Hlp with bokuto

[Bruno]

Hello,

 

Posting here on behalf of a friend.

 

Any help with translation would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

[John C]

Is the maker Masanao? Bokuto are always on my wish list 

 

John C.

[ROKUJURO]

Probably not a BOKUTO but a CHATO or a "doctor's sword". But very nice!

[John C]

Most literature refers to doctor's swords as bokuto. I suspect some may be chato, however. But the poem, once translated, may give us a better clue. What's interesting about this particular piece is what appears to be an African or Islander figure holding a scythe. Not very typical.

 

John C.

p.s. the name Doctor's Sword is actually somewhat of a myth. It's often said that they came about because doctors could not carry swords, however this is not true.

[Hiro]

Freely composed poems are difficult…！Please assume that my interpretation is basically “incorrect.”

  I will only share a simple impression based on the wording. The rest, please leave to your imagination.

（in the case of classical waka, the meanings are already established, so I can convey them accurately.）

 

                   銘作も           いらぬ きさくて    軽る軽ると     浮世をさして         行そ 木刀

  character: meisaku mo iranu  kisakute    karukaru to    ukiyo wo sashite　yukuso? bokutou

（reading:  meisaku mo iranu  kisakude    karugaru to    ukiyo wo sashite　yukuzo? bokutou）

圓正堂（en shou dou）or（en sei dou）

 

Edited Thursday at 04:24 AM by Hiro

[Hiro]

銘作もいらぬ meisakumo iranu

「I have no need for famous, highly regarded swords (authentic, signed blades).」

 

きさくて軽る軽ると kisakude karugaruto

「 with a light, easygoing spirit (also evoking the physical lightness of a wooden sword)」

　きさく　kisaku：It also brings to mind the images of “whittling wood” and  “making something out of wood”.

　　　　　　　　　（気さくkisaku   　木・削 ki/saku　木・作 ki/saku）

 

浮世をさして　ukiyo wo sashite

浮世 ukiyo : a hedonistic world,  憂き世 ukiyo : the transient, sorrow-filled world

さして sashite：「刀を差す katana wo sasu」… to wear a sword

    　　　　　　 「刀を刺す katana wo sasu」… to stab with a sword

　　　　　　　  「目的地を指す mokutekichi wo sasu」… to make for one’s destination

                     　It seems to carry all of these meanings at once.

 

行そ木刀  yukuzo? bokutou

　　さして行そ sashite yukuzo「a declaration of intent to move forward in this way.←[差す/刺す/指すsasu] 」

　   行そ木刀 yukuzo bokutou「Let’s go, wooden sword.」

　　This also feels like it carries both meanings.

 

      Added note: “Zo” may also be used as a form of emphasis, stressing the preceding phrase.

       I truly hope that someone knowledgeable will come and explain this properly.

 

Hiro

Edited Thursday at 09:39 AM by Hiro

[Bugyotsuji]

https://www.town.okuizumo.shimane.jp/kosodate-kyoiku/kyoiku/bunkazai/1001000000611.html

See No.62 圓正堂　圓正寺

 

At the end of the inscription we can see the word: 木刀 bokutō (not chatō)

 

 

[ROKUJURO]

While BOKUTO literally means "wooden sword" which is basically used in martial arts training, a decorated item like this would probably have another purpose. It could have been a memorial or presentation item, but it could have served as CHATO as well.

In my understanding, "Doctor's sword" or "CHATO" are not exactly describing terms for the object itself but for its use.

[Hiro]

I may have been wrong after all—sorry about that.

 I ended up thinking to myself, ‘it could be read this way as well.

 

「い」→「つ」？

I suspect that the part marked ‘軽る’ might have another possible reading as well.

 

                    銘作も    　   つらぬきさくて   ＊＊＊＊＊      浮世をさして         行そ 木刀

  character: meisaku mo  tsuranukisakute ＊＊＊＊＊   ukiyo wo sashite　yukuso? bokutou

（reading:  meisaku mo   tsuranukisakute ＊＊＊＊＊   ukiyo wo sashite　yukuzo? bokutou）

 

つらぬきさく tsuranukisaku : pierce+split

 

There doesn’t seem to be a clear answer, so I keep going around in circles thinking about it.

 If there’s anyone truly knowledgeable about this, I would really appreciate your help.

 

I’m going to study for a while…

Hiro

[John C]

4 hours ago, ROKUJURO said:

In my understanding, "Doctor's sword" or "CHATO" are not exactly describing terms for the object itself but for its use.

I tend to agree. I've seen many "crossover" pieces, especially the ornate ones, that could go either way. I suspect their intended purpose defines their label. In the case above, the signer actually used the term bokuto, however in most cases we can't be sure. Daruma magazine issue 7 has a short but informative article on them if you can find a copy.

 

John C.

[Geraint]

The figure on the kashira would generally be classfied as a South Sea Islander and they are often depicted on Kozuka towing or dragging a branch of coral, which would tie in the coral insert at the lower end of the saya.

 

Love it!

 

All the best.

[ROKUJURO]

Yes, I like it also, and especially the beautiful wood which is probably KEYAKI.

[Bruno]

Thanks everyone for the answsers. I will forward them to the owner, he will be glad.

 

It has no blade, it is only a single piece of wood as I have been told.

 

I came with other pieces on the attached photo.

[Brian]

I think if we can lure @k morita in here, we'll get our answer. Holding thumbs.

[John C]

4 hours ago, Bruno said:

I came with other pieces on the attached photo.

Very nice collection - all with the same purpose I believe. The first example in the pic would be a bokuto or chato, however given the context of the others I would guess bokuto. The second and third items are "clubs" in the form of a fan and extra heavy kiseru. At one point, the extra heavy kiseru were becoming prevalent as weapons so they were banned. Instead, folks would carry large and heavy yatate as a substitute.

 

John C.