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INSCRIPTION ON BASE OF KATANAKAKE


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Guest Simon R
Posted

Hi All,

 

This ink inscription is written on the base of a sword stand I'm considering buying. I believe it refers to the year when it was made among other things but any help would be most appreciated.

 

Many thanks,

 

Simon

0D9E278B-4AB0-4BA6-B5AC-A130A1B519C5.jpeg

Posted

Hi Simon, the part regarding the date is from the Chinese sexagenary calendar. The kanji around it might give you something more specific but otherwise pick the most probable year from:

 

kinoe-ne (甲子): 964, 1024, 1084, 1144, 1204, 1264, 1324, 1384, 1444, 1504, 1564, 1624, 1684, 1744, 1804, 1864, 1924, 1984

  • Like 1
Posted

I think there are 元治 Genji at the start and 慶應 Keiō towards the end.

Something like as a running guess…

“Got this in Aoba Jo, below the castle in Mito, in Genji. 
attested in the first year of Keiō”… (?)

  • Like 1
Posted

Hi,

 

元治元甲子年九月常州
水戸於城下青物街宿陳(陣)
得之。
慶應元乙丑年閏五月二十一日仕
誂之。
      还□
       □□ 

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
Guest Simon R
Posted

Thank you so much everyone, especially Morita-san!

 

Therefore, I guess one can assume that this katanakake was perhaps made in in the vicinity of Mito Castle (a Tokugawa stronghold) in 1865, the year the nengō 'Genji 2' was renamed 'Keio 1' to mark the Kinmon Incident of the previous year (a failed rebellion by Choshu Han against the Tokugawa Bakufu)?

If so, then it makes this piece even more intriguing and attractive to me as I actively study the Bakumatsu.

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