Books and articles cataloguing Koshirae styles, subvariants and regional preferences?

[GreyVR]

I bought a tsuba in Kyoto recently, it's workmanship spoke to me. It is copper colored with a black rim. Looking at it later I thought to myself "What colors did this go with when it was in use?" And so I identified a hole in my knowledge I want to fill. I'd like to be able to look at things and know a bit more about how they integrated into a full koshirae, and finding resources on this has been somewhat difficult. 


Styles of koshirae over time and location.... as a unified whole. Study of the koshirae as more then the sum of it's parts. A unified whole.

Now, most interested readers will have read at least one article on Japanese sword mountings that goes something like "First, Tachi, because horses... but then "the feeling when no horse....." so handachi koshirae because pedestrian swordsmen. Later less war, so stylized edo period pretty fittings and looking good for a night on the town.' And incidently, if you are having a Koshirae or Iaito made, many places ONLY seem to offer the last, and getting tachi or handachi fittings is a lot of work searching the web.... Often to find nothing all that good.

But here I am, at the point where I understand that the tachi to handachi to edo uchigatana is the tip of the iceberg, but I still don't have a good submarine window to see what's underwater, and so that's what I'm asking for help finding. 

I did find this list of services, which in truth would make a really excellent article. IT lists many styles of Koshirae, but while I am extremely grateful to the author for assisting my education on the topic, I still feel like there must be much more to learn.
 https://www.toukentakarado.com/koshirae-service

I'd especially like to know what Koshirae style was favored in Date Masamune's domain (as I'm a bit of a fan....) 

It's quite rare I'll see a sword listed with a substyle of koshirae listed, "This sword is in [ABC] style uchigatana koshirae' or '[xyz] style tachi mounts, but it happens enough that I know this information must be out there. There's also been occasions where I was told about a subtype, such as when I looked into the Tachi mounts in Kurosawa's Ran, which were made to look like a specific type of historic mounts. Something about it being named after a hairtool? (It did not remain in my memory...) 


Ideally I'd also like at least some time spend on polearm mountings styles....


Can anyone help me with a reading list on this topic?

I did send off for "The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords" 2017 by Kokan Nagayama

And I'm looking at perhaps getting a copy of "Koshirae - Japanese Sword Mountings" 2012 by Markus Sesko
(Anyone know if it's good? The other book was recommended to me by one of the sites I visited before posting.) 

Sadly, I imagine much of the best sources are only in Japanese, and languages is not one of my talents, so I am only searching for English language sources. (I did do a few searches before posting.) 

Can anyone recommend some good books or articles? 

[Scogg]

Marcus Sesko publications are widely considered the best available in the English language.
 

I have several of his books, and really like each and every one. The only issues with his material that I ever encounter, is when it goes beyond my current level of understanding. A good thing, in my opinion; because I continue to learn when I reread and revisit his books. 
 

I don't personally have the book you mentioned, but it looks like what you’re after based on the description here: 

 

https://markussesko.com/2013/02/14/koshirae-Japanese-sword-mountings/

 

Best of luck, 

-Sam 

[ROKUJURO]

George,

 

perhaps the first thing to learn is what we would call a "matching" KOSHIRAE might not be the same in a Japanese view. In fact, there are (often valuable) KOSHIRAE with TOSOGU en suite coming out of the hands of a renowned craftsman, but this is far from being common with all SAMURAI.
As I have read, with "average" class SAMURAI, KOSHIRAE were put together following individual taste and available money, and easy-to-change parts like TSUBA, TSUKA, or SAYA were probably exchanged a few times in the life of a good sword.

So, not even looking at the historical changes in general styles and use of a sword, there were many factors in the choice and combination of sword parts that we are not always aware of. In many cases, we have to learn about Japanese taste, about their mythology, religion, nature, tales and legends, folklore and customs, a.s.o.

Just to give an example: in the West, we would consider martial symbols fitting a weapon, but in Japan, you may find a FUCHI with playing puppies, or a (matching !) FUCHI-GASHIRA set with a peaceful farm scene with hens, chicks, and a cock. 

So, studying and understanding Japanese beliefs, feelings, and taste in the historical and cultural context will certainly help. Reading books by Lafcadio Hearn might also help.

I don't think there is a fast and easy way.
 

[Grey Doffin]

Hi George,

You may find this book interesting:

https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b351-zuikan-toso-no-subete-by-kokubo-kenichi/

It is in Japanese but maybe an online translation site can help.

Grey

[atm]

@Markus has a later version: Koshirae Taikan. I have the ebook version, and it is an extensive resource that I recommend as a complete koshirae novice.

[Natichu]

15 minutes ago, atm said:

@Markus has a later version: Koshirae Taikan. I have the ebook version, and it is an extensive resource that I recommend as a complete koshirae novice.

As another complete novice, I second that recommendation. 

[Tim Evans]

A big topic. There is not much in the way of definitive documentation on koshirae. There are a few books in Japanese on regional styles such as Satsuma. In contrast, there are many books about regional sword fittings makers that show metal parts and occasionally koshirae. Part of the problem is that relatively few koshirae were preserved or documented as koshirae fashions changed. Since there are a lot of gaps in the material record, it is difficult to describe trends or specific styles from the remaining intact examples. Over the history of the blade, the saya and tsuka were periodically discarded due to damage and wear, and the blade refitted with a new koshirae according to the taste of the then present owner.

 

There is an article I wrote titled A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF Japanese SWORD MOUNTS OF THE LATE MUROMACHI THROUGH EDO PERIODS in the Downloads section under Member Articles. This gets into questions about koshirae differences by time period, class status, and level of formality. There is a bibliography with references for further reading.

 

In other types of sword collecting, European and American swords for example, preservation of the mounts is considered as important as preservation of the blade, so more historical context is known, and can be correlated to time and place and class of user. A nihonto in new shirasaya on the other hand, tells us nothing about who used it or how it was mounted, unless that was separately documented. Part of the problem is the formation of specialist collectors for nihonto, tsuba and other fittings which has led to koshirae being taken apart to get at the metal bits. The downside is a loss of context and in some cases the destruction of a historic object. As a group dedicated to the preservation of the Japanese sword I think we nihonto collectors should consider choosing the western conservation approach in some cases, by keeping and stabilizing that old koshirae and sword blade together as a complete object.

[GreyVR]

5 hours ago, Tim Evans said:

In other types of sword collecting, European and American swords for example, preservation of the mounts is considered as important as preservation of the blade, so more historical context is known, and can be correlated to time and place and class of user. A nihonto in new shirasaya on the other hand, tells us nothing about who used it or how it was mounted, unless that was separately documented. Part of the problem is the formation of specialist collectors for nihonto, tsuba and other fittings which has led to koshirae being taken apart to get at the metal bits. The downside is a loss of context and in some cases the destruction of a historic object. As a group dedicated to the preservation of the Japanese sword I think we nihonto collectors should consider choosing the western conservation approach in some cases, by keeping and stabilizing that old koshirae and sword blade together as a complete object.

I once stumbled (unknowing what I would find) into the Basilique de Saint-Denis in Paris... and found it contained dozens of sarcophagus with the owner, in full armor, carved onto the lid.... Not only in their armor, but with their sword belts and suspension revealed in somewhat exacting detail. 

(And today I cannot seem to location the hard drive I put the photos on! Argh!!!!!) 

I will certainly look for that article, thank you! 

[Jussi Ekholm]

Koshirae Taikan by Markus Sesko is the best one you can get in my opinion.

 

You are looking quite specific stuff if it is late Muromachi / early Edo koshirae from Sendai area. I think the best bet would be looking surviving late Muromachi koshirae in general. Actual koshirae before Edo period are quite rare to find in general even in Japan. 

 

The problem is that they are not often featured in a single book or article. That is why Markus Sesko has provided incredible work. I should have info on at least few hundred authentic pre-Edo koshirae but they are scattered in various books that are unfortunately only in Japanese.

 

Polearm koshirae is even more niche field than sword koshirae. I have some very interesting info on polearm koshirae too in Japanese language books.

 

Unfortunately I am not a koshirae collector or researcher, I just love old battlefield items, hence I have also done some digging on old battle item koshirae.

[Jussi Ekholm]

I got a surprise, didn't think I'd manage to get this close while I was checking koshirae examples for you.

 

This sword was featured in Tokyo National Museum Uchigatana-goshirae exhibition which I think is the best resource for uchigatana koshirae of this time period. This sword is actually recorded in records of Katakura family (片倉). It seems they became Date retainers in 1532. This particular sword was actually wielded by Katakura Shigetsuna in Osaka summer campaign in 1615. And in the book it is written that this koshirae dates not older than 1615 but the tsuba is actually older piece that was fitted to this sword. However it is mentioned that the koshirae might be made in later years of Shigetsunas life and not in 1615. It is also mentioned that kurikata and kaerizuno are different and probably show local style.

 

 

One problem with very old complete koshirae is that usually the ones that have been preserved have been owned by high level people and might not be comparable what your average person would wield. Or they might be very plain battlefield koshirae which I personally like.

[Steve Waszak]

I would emphasize that the book "Uchigatana no Koshirae" -- which is the beautiful hardback and quite large catalogue of the exhibition Jussi mentions above -- is a must-have for anyone with even a passing interest in old (pre-Edo and [mostly[ intact) koshirae.  Jussi's point about the social status of the owners of these koshirae is a good one, but seeing so many preserved koshirae at 400+ years of age collected in one publication is special.  PM me if you'd be interested in obtaining a copy; I have an extra.   

[GreyVR]

Ah thank you! That is awesome. 

And you're quite correct about preservation, but I've seen enough eccentric ones (from what we in the west consider 'default') to see that there's most certainly currents and styles and so on. 

I don't have tremendous time at this moment, but when I was in Nagoya a bit over a year ago and I saw all the styles of armor they have on display (One of the best displays I've ever seen, not well advertised) they also had a room full of sword styles which demonstrated more differences, even what is close to an Oakeshott typology of Japanese swords. This is mostly a devolopment over time of course, but still fascinating. 

We might see very small but very important differences between different areas, just as we would expect to see siginficant differences at income levels, with the richer Lords having golden Tsuba and the poor man having plain iron, and red copper in the middle. 

WE might find that colored saya were extremely trendy in this place, but that place they aren't. That red copper Tsuba (which stay copper) are usually matched to grip color ABC and that color XYZ is rarely used with an iron tsuba, except in dce province. 



Personally I suspect something like a plain handachi was the most popular of all time, since it gave good protection for least money, but it's still a subject I hope to dive into more deeply now that some of the books have arrived. 


You also have the weird stuff, like this fish one, or the 'shrimp' koshrae, or the ones that end in a 'BIG" scabbard end cap. Here's two (I really have to run in a sec,) that could be called 'default' in the minddle, but they also have distinct differecnes. Should we class them as seperate styles or branches of a single style? Lastly is one of those end caps I mentioned. 

Sorry this isn't an ideally formatted post, dentist!