compare catalog tsuba/Need some translation help on tsuba

[Mantis dude]

Hi all,

 

I recently acquired this tsuba, from what I can read it is says kofu ju mitsusada. I can't find this smith anywhere. I might add that is needs some patination restore and has been in my pocket a week now. I was going through some old catalogs that I purchased as reference and I found a very similar piece. The tsuba when overlaid on the catalog is almost exact except for the leg position and a few minor things like that (matches extremely well, the catalog pics are obviously real size). I can translate a little I can read tsuba mumei shoami. 1. can anyone comment on the mei 2. help translate what the catalog says about the pictured piece. I hope there is some good reference material to extrapolate to my piece. Thanks

 

[Nobody]

2. help translate what the catalog says about the pictured piece. I hope there is some good reference material to extrapolate to my piece.

I am afraid that there is not enough information which you are expecting on the catalog.

The text includes almost only about the motif.

 

Very loosely;

The motif originates in a historical event in ancient China. The picture shows a mantis facing up to the cart which 荘公 (reading?: the name of a king of Qi) of 斉 [Qi] was riding on. The picture is a lesson saying that the courage of the mantis should be an attitude of a samurai.

 

BTW, that Kofu (江府) means Edo (江戸).

[Mantis dude]

Thanks, I am familar with that chinese legend (wouldn't be the mantis dude if not). Thanks for the help. Good to know about kofu really means edo, I should have known that but don't think I ever heard that before. It states it is a shoami piece so I will assume that my piece is as well? Reasonable assumption assuming the catalog is correct. it was still neat to find a piece so similar. I appreciate the help.

 

all the best.

Ken