Lacquered Shirasaya

[PNSSHOGUN]

Now and again these crop up and most of the time seem rather gauche in execution, and objectively worse at protecting a blade than normal shirasaya. Given that very few daimyō historically resided underwater, is anyone aware of any significance, reasoning, or history behind lacquered Shirasaya?

 

https://katanahanbai.com/katana/heianjo-nagayoshi/

 

 

Imperial Coronation Tachi by Yoshichika, 1928. 

 

 

 

 

[eternal_newbie]

I think it would be more appropriate to call this another koshirae style, as the shira- in shirasaya implies that it is unadorned (which includes lacquer). It's obviously not intended for practical use; perhaps more like a display koshirae for when visitors come to the house (looks more formal/impressive, but doesn't require nearly as much time to assemble/remove as a proper koshirae)?

 

The Katana Hanbai listing itself describes this as 朱漆塗鞘 ("vermillion lacquered saya") rather than 白鞘 (shirasaya).

[PNSSHOGUN]

Via Paul Martin: 

 

Tachi (Long Sword) by Saemon-no-jo Suketsugu; Inscription: "Resident of Bizen Province ◯◯ Saemon-no-jo Suketsugu" (Gold-inlaid inscription: "Sode no Yuki" [Snow on the Sleeve]); Dated: Second month, Enkei 3 (1310).

Yoshioka Ichimonji School

Juyo Token (Important Sword)

Chido Museum Collection

Swordsmith Suketsugu, was from the Yoshioka Ichimonji school of Bizen Province during the late Kamakura period. The gold-inlaid inscription "Sode no Yuki" (Snow on the Sleeve) alludes to the sword's extreme sharpness—implying it would slice through something as delicate as snow resting on a sleeve. The black-lacquered scabbard bears a gold-lettered inscription detailing the sword's provenance: "On the 20th day of the 5th month, Tensho 3 (1575), at the hour of the Rat (approx. 11 PM–1 AM): Okudaira Kihachiro Nobumitsu of Sanshu (Mikawa Province) acquired this sword when Takeda Hyogo-no-kami Nobuzane fell in battle”. According to this record, Okudaira Nobumitsu obtained the tachi following the death of Takeda Hyogo-no-kami Nobuzane at the Battle of Nagashino in 1575.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Wonderful example. 

 

Very small objection though with 袖 Sode, which meant upper arm shoulder guards (shields) for a set of armo(u)r. This would suit the battlefield scene better, surely.

Sleeves were 籠手 kote.

(Sode 袖 are sleeves on kimono.)

The partly covered-over explanation above seems to say that just as snow falls off (your shoulder guards) at a touch, (... your enemy will fall with the lightest touch of this blade, or his body will fall into two halves?). 

 

I know this goes against the theory of the meaning given by the NBTHK, but the above is just my private feeling. 

[Bazza]

This reminds me of a WW2 bring back gunto with a leather scabbard I have seen that has the near entirety of the leather covered with small red kanji.  I know where it is and its viewable and I've promised myself to photograph it for posterity before I fall off my perch.  It passed my mind that the presented piece seems somehow to represent a tradition of sorts???  Hence my 'like'.

 

BaZZa.