Tessen Mei

[Bugyotsuji]

Hi folks.　Can anyone read the Mei on this Tessen? I believe the Tessen itself is quite an old example, possibly Muromachi, but its condition is quite delicate... I was gently cleaning the red rust off it today and discovered some writing cut into the insides of the iron.

 

There are characters inscribed in both sides, but the 4 Kanji Mei below is easier (?) to see.

 

I looked for Hirayasu ??? or Heian ??? on the internet but came up with nothing intelligible. Were Tessen originally made by fan makers or by armorers/armourers, or by whom, I wonder?

[DirkO]

A while ago I saw a tessen made by Gassan Sadakazu : http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/Japanese-Samura ... dZViewItem

 

Sometimes tessen were used as a conceiled weapon, so I guess it makes sense that the more sturdy pieces with which one could deliver a blow, were made by armourers or even nihonto smiths.

[Bugyotsuji]

Tessen-jutsu. Tamahagane, to stop a sword blow! Makes sense, I agree.

[Bugyotsuji]

After many years time to attack the readings once more, with gentle improvements in photography.

 

This iron fan has two Mei, one inside each edge rib.

a) 平安　?　？ (Heian/Hiroyasu +?) the owner? 虎撤? Kotetsu?

ｂ）山次郎 perhaps? (A Shinshinto swordsmith around the Bunka period, according to the Nihonto Meikan)

 

Can anyone improve on these? Many thanks.

[Markus]

I am not sure about the last one, maybe "zô" (蔵), but the first three characters read "Heianjô" (平安城).

And with this in mind, I think the other mei reads "Yamashiro no Kuni" (山城国).

[Bugyotsuji]

If that is so, Markus, then the date is looking much older than I had imagined. Hmmm... Who would have made tessen, anyway? Katchu-Shi, Katana-Kaji?

[Markus]

But "Heianjô" means just Kyôto, without any indicator of production time.

[Bugyotsuji]

So for how long were there smiths signing Heianjo in Yamashiro, I wonder?

[Markus]

The name "Heianjô" for "Kyôto" was in use during all eras. Also Meiji-era and later

smiths still used the old name for Kyôto from time to time. But I fear I don´t know

who made them by default. I only stumble over some special order pieces by noted

swordsmiths or armorers now and then in the net.

[Bugyotsuji]

Many thanks for your time, knowledge and patience, Markus.

I feel as though I have started to 'see' this thing a little better.

[Bugyotsuji]

Yesterday I spent several hours going back over the possibilities, and following Ockam's razor the natural answer seems to be Markam's 平安城蔵 ie this was kept at Heianjo, or by the Heianjo workshop/community.

 

If the other three letters are 山代国 (old name of 山城国) or 山代作 it would indicate the place of manufacture, Yamashiro.