Koyori

[Bugyotsuji]

Just ran a search on the site and the only post it came up with was my own.

 

Does anyone have any background information on Koyori twisted paper string and how it might have looked threaded through a tsuba and 'locking/sealing' a sword into the tsuba, passed around the Tsunokaeshi or Kurikata? One story I have heard is that the click of the koikuchi being 'kitta' was actually the snapping of the paper lock as the thumb pushed the tsuba forwards.

 

What I would like to know is whether the two ends were tied together, or stuck together, or somehow twisted together into a closed loop? Is there an illustrated example anywhere?

 

My J wife makes a quick twisting motion with her fingers if I say the word Koyori, so it is built into her subconscious. I have found a website showing how to use both hands to do perfect paper twists, and I have also found a site that sells them. But they all look like pipe cleaners, ie straight and in bunches. They are said to have many uses, including cleaning out Kisseru, cleaning the priming touch hole on matchlocks (here called Seseri), and even those hard-to reach inner passages around the head (ears and nostrils).

 

Any information, even anecdotal, welcome!

[Ford Hallam]

Sorry I can't add anything of use....but an image search for Koyori was "interesting!

[Guido]

Sorry I can't add anything of use....but an image search for Koyori was "interesting!

萌え！

[John A Stuart]

Although having been aware of the practice have never seen it applied to a sword. It had an analogous practice in the West, peace strings. The only koyori you see now a days is the mizuhiki on gifts. I would like to know. Mizuhiki have all kinds of special knots and I suspect koyori on swords would have similar. John

[watsonmil]

Ford,s remark about an image search for Koyori perked my curiosity ... I can only second Ford's good taste in " deviant art ".

... Ron Watson

[Ford Hallam]

:D