mei on a Kozuka

[DanielM]

Hello,

May I ask your help for the translation of a Mei on a kozuka and if possible to identify the artisan.

Many many thanks in advance

 

It is a very simple red copper kozuka with the head of Daruma and on the back side we have on the upper right …I read (but I am maybe wrong)

Miya +Moto +Mu +Sashi  +?  +?  +I (meaning = intention)

This is I supose  a   tribute to a painting of Daruma that Musashi did when he was old.

 

In the lower left …it is much more difficult for me

Yama(or San) +Hoo (or Kanba) +Ichi (or itsu). +Tsukuru   I have no idea about this artisan?

 

Many thanks for your help

 

Daniel

[SteveM]

I would think the name is a three-character "art name", but it's hard to say since any possible art name using these three characters sounds funny to me. Yama by itself is a rare surname. Yamayoshi (山芳) is an even more rare surname. So the possibility that this is just a regular name exists, but the odds are low. And yet on the other hand, no such name, and no related art name shows up in Wakayama.

 

Regarding the 6th character in the inscription, I'm also at a loss as to what it is. But you've certainly got the meaning right. 

 

So this is the long way of saying I can't help you. 

 

宮本武蔵之囗意

山芳一作

 

Yama Yoshikazu-saku ?

Yamayoshi Hajime-saku ?

Yamayoshi Issaku?

so many possible readings if it is a name. 

 

If an art name

Sanpōichi (seems unlikely)

Yamayoshiichi (also seems unlikely)

 

[DanielM]

Many many thanks for your time SteveM,

 

I will take the regular name Yamayoshi Katsu...it sounds nice

 

Japanese linguage is  very difficult...but their works are so beautifull..even if we understand only a little part...

 

All the best

 

Daniel