Hizen Province
| Hizen Province is now Saga Prefecture. This province was governed
separately, such as Saga area by the Nabeshima daimyo family (330
koku of rice), Hirato area by the Matsuura daimyo family, Karatsu
area by the Doi and Mizuno daimyo families. The Jakushi family at
Saga and the Yagami school at Yagami are well-known as good tsuba
craftsmen. And, in Nagasaki where was singular port opened to overseas
during the Edo period, the peculiar tsuba that were imitated Chinese
sword guard became fashionable. This style of tsuba is called "Nanban-Tsuba". |
Jakushi
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There are several theories about Jakushi in Saga Province.
Though, it is estimated that two Jakushi existed around the same time who
shared the same surname "Kawamura".
Jakushi who found his calling in painting was born as a son of Samurai
belonged to the Ryuzoji daimyo family. He went to Nagasaki and studied
painting with Chinese Buddhist monk Itsuzen of the Suifuku-Ji Temple. Therefore,
the painter Jakushi was good at painting Chinese style Buddhistic drawings
or flowers & birds pictures or landscape pictures.
The other Jakushi whose given name is Kizaemon existed around the same
time of the painter Jakushi.
The metal-carving craftsman Jakushi studied how to paint and how to produce
sword guards under the painter Jakushi.
The Jakushi school for tsuba making continued for several generations from
the founder "Kizaemon".
Craftsmen of this school were good at expressing bamboo, landscapes, rising
dragons and others in Nunome-Zogan inlay on iron round plates.
Every head of this school inscribed "Jakushi" in running Kanji
style on his pieces of works. |
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![[ Tetsu-Ji Maru-Gata Kin-Zogan Tsuba ] Jakushi](swordguardjakushi1.gif) |
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[ Tetsu-Ji Maru-Gata Kin-Zogan Tsuba]
Inscribed " Jakushi "
The Edo period |
Nanban-Tsuba
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"Nanban" generally means European countries in Japanese.
However, "Nanban" in the Japanese sword guard world especially
means China.
So, "Nanban-Tsuba" meant exotic sword guards imported from China
at first.
Later, craftsmen in Nagasaki of Japan started making similar kind of them,
finally, all craftsmen in Japan started making this kind of tsuba.
As a result, Nanban-Tsuba had a great run across Japan for their exotic
designs.
Usually, twin dragons, arabesque, or unique characters are expressed in
carving on them.
It is said that the Onitake family in Nagasaki, craftsmen of the Kunishige
school in Hirato, craftsmen of the Jakushi school in Hizen and swordsmiths
of the Nobukuni school in Higo Province engaged in producing Nanban-Tsuba.
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[ Nanban- Tsuba ]
No Inscription
The Edo period |
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