Shinshinto Wakizashi Sword with Traditional Motifs
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Shinshinto Wakizashi sword the blade unsigned, ubu blade, with a long kissaki. the blade is in worn old polish, showing fine scratches but no rust, no stains or flaws. the hamon is gunome pattern & has deep turn back temper at the point. the forging grain is itame hada. the tsuba is of the Edo period with marugata shape gold flower motif inlay copper tsuba with a bat in the night sky, & the moon on the obverse, with shakudo rim, unsigned. Fuchi kashira are of iron with shakudo, gold & copper decoration, depicting the mamemaki ceremony performed on setsubun, a traditional lunar new year festival held the day before the first day of spring to cast oni devils out of the home & bring good luck for the year ahead. the 'Caster-Out of Devils' of Yaku Harai, calls out the invocation Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi, which means 'Devils Away, Good Luck & Enter!'. the kashira the Yuku Harai with his box of roasted soybeans (kuro mame) which he casts about to drive the onis away. the fuchishows an oni with his pole running away. Kozuka is shakudo on copper back depicting cranes in rushes, unsigned, with kogatana. Menuki is of high quality sea shell design. the scabbard is finely lacquered with toppei kojiri fittings in mint condition. the tsuka is wrapped in fine blue silk over good quality same (ray skin). Condition excellent to good, blade without flaws, good hamon & hada, good signed tsuba, attractive traditionally themed mounts of very good quality Nagasa (cutting length) 36.5 cm
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- Shakudo - Japanese shakudo is a traditional alloy that has been used in Japan for centuries. It is primarily composed of copper and gold, with the copper serving as the base metal and the gold adding a yellowish hue to the alloy. Shakudo is known for its beautiful dark blue-black or black colour, which is achieved through the addition of a small amount of a patina-inducing element like silver or arsenic.
The word "shakudo" itself can be translated as "red copper" in Japanese, referring to the reddish-brown color of the pure copper base metal before it is patinated. The gold content in shakudo is usually around 4-10%, but this can vary depending on the specific purpose or desired appearance.
Shakudo has been traditionally used in various forms of decorative arts and crafts in Japan. It is particularly associated with metalwork, including sword fittings (such as tsuba, menuki, and kashira), jewelry, and small ornamental objects. The alloy's dark color provides a striking contrast to other metals like silver or gold, making it ideal for intricate inlay work or as a background for other decorative elements. - Obverse - Obverse means the front face of a coin or medal, and the reverse means the back face. The obverse of a coin is commonly called heads, because it often depicts the head of a monarch or famous person.
- Edo Period, Japan - The Edo period in Japan lasted from 1603 to 1868. During this time, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate, a military government led by the Tokugawa family. The Edo period is characterized by a period of relative peace, stability, and economic growth, as well as by the development of a distinctive culture and society.
During the Edo period, the capital of Japan was moved from Kyoto to Edo (modern-day Tokyo), and the country became increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. The shogunate implemented strict policies to maintain control, including the restriction of foreign trade and travel. However, despite this isolation, the Edo period saw significant cultural and artistic development, including the emergence of the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition, the growth of Kabuki theater, and the flourishing of a vibrant merchant culture.
The Edo period ended with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which saw the collapse of the shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule.
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