Menuki placement question

[Drago]

Hi,

 

there has been a lot of talk about where heads and roots and stuff should be facing (towards the fuchi or kashira). I am well aware of all that, but what I'd like to know:

What about up and down?

 

For example: You have some menuki depicting a dog or a boat. Do you place the menuki so that it is upright (dog standing on his feet, boat swimming on the water)when the blade is in the saya and worn blade up or so that it is upright when the blade is drawn and held? And what about blade down tachi mounting?

 

(the same question goes for kashira as well, e.g. if they display a landscape or people)

 

Thanks.

[Lance]

Generally all fittings should be mounted as if it was being worn: menuki and kashira facing edge up if worn like a katana, the top of the mountain, boat or the dog's head would be facing up same as the blade, if it was on a tachi it would be the opposite, head's up, blade down. Sometimes there might be exceptions, like if the dogs are playing thay might be belly up, or Shishi on a kashira might be posed with their heads lower than their body.

Regards,

Lance