Translation of an artist's name, please ...

[docliss]

Would one of the members be so kind as to translate for me the name of the acknowledged artist on this tsuba by Mori Toshitaka I (H 10578.0)? It is inscribed:

 

?Shi ? ?Ben (NO)DZU

HAKURYUSHI TOSHITAKA with kao.

 

With grateful thanks, John L.

[John A Stuart]

Hi John, I am not sure. The second kanji is hard to read. Shikyoro Zu. Drawing of Shikyoro. The first kanji is 'master', the second 'kyo', cowardly or shy. I'm doubtful. John

 

Maybe Shikyogen. Where gen means look, gaze. "Master of the shy look' :lol: maybe I should just wait for the erudite. John

[sencho]

師 法 眼 ?

 

伯 ? 寿 高

 

??????

 

not sure how to pronounce though!!!!! :lol:

[John A Stuart]

Hi Skipper. John translated the left side as 'Hakuryushi Toshitaka' and is spot on. Your kanji '法' is pronounced 'ho' or in nanori as 'nori'. '師' 'shi' or in nanori 'noshi, nori, moro'. '眼' is 'gan or gen'. I thought it might be the kanji '怯' 'kyo or ko'.

 

 

'師怯眼' Shikyogen. John

[sencho]

hello shipmate,

 

maybe Moriyama san, Morita san or Markus will come to our rescue!!

 

[John A Stuart]

Yes, these artists names are very difficult. We gave it a go though, pun intended. John

[docliss]

My grateful thanks to both of you for your help with this query. John L.

[Markus]

My interpretation of the (already deciphered) characters would be:

 

shi hôgen no zu (師法眼圖)

Based on a picture/drawing of master [who bears the title] hôgen.

 

Hôgen was a honorary title of painters, poets, physicians and the like during.

Such an addressing from where the artist did a copy or got inspired is not that

uncommon for kinkô metalworkers of the late Edo, bakumatsu period.

[Nobody]

I still cannot read the right part. “? ? 眼圖” seems to mean the picture of “? ? 眼”.

The first “?” looks 師 as you read, but I am unsure for now.

As for the second kanji, the right part of it looks 玄 to me such as 眩, 弦, .....

 

My sixth sense tells me that the three characters mean Tsubame or Tsubakurame (an old term for Tsubame) which means a swallow, although Tsubame is usually written as 燕.

 

玄 can read “kura” and Tsubame can be written as 玄鳥.

Also 眼 can read “me”.

[John A Stuart]

It does seem logical to me that it could indeed be 'Shi Hogen no Zu' and that it refers to the tsubako himself, Toshitaka and his honourific. Similar to a title we see some smiths use like hokkyo, nyudo or hoin. Hogen means 'eye of the law' a Buddhist priestly rank. John

[docliss]

I am happy with the SHI HOGEN translation, as referring to the tsubako, but am puzzled by the terminal (NO)DZU, which I understand to be translated as 'from the design by'. Is that not more likely to refer to an original artist who inspired the tsubako, rather than to the tsubako himself?

 

John L.

[John A Stuart]

I agree John the syntax is odd when read in English, but, it may be alright in a Japanese syntax. 'Zu' 'drawing or plan'. You would expect on the left side under the Toshitaka, as usually seen. It is a good exercise though. John

[Nobody]

The syntax is odd also in Japanese. That is the reason why I cannot understand the Hogen theory.

[John A Stuart]

That would make it a description of 'a drawing of a swallow'. The title of the piece, just like you said. That would make it unique in that aspect wouldn't it, Koichi san? A titled tsuba. Interesting, John seems to find some nice tsuba. John

[docliss]

That appears to have answered my question very satisfactorily - I am most grateful to all the contributers for their input. John L.