. 

[Ken-Hawaii]

I'd scratched my head over those "almost alike" symbols for ages. Thanks, George!

[Tanto54]

Glad to help.  These symbols occasionally refer to the incense game, but most of the time the ones that I've seen refer to a theme from the particular chapter of the Tale of Gemji represented by that symbol.  For example, if the symbol on a particular tsuba were for Chapter 4, then the tsuba might also have a Yugao flowering vine because that is the name of the Woman discussed in Chapter 4 (Yugao - the "Twilight Beauty").

 

Here are a few tsuba that I could quickly find online with these symbols.

 

 

 

 

 

[MauroP]

Here the entry for 源氏香 - Genji-kō from the third volume of "Tsuba - Kodōgu Gadai Jiten" by Numata Kenji.
Being lazy and quite busy, I don't give up the hope someone could translate it...

[Ed]

Learned something new today. Like others, I have seen these designs but took them a simple abstract designs.

[vajo]

Never heared from this - very valuable information. Thanks a lot.

[Kurikata]

It's amazing how the NMB can open new horizons! I will finally understand the meaning of my AKITA SHOAMI tsuba (chapter 9/20/23 of the tale of Genji))....

[Pete Klein]

This is the theme written on the origami above the attribution:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai-awase

 

@19:33 explains the game:  https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2029125/

[Kurikata]

I have this one also (Katchushi)....

[MauroP]

Worth telling that Genji-mon were also part in the incense-comparing games kumikō.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_incense#K%C5%8Dd%C5%8D
That's why, in my opinion, some tsuba show Genji-mon and strange shapes that could depict burning incense.

[Japan2112]

Bruno,

That's a very nice (ko) katchushi. What are its dimensions, might I ask?

[Ken-Hawaii]

Here's another one:

 

[Brian]

Ken...or you could look at the very first tsuba in this thread :rotfl:

[Kurikata]

Bruno,

That's a very nice (ko) katchushi. What are its dimensions, might I ask?

 

Hi Mark, it's a relatively large maru gata tsuba of 10,50 cm (i.e. 4,13 inch).