Holly and cloud relationship

[Tsuba gardener]

Hi Group, l wondered whether there was a relationship between the cloud (Kumo) and holly (Hiragi) on this Shonai school suaka tsuba. It occurred to me that if there is a relationship it could be a play on words. I don't speak or read Japanese so my theory is hypothetical. By mixing and matching l found the following (but there may be others): 

 

Hiraku: to open/to undo/ to unseal/to unpack.

Kugi: Sacrifice

Kuraku: Darken.

 

Additionally Clouds signify impermanence whilst holly appears to represent survivability or endurance. Again there may be no relationship but if there is it would relate to the in/yo, (yin/yang), positive and negative design on each face.

 

 I may be totally off the track and would like your thoughts please.

[ROKUJURO]

Could it be that these are not clouds but fumes or scents (from incense) as seen on TSUBA with a tea ceremony theme? No idea if that goes together with holly!

[Tsuba gardener]

Thanks Jean, l hadn't considered that, but will now.

[SteveM]

Note that holly is hiiragi (ひいらぎ - two "i" sounds together creating an elongated "i").

Unlikely to be any wordplay here, I think.

 

Maybe they are symbolic of bits of family crests. Just a wild guess.

[Tsuba gardener]

45 minutes ago, SteveM said:

Note that holly is hiiragi (ひいらぎ - two "i" sounds together creating an elongated "i").

Unlikely to be any wordplay here, I think.

 

Maybe they are symbolic of bits of family crests. Just a wild guess.

Great, thank you. I will concentrate on the pictorial representation rather than the linguistic. 

[Bugyotsuji]

(Couldn’t find any link between the themes, but holly and fish-heads were used to ward off oni at setsubun.)

The other side look to me like spiritual and decorative ‘nyoi’ representations. Heavenly clouds. Ruyi in Chinese.

Wiki quote: “In Chinese art, ruyi scepters often appear as attributes of Buddhist saints and Daoist xian. The god of prosperity Cai Shen 財神 is often depicted holding a ruyi. Stylized repetitions of the shape are incorporated as a motif in the depiction of heavenly clouds. Ruyi symbolize achieving prosperity in fengshui practice. “

[Tsuba gardener]

Excellent, thank you for your feedback.