koshirae Sun-Nobi Tanto Koshirae

[ckaiserca]

Here is the koshirae  of my sun-nobi tanto. The saya is aogai-chirashi, the menuki are a feather design in shakudō, the fuchikashira is an engraving of ume tree and flowers on silver plate. The tusba is iron with a feather design on the rim and ishimeji on the surface. The kozuka of the kogatana is silver in what I think is a ishidatami pattern. 

[Spartancrest]

I do like the 'filled' Namako tsuba, I have not seen many like it.

[Tanto54]

Dear Charles, as you may know already, your feather menuki are haboki or feather "dusters" used in the tea ceremony.  You can tell because the feathers have wrapped handles.  There are two different kinds of feathers used in most ceremonies depending upon which side of the feather is wider (your tanto has both).  The obvious symbolism is to clean your spirit.

 

 

[ckaiserca]

4 hours ago, Tanto54 said:

Dear Charles, as you may know already, your feather menuki are haboki or feather "dusters" used in the tea ceremony.

 

I was not aware of the actual symbology of the feathers. Thank you for telling me about it. That’s one of the things I love about this group. There is always someone who can help me learn more every day.