VOL.197 OCTOBER 2024
JAPAN’S HEALING FORESTS (PART 2)
Autumn Forests with Colorful Leaves
[The Beauty of Japanese Swords] Decorative Sword Mounting
Decorative Sword Mounting, a National Treasure (total length approx. 103 cm)
Photo: ColBase
Decorative Sword Mounting (Nashijiraden kinso no kazari-tachi), a National Treasure, is said to date from the 12th century. “Swords with decorative mountings (J. kazaritachi) were carried by high-ranking nobles at official court ceremonies.” * And decorative swords “could only be used with special permission from the Emperor.” *
“These mountings are characterized by rayskin-covered hilts, Chinese-style sword guards (J. karatsuba), and long metal fittings on the scabbard (J. saya) and hilt (J. tsuka).” *
The characteristics of this decorative sword are as follows. “The metal fittings on this mounting are decorated with a detailed chrysanthemum pattern in gilt openwork carved in high relief over a silver ground. The areas on the scabbard between the metal fittings are decorated with long-tailed birds in mother-of-pearl inlay (J. raden) on lacquer “pear-skin” ground (J. nashiji). The slight but graceful curve of the overall form is a Japanese” * style.
It was passed down through the Hirohashi family of kuge (court nobles) and is now in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum.
Photo: ColBase
* Quoted from e-National Treasure
<<About terminology used in the quoted passages>>
- J. : Abbreviation for “Japanese”
- Kuge: A collective term for nobles and officials who serve the emperor. In ancient times, this term referred to the emperor or the imperial court itself and was sometimes pronounced oyake, kouke, or kouka.
- Karatsuba: A type of sword guard gorgeously crafted with openwork designs and patterns, such as chrysanthemums.
- Tsuba, saya, and tsuka: “Tsuka” refers to the hilt, the part of the sword that is gripped. The piece between the hilt and the blade meant to protect the hand is called the “tsuba,” or sword guard. The “saya” is the scabbard or sheath that covers the sword body.
- Tokin and Togin: a decorative metalworking technique in which gold or silver is applied to the surface of copper or copper alloys. In Japanese, to means plated, ki means gold, and gin means silver.
- Takabori: Carving a pattern so that it stands out from the background. It also refers to objects carved in this style.
- Sukashibori: A technique of carving patterns by hollowing out the material. It also refers to objects carved in this style.
- Nashiji and Raden: “Nashiji” is a type of decoration in maki-e technique. “Maki-e” refers to a technique for decorating objects by drawing pictures or patterns in lacquer and sprinkling gold or silver powder on the surface before the lacquer hardens. “Nashiji” (lit. “pear surface”) typically uses gold powder and is so named because of its rough finish resembling the texture of pear skin. “Raden” is a technique in which the beautiful surface of the shell is inlaid into the decorative surface.
- Onagadori: Refers to a bird with long tail feathers.
- The Hirohashi family: A noble family descended from Hirohashi Yorisuke (1182-1236).
