Bonji on Nakago

[Bugyotsuji]

Just a quick general question. (I ran a search but could find no information.)

 

Background. I am planning to buy a Koto Mumei Katana/Tachi from the end of Muromachi (around 1550?). The sword is attributed to Kai Mihara and it has Hozon paperwork. I am hoping to take it for Tokubetsu.

 

The question? Oh, yes, the Nakago has a series of Bonji running down one side of the Nakago, and there are a couple on the other side. Otherwise there are no other Horimono or Hi. Would someone be able to read the Bonji if I took a photo of them? Are there many examples of swords with Bonji only on the Nakago? Is there a particular meaning to this? Eg Has the owner done something sinful and needs unseen protection? Why is it Mumei, but covered in Bonji where you would expect a Mei to be? Or would such a sword be displayed as protection for the Jin in battle, as one friend has suggested? Many thanks in advance! This looks like many questions, but it's really one big question mark!

[Stephen]

Pires

 

id like to see it, i supect it was longer at one time and cut down and bonji became on the nakago.

[Bugyotsuji]

Pires

 

id like to see it, i suspect it was longer at one time and cut down and bonji became on the nakago.

 

Yes, it is probably Suriage. You think the Bonji were added later? Hmmm...but why there? Thanks anyway Stephen. I will go round and get some shots in the next few days. I am going to ask my Nittoho Sensei this question in due course as I am sure he will come up with a gem or two, but I thought I would post a general question here first as there is an amazing depth of knowledge on this site.

[Stephen]

Bugs

 

sorry to not be clear, i think the bonji were on the blade and then it was cut down or broken, so it must have been a tachi at one time. pix will tell more.

[Jean]

You think the Bonji were added later?

 

No Piers , Stephen has written :

I suspect it was longer at one time and cut down and bonji became on the nakago

 

I think he means that the blade is O suriage and that as a consequence by shortening the Bonji which were before on the blade are now in the tsuka (Nakago)

[Nobody]

..................

Background. I am planning to buy a Koto Mumei Katana/Tachi from the end of Muromachi (around 1550?). The sword is attributed to Kai Mihara and it has Hozon paperwork. I am hoping to take it for Tokubetsu.

.......................

According to the linked criteria, the sword may not receive tokubetsu hozon.

 

Ref. NBTHK Shinsa Standards

http://www.nihontocraft.com/Nihonto_Shi ... dards.html

[Bugyotsuji]

Ah, Stephen and Jean, many thanks for the clarification. And Nobody San, ouch, yes, you have a point. A very sharp point. I will need to check this! Thank you.

[sanjuro]

Piers

 

Post pics please, :D then maybe we can make some sense of this. I have never seen a mei replaced with bonji, and can think of no logical reason to do this unless the sword was perhaps dedicated to a shrine or had some ceremonial significance. Bonji are afterall dedications to, or invocations of, a diety figure in modified sanscrit.

Perhaps as Stephen has suggested, the bonji were once on the blade and shortening has brought them below the new machi moto. Pics would help a lot.

[Bugyotsuji]

Keith, this sword and Koshirae is owned by a friend and it will be featuring in an exhibition next week. If I can find the time, I will nip round there and take some shots of it. Please watch this space if you need pics. Apologies.

 

In the meantime all I can say is that there are two Mekugi ana in the Nakago, and a vertical line of what? ...perhaps 8-10 smallish Bonji down the edge of one side of the Nakago. They could almost have been the Mei, if only they were in Kanji. The other side has a single small Bonji up close to the Habaki, and then a gap and some small Bonji in a vertical arrangement further down. I have seen this sword once for a few minutes, so this is only a general impression. I cannot really imagine that they were on the blade at any time before a Suriage.

 

The plan is to send my present Katana and Koshirae for sale at the dealers' auction and to use the money realized to help towards the purchase of this 'upgrade'.

[sanjuro]

Piers

 

No apologies necessary. Sounds fascinating though, That amount of bonji buys a whole load of heavenly protection, but it sounds more like a dedication of some kind, done post suriage. That in itself would be very unusual.

I look forward to seeing the pics..... (No pressure of course) :D

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello Piers,

 

Ref. NBTHK Shinsa Standards

http://www.nihontocraft.com/Nihonto_Shi ... dards.html

 

Take advantage of Koichi Moriyama san's posted link and read further into the articles section, specifically Mr. Pressley's article on Mihara, if by chance you haven't already. Generally, unless there is new discovery or significant change about a sword from the time the current paper was issued, it will be a tough hill to climb to expect an upgrade.

[Jean]

Piers,

 

I did not have a look at the date. No way to get TH. In this era (1550) so many swords were forged and still unmodified with a mei that you have few chances to get TH above all with a kai Mihara.

[Bugyotsuji]

Franco, thanks for the prompt. I went back and found the interesting Pressley article that you mention. My guess of 1550 may well be way out. I was told end of Muromachi, but not Momoyama. This is something else I will need to check.

 

So Jean, you think it might be Kazu-uchi mono? The blade is quite striking and gets good comments. I may have to take a rain check on this sword... :|

 

The Koshirae is tachi and beautifully done overall in su-aka. Not gold or silver, but inscribed red copper. The lacquered scabbard, the fittings and the Tsuba were probably made at the same time and are all of matching color and style. Everything is Mumei.

[Jean]

So Jean, you think it might be Kazu-uchi mono? The blade is quite striking and gets good comments. I may have to take a rain check on this sword... :|

 

 

Not at All Piers, but there are too many swords of this era which are ubu and can be TH level so why bother with a O suriage one (NBTHK )

[Bugyotsuji]

2 Shaku 2 Sun 9 Bu, I seem to recall.

 

Many thanks for the advice, Jean. It's the romantic in me. I need to take a chill pill and make a more rational decision. (Besides which, I am not completely sure how to get the money together this month for everything that has to be done...)

[Bugyotsuji]

The owner has told me he does not want to sell it. So, no piccies and end of thread! Apologies for the false flag, but many thanks for the educational roller-coaster ride!

[sanjuro]

Piers

 

I'm crushed. I feel used and abused. :? However, I shall recover presently. :D

 

Sounds like karma stepped in and took a hand. The path of doubt you seemed to be heading down, makes this a fortuitous development. The gods of Nihonto may well have smiled upon you in their own quirky way.

[Bugyotsuji]

Thank you Keith.

[watsonmil]

Dear Piers,

There is a saying I heard somewhere that .... if you appreciate and truly respect Nihonto, ... the sword you are searching for will find YOU ! I actually believe this. I have been most fortunate in aquiring what I consider good swords by allowing them to find me. The trick is to recognize one when it does find you and not hesitate in extending the .... " welcome home ". .... Ron Watson

[Stephen]

the sword you are searching for will find YOU !

 

i happen feel the same way, and contest that so far most swords know i cant afford them so they stay away.

[Bugyotsuji]

Well, I am feeling a little raw at the moment. The problem is that I mentioned the debate here and he said at once that with swords it's a dog-eat-dog world and you must be 100% sure in yourself and in the sword. He won't even let me see it now, for my own protection.

 

With my first sword everyone told me it was Gimei, but it passed at Shinsa. He says it has to be like that.

 

Thanks for the advice. And yes, I believe that the sword will find me!

 

But was it that one???

[sanjuro]

Piers.

 

I too believe that the sword will find you. Heaven knows it has happened to me a few times and I still have those swords, although others I have bought have come and gone, those few seem to be permanently associated with me. Perhaps this is the way it is meant to be. All of them were easily bought, with no obstacles placed in the path of my ownership of them. If this is any indication, then the one that just got away in your case I would say did not belong with you.

This may sound like a load of sentimental nonsense. However, I dont usually wallow in pointless sentiment. I do however accept that which seems to be pre ordained or destined to be.

 

Just my viewpoint.

[Bugyotsuji]

Quick follow-up on this sword.

 

I talked to a few people about what had happened and got some advice. Internally it became clear to me that if I wanted the sword badly enough I should go for it regardless of the prospects for Shinsa. I took my only Katana and Koshirae round to ask my friend to sell it for me at the dealers' auction. We agreed on a minimum price below I would not sell, and I had mentally ear-marked some money to bridge the gap between this sale and the new purchase. I handed over a wall-mounting Yari-kake as a present and a mark of apology for my sins. The mood was good.

 

Finally during a pause in the conversation I took a deep breath and looking him straight in the eyes, asked for the sword that he had refused to sell me last week. He was a little taken aback and a look of apology flashed across his face. Oh, that one? It's not here any more. I sold it. Never mind, I am sure something will come along in due course, he said lightly.

 

Are swords like women or buses?

 

PS I took my trusty Katana back home with me. Now there is definitely no reason to sell it. Perhaps I will go for that Kikuchi yari Tanto I was offered yesterday, grrrrrrrr.........