Tessen War Fan interpretation.

[Chishiki]

Hi.  I recently purchased this iron fan.   It is extensively signed but I would like to start with the main inscription.   Thanks in advance.  Mark

[SteveM]

氣象如猛勇？

 

The meaning is a bit of a mystery to me. 

"Brave, like the weather"... this is the straight translation of the words, but it is probably some literary allusion that carries a different meaning. Some phrase from a classic Japanese or Chinese text. Nothing shows up in a search, so I'm at a loss. (I could be wrong about the last character,  but it should still turn up in a search. Alas, I'm drawing blanks. 

[Nobody]

氣象 = 気性 (character/ spirit)

[Chishiki]

1 hour ago, SteveM said:

氣象如猛勇？

 

The meaning is a bit of a mystery to me. 

"Brave, like the weather"... this is the straight translation of the words, but it is probably some literary allusion that carries a different meaning. Some phrase from a classic Japanese or Chinese text. Nothing shows up in a search, so I'm at a loss. (I could be wrong about the last character,  but it should still turn up in a search. Alas, I'm drawing blanks. 
 

1 hour ago, Nobody said:

氣象 = 気性 (character/ spirit)

 

Thank you Steve and Nobody.  I appreciate your help.  So Brave/Spirit like the weather would be a fair meaning.   The back of the fan is also very meaningful.    I will share it below.   There are also othe inscriptions 

 

 

[Chishiki]

This is the back of the fan.  I really love this inscription.  It is very ‘Samurai’.  Thank you Thomas Sinclair for working this out.

 

心ダニ誠ノ道ニ叶ヒナバ祈ラズトモ神ヤ守ラン
Kokoro dani Makoto no michi ni Kanō hibana Inori razu tomo kami ya mori ran

Roughly translates as "If you live a sincere life, God's blessing will be given without prayer" It's a poem by Sugawara no Michizane

 

 

[Nobody]

1 hour ago, Chishiki said:

.............

 So Brave/Spirit like the weather would be a fair meaning.  

.......................

 

Forget about the weather in the translation.

That is a misunderstanding.

[Nobody]

2 hours ago, Chishiki said:

心ダニ誠ノ道ニ叶ヒナバ祈ラズトモ神ヤ守ラン
Kokoro dani Makoto no michi ni Kanō hibana Inori razu tomo kami ya mori ran

 

 

 

The reading is just a little wrong.

 

心ダニ誠ノ道ニ叶ヒナバ祈ラズトテモ神ヤ守ラン

Kokoro dani makoto no michi ni kanainaba inorazutotemo kami ya mamoran

 

[Chishiki]

1 hour ago, Nobody said:

 

Forget about the weather in the translation.

That is a misunderstanding.

 

42 minutes ago, Nobody said:

 

The reading is just a little wrong.

 

心ダニ誠ノ道ニ叶ヒナバ祈ラズトテモ神ヤ守ラン

Kokoro dani makoto no michi ni kanainaba inorazutotemo kami ya mamoran

 

Thank you very much for your help.  Mark