Help on nomenclature for a Higo Tsuba

[zanilu]

Hello to everybody

I am struggling the tranlation of a piece of description in a NBHTK paper of a Higo tsuba.
The piece is the following:

 

 

So far I am stuck with:

 

焼手 Yakite

腐らし Kusarashi Exposure

 

It should be related to a sort of etching process of the karakusa decoration on the brass surface of the tsuba.

 

Any help on the right pronunciation and traslation of the term is welcome.

Best Regards

Luca

[ROKUJURO]

Luca,

I cannot offer a translation, but as far as I know, YAKITE KUSARASHI describes indeed an acid treatment of the TSUBA surface. It has nothing to do with the KARAKUSA decoration which is done manually with TAGANE. 

[SteveM]

I see the NBTHK uses two different pronunciations

Yakite kusarashi, and

Yakite kusarakashi

The meaning is the same (both are the causative form of the verb 腐る - to decay, to rot)

 

Haynes defines it as a surface design or finish that is made by acid treatment. So, basically as Jean mentions above. 

My dictionary of sword-related terms defines it as applying an insulating substance to the design element, and then applying acid to the rest of the tsuba, so that the design element rises a bit above the surface. 

Digging around a bit more online, it seems to be a rather elastic term for various acid treatments. 

Attaching a picture of a part of another NBTHK appraisal to show the alternate reading. I wish they would standardize.

[SteveM]

I should say one of the things I read online was that this technique was a way of using acid to highlight any forging lines in the base metal, and then incorporating those forging lines into the design that was to be carved on the base metal. (like using the lines to represent water or clouds). 

Another site I saw said that kusarakashi was a way of adding texture to a plain (flat) base. 

 

Hence, it seems to be an elastic phrase - but one which involves applying an acid treatment or a rusting agent to the metal to elicit some textural effect. 

 

 

[MauroP]

from: M. Sesko "Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords"

[zanilu]

Thank you guys! 

Always to the point with precise explanations! 

 

Again thank you. 

 

I have the Sesko encyclopaedia in paper for but I have no access to it right now... .

 

Regards 

Luca 

[Bugyotsuji]

(Note the title in bold of Mauro's linked article above is wrong.)

As a footnote.

One thing to be aware of when you go back in time is the differences in old artisanal vocabulary by region. Words in Japan used to describe armo(u)rs, swords and guns and the various techniques and materials for making them can vary slightly or even completely. In some cases there are several words, and often several ways of writing the same word.

 

In this case it is probably wise to learn both 'kusarashi' and 'kusarakashi' for the 'rotting' technique, though my instinct is telling me that 'Kusarakashi' is slightly more 'correct' in tsuba shokunin context.

[zanilu]

Thank you Piers for the update!