Sayagaki Translation

[Eric H]

Hello everyone

 

Would appreciate greatly a translation of this sayagaki.

 

Thanks

Eric H

[Darcy]

Hi Eric,

 

You will save people's neck muscles by putting the images the correct side up, they are rotated 90 degrees from vertical :-).

 

The two clips from the sayagaki are the date and Tanobe sensei's signature, and the length of the sword. He likes to vary his signature somewhat, but it is usually date in Chinese calendar dating, followed by some variation of Tanzan (his art name) "attests to and inscribed this."

 

The second image reads Hacho (length of the cutting edge) Futatsu-shaku Nisun Hachibu and a bit, ari-kore (this is). So 2.2.8 in the old style of measurement, roughly 69cm.

 

Tanobe sensei's comments are usually in two columns above this information which is fairly standard.

[Nobody]

Hi Eric,

 

Darcy is correct as usual. More specifically, the date on the first photo is as follows;

 

干時丙戌暦霜月上浣

That reads "Tokini Hinoe-Inu Koyomi Shimotsuki Jokan", and means "at the beginning of November 2006".

[Eric H]

Hi Darcy

 

Thank you for the quick answer and the advice for better placement of the images.

 

Tanzans comments are visible on image "Sayagaki 2" and it is exactly

that I would like to have translated.

 

Best regards

Eric

[Eric H]

Hi Koichi

 

Many thanks for your accurate translation but I ask your help concerning image "Sayagaki 2" (must be download). There are Tanzans comments about Hizen Yukihiro Shodai.

 

Looking forward and best regards

Eric

[Nobody]

Tanzan's comments are written exactly as follows;

 

初代行廣ガ出羽大掾ヲ受領スル前ノ若打而製作年代正保頃也　同工ノ此期ノ作ハ

稀有而其資料価値頗ル高ク加ウルニ丁子主調ノ乱刃ノ出来宜敷候

 

That means loosely "This is an early work of Yukihiro (行廣) 1st generation before he was given Dewa daijo (出羽大掾). This was made around Shoho (正保) era. As the works of this smith in that era are rare, this is valuable as a historical material. And the quality of irregular hamon with choji pattern is quite good".

[Eric H]

Hi Koichi

 

It's just wonderful. I appreciate your effort greatly.

 

All the best

Eric

[Darcy]

Oooo, I missed the third image because it didn't get displayed...

 

That is a long comment section, and usually I find that Tanobe sensei's feelings for a sword show in the amount of detail available in the comments.

[Eric H]

Hi Darcy

 

Thanks for the comment, your opinion is highly respected.

 

All the best

Eric