inome boars eye

[ruhye]

can anyone tell me the meaning of inome ?

the boars eye seems to be some thing that is common among tsubas,but i dont know what the mean

[sanjuro]

Traditionally speaking it is considered that the eye of a boar does not waver from its target when he charges. Nor does he consider the risk to himself when committing to the charge. The analogy with the martial spirit is implicit.

[Bugyotsuji]

That is interesting. Thank you. I know it is a common design, found on many household objects. I have a very old candle-holder with this motif. Westerners used to think it was a heart mark, found even in Japan, until they heard the explanation that the hanging folds of the boar's eye make the heart look upside down.

[sanjuro]

Hi Piers.

 

My reference was to the inome in relation to swords and things martial. My Sensei explained it this way to me many years ago, and this was in relation to a tsuba when I asked him the meaning of the design. However, Four repetitions of a boars eye on a tsuba for instance may also indicate vigilance in the four directions. In such a case it is an indicator of an additional meaning. Perhaps in this manner there are other meanings and/or associations that make the inome also applicable in some way to household goods. It would be interesting if someone has access to other information.