Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hi all, 

 

I'm looking for some help on identifying what plant is depicted on this tsuba. I've tried in vain with chatgpt, but couldn't pinpoint it.

PSX_20250705_070922.thumb.png.29e6263c73d52cae27987339f9dc0a37.png

Many thanks

 

Damon

Posted

Superficially the leaves look a little like Plantain or banana - but not the trunk of the plant - the trunk or stem is not found on ferns either. Not a Cycad or Sago palm - they don't have the smooth bark.  Maybe a small plant or shrub?  Daikon was a common theme but the leaves don't look like they fit - mystery!  You might find it in this thread - big list of plants used on tosogu designs. 

 

image.thumb.png.ec32c976ddfed1f88d6e0af70d9f22f8.png  Plantain.

  • Thanks 1
Posted

Sotetsu were given to Okayama and planted at the temple to Ukita Hideie, so it could symbolize this gift from Hachijo-jima. 

 

Another possibility is the New Year's kadomatsu ceremony where a whole baby pine was used, with roots. Some pine branch outlines and needles look quite similar.

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Posted

The roots look like an octopus or squid tentacles with an eye part way centered on the stalk.

  • Haha 2
Posted

The root part looks very like ginseng, but the leaves are wrong. There is always a good chance that the artist wasn’t that good at depicting plants, and just went with the space available. 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Posted

Rather strange. At first I thought of a bonsai tree - but without a bowl?

Is there something on the reverse wich could clearify the motif?

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Posted (edited)

Thoughts have turned to a feather like feature of underwater plants that perhaps filter feed?

 

Crinoids, also known as feather stars or sea lilies, maybe?

 

Wondering if the bird depicts a Chidori, which would hint towards an underwater sea plant?

 

 

Edited by Franco
  • Thanks 1
Posted

I think it is young pine or "sugi" cedar used in the newyears celebrations. Note the roots of the plant and feather like branches with the thicker three "lobes" at the top of each branch. I think the original image from Damon just shows it more stylized and simplified.

Totoya Hokkei | Young Pine Tree and Jeweled Broom | Japan | Edo period  (1615–1868) | The Metropolitan Museum of Art        image.png.8b1849083c8f6a7e9b2c386967f69523.png  Seen on this guard but not with the roots which are encased  [Walters 51241]

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 1
Posted
14 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

I think it is young pine or "sugi" cedar used in the newyears celebrations. Note the roots of the plant and feather like branches with the thicker three "lobes" at the top of each branch. I think the original image from Damon just shows it more stylized and simplified.

Seen on this guard but not with the roots which are encased  [Walters 51241]

I think that Dale has nailed this one. The painting looks almost identical. 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 2
Posted

Thanks a lot everyone. The ideas and input from everyone was amazing. It really took me on a journey through all of the different possibilities. The reverse doesn't provide any additional clues. 

PSX_20250706_120632.thumb.png.d010a6ceda5ab67f343e196a34826320.png

 

Dale's example does look quite close, and one really can't discount the "stylized" factor. Thanks again everyone. 

 

For what it's worth, there appears to be (what I think is) a small repair using shakudo. I can't say I've seen something like that before, and wonder what might have caused the initial "damage."

 

Damon

Posted
On 7/5/2025 at 8:20 PM, Bugyotsuji said:

Sotetsu were given to Okayama and planted at the temple to Ukita Hideie, so it could symbolize this gift from Hachijo-jima. 

 

Another possibility is the New Year's kadomatsu ceremony where a whole baby pine was used, with roots. Some pine branch outlines and needles look quite similar.

 

Now I think that your another possibility is correct.

 

A nebikimatsu (根引き松), that literally means “uprooted pines”, is a traditional Japanese New Year decoration used in Kyoto instead of kadomatsu. It is considered as the origin of kadomatsu.

Ref. Nebikimatsu Wiki | Danbooru

 

0bbd2970b0108c8307c84363b101e0a9bbce13282b42b8fa08f4812385e1c887.jpg

o1080136615228052172.jpg

  • Like 4
  • Love 4

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...