school?

John A Stuart · April 6, 2007

Hi All, I have a Ji-sukashi tsuba signed Choshu ju Masasada that is supposed to be in the Kouchi school work. I have not run across this school before and wish to know a little about it, if some one is familiar with it. I will not be able to access my references for another 6 months or so, back to work, so bear with me, thanks. John

John A Stuart · April 7, 2007

I thought I would add a pic to make this more interesting and provide more background. John

Brian · April 9, 2007

John,

Sorry to poach off another forum, but for the benefit of the members, I see this was posted by Rich as a reply on another group:

Choshu Hagi Ju, Nagato province, D: ca 1800. Some say this is the same
artist as Bushu Ju Masasada. He signed Bushu Ju, Kofu Ju and Buko Ju,

Wakayama says he is the same man as Choshu Ju. Akiyama Kyusaku in the

TOKEN KAI-SHI part 97, Oct. 1908 says this name is unrecorded, at that

time, and he did good work.

There are mei references in the Church Collection and Toso Tosogu Meiji

Taikan book 3 page 240

I thought I would post a pic of a tsuba that I have mounted on a waki of mine that has a horse riding theme..that I believe is signed Bushu ju Masasada. I wonder if it could be the same artist?

Regards,

Brian

John A Stuart · April 9, 2007

Certainly has similarities. The Masasada part of the mei seems fairly different but may be within normal changes over time. The use of sparse gold accents is close too. John

Rich T · April 9, 2007

Hi All, I have a Ji-sukashi tsuba signed Choshu ju Masasada that is supposed to be in the Kouchi school work. I have not run across this school before and wish to know a little about it,

Hi John, looking at he image again, I am pretty sure it is Kawaji, not Kouchi. I think it says, above the Nakago Huni Ju, Kawaji Den or Ha. Kawaji is also known as Kawaharu

河冶

This is one of the schools of metalworkers inside the Choshu group. There were quite a few of them. Have a look in any of the English fittings books you have.

Lastly, I just broke out Nihonto Koza and Choshu Ju Masasada is listed in the section of "Master Craftsmen of Unknown Affiliations". This may be what Akiyama Kyusaku was refering to when he said "this name is unrecorded, at that time, and he did good work".

Cheers

Rich

John A Stuart · April 9, 2007

Thanks again Rich, I'm back at work so have no books. 7 months to go!! Kawaji makes sense. Kouchi meant only 'inner circle' to me and confusing. John

Nobody · April 10, 2007

I thought I would post a pic of a tsuba that I have mounted on a waki of mine that has a horse riding theme..that I believe is signed Bushu ju Masasada. I wonder if it could be the same artist?

Hi Brian,

The mei on the pic looks 正克 to me. I am unsure about its correct reading, but it may be Masakatsu or Masayoshi.