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Posted

The knot you are referring to (Katana bokuro)Is detailed in a small book called 'Introduction to Japanese Swords through Pictures. its put out by the All Japan Swordsmith Association. About half of the book is dedicated to knots and tying of them.

Cho Musubi

Ronin Musubi

Myoga Musubi

Tachio

Katana bokuro

Kiribako

Plus urushi techniques, types of tsuka maki, Koshirae types, Types of tsuka, maintenance and a few handy little tips on handling and care of shirasaya, tsuba etc etc.

 

Its well worth buying.

Posted

Hi Klaus

 

Its volume 1 that gives all the knotty information. Actually I had forgotten there was a second volume. I got mine from 'About Japan', quite a while ago before they brought out the second volume. I believe they have both volumes now, but the books are fairly easy to find on ebay. Nice present to give yourself :D .

Posted

Good evening all.

 

Thanks to everyone for the input thus far, however I am looking for something more Ryuha specific.

 

Much in the same way that the Ogasawara Ryu (小笠原流) School of Etiquette influenced the Rei - Ho of many Gendai Budo.

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

Posted

Malcolm.

 

The method for tying Katana bokuro in the book I mentioned was and is used by the KSR. I have mixed and sometimes trained with members of other major Traditional Ryu over the years and most used this same knot. Some simply passed the end of the fusa himo under the last loop of the fusa himo and left it at that. I'm not aware of any variety of other knots used or of there being a 'school of etiquette' that has influenced the Ryuha in trivia such as the knots used to tie a Katana bag or such as the Ogasawara one you mentioned for gendai Budo. These if they exist would in any case be Edo period methods assembled and adapted from a mixture of the methods used by the traditional Ryuha. I'm not aware of any books on this specific subject either. The Seita Gata techniques and etiquette practiced by the All Japan Kendo Renmei were an adaptation of traditional methods and practices used by a number of Ryu, and the book they published some years ago had a section on etiquette and knots etc. The knot for the katana bokuro contained in the book I recommended was included in that volume also as were the other knots detailed above. I suspect that there were no Ryuha specific ways of tying these fairly common types of knots. However, I'd like to know if there are in fact differences at this level between Ryu since I'm not aware of these little 'domestic' differences. Knots used to tie things up are a thing of limited utility and not generally a 'social' indicator such as the way a sword is displayed for instance. Any differences if they exist between Ryu would I think be more of a regional nature, having been established by common usage in a certain place. :D Just MHO.

Posted

Actually its an acronym for Katori Shinto Ryu, which I should have abbreviated to TSKSR. (Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu) Sorry....My fault for using an abbreviated abbreviation. :D Is there a Kashima Shinto Ryu? (just kidding). ;) I'd hate to start an inter Ryu dispute.

 

It seems to me that the majority of customs and traditions in use today within the more modern Ryu have in fact been adopted largely from either the Yagyu Ryu (Kage and Shinkage) or the Tenshin shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. I could be mistaken here, but from my own observations, that which is in general use now seems close or identical to these two Ryu, whose practices have been long established since early times. This viewpoint however may be as a result of my own exposure being largely to the practices and traditions of both of these Ryu.

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