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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2011 6:34:33 GMT
I'm curious if anyone knows why the Katana used Same or Ray skin underneath the weave ito? Is it a traditional, appearance, or functional item?
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Post by Maynar on Dec 22, 2011 7:28:10 GMT
As I understand, it was primarily functional to allow the ito wrap a better friction grip on the handle that if it were wrapped on bare wood. This practice did not take long to become traditional, I'm thinking. I'm sure the appearance quickly became popular, otherwise emperor nodes would not have become a sought-after feature.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 22, 2011 7:50:14 GMT
Yes, it is to help hold the ito. It is also used because when you moisten and wrap it around the wood core it shrinks down and provides a very tight, sturdy layer to reinforce the core. It is tougher and more rigid than leather, thus is like a case for the core. It lastly was very rare to have good quality skin with a full wrap in antiquity, announcing the higher status of the wearer.
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Post by András on Dec 22, 2011 9:24:59 GMT
Not to disagree with you, but if the goal was to hold the ito in place, there would have been simpler methods. I don't see how a full wrap would announce the status of the wearer; they would never allow just anyone to inspect the handle (and those who would be allowed, already knew the status of the owner). Even if they did, ray skin panels can be hard to spot, if done right.
The reasons I think it was used: When ray skin dries it becomes very strong, and adds extra support to the core. Ray skin was easy to get (Japan being an island country and all). Maybe they used ray skin as protection against water?
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Post by Hiroshi on Dec 22, 2011 15:21:49 GMT
I can confirm that when same is soaked in water then dried out it becomes very very rigid. It was used to wrap the tsuka for that reason AND the fact that the rayskin in it's natural state has little hooks like velcro. When the ito is wrapped around this it is very hard for it to slide.
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Post by I Frammenti Di Fede on Dec 22, 2011 17:41:29 GMT
All you did was restate exactly what he said in his post about the same acting to strengthen the tsuka core :roll: . It was also used to secure the ito just as jordan said. Sometimes katanas did act as status symbols throughout periods of history where you came to see elaborate koshirae which I would think would include large high quality ray skin and nodes (just look at some traditional edo katanas).
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 22, 2011 17:44:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2011 22:22:29 GMT
very good info guys,thank you!
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