Kozuka design evolution of Tadanori waka Arrow

[Curran]

I posted this elsewhere and think NMB would enjoy it too.

 

Attached are 3 kozuka of same design -Taira Tadanori death waka on an arrow (under cherry tree)-. First to the right is Goto Tokujo. Middle one is his son Kenjo. The last one on the left in its own box is either later Goto main line or Goto sideline (my opinion). ----- Purpose of this is to see second photo where you can observe the design went from thinner but more intricate to progressively deeper larger relief and design. Some of the complexity lost…

[Curran]

background poem and depiction

[Nobody]

He died in the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani.^[5][6] His body was identified by a signed poem that was fastened to his quiver. The poem read:^[4]: 96

Evening drawing on, I'll take lodging in the shade of this tree,
and make its blossoms my host for the night.

 

Ref. Taira no Tadanori - Wikipedia

 

[JohnTo]

During the Edo period samurai using the ferries in Edo frequently did not pay the ferrymen and were known as Satsuma no Kami Tadanori.  The Japanese word 'tadanori', using different kanji, translates as getting a ride for free, or freeloader.  The theme was also depicted in a comic play or Kyogen, in which a monk tries to get a free ride on a ferry by saying that he is 'a noble of the Heike clan, Satsuma no kami Tadanori.'  Perhaps it is a shame that such a famous warrior's name became associated with samurai not paying their way during their stays in Edo, but I guess the townspeople had a lot to put up with poor samurai not paying their bills.

 

John To

[Curran]

@JohnTo  Thank you.

This is why I cross=post things that I initially posted elsewhere.

Places like here and the National Gardening Forum sometimes dig up things (pun) that surprise me when I thought I knew most of what there was to know about a topic.

 

'So... Tadanori became a term like John Doe, Dine-n-Dasher, or Honkie

    Love that one. Is it in modern parlance at all?   I'm curious if my host family would recognize it. They helped a lot in researching the two Taira Tadanori poems on the Goto kozuka in the photo, and sent me information from the Prefecture museum.

 

 

[Charlie C]

10 hours ago, Curran said:

So... Tadanori became a term like John Doe, Dine-n-Dasher, or Honkie

    Love that one. Is it in modern parlance at all?   I'm curious if my host family would recognize it. They helped a lot in researching the two Taira Tadanori poems on the Goto kozuka in the photo, and sent me information from the Prefecture museum.

 

 

Tadanori literally means getting a ride for free. It's actually his official rank, 'Satsuma no Kami', which became a reference for getting a ride for free. I haven't seen anyone practically use this ダジャレ in the modern world, but surely people would recognize it if they know who Tadanori is.