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Post by Dandelion on Aug 27, 2020 15:35:40 GMT
A question to the experts: we just rewatched Shogun miniseries nd were please how quite good it aged. But the design/style of the katana looks somehow unfamiliar to us. Did they screw up? Is it a period thing? The end caps look different from what i know, and a lot of additional fittings on the scabbards, even with lower rank samurai. Some others look "normal" Any info?
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Post by Stef on Aug 27, 2020 15:44:59 GMT
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Post by Dandelion on Aug 27, 2020 15:47:59 GMT
Yes, exactly what i meant; so Edo period fits, right? Because "Toranaga" is meant to be "Tokugawa", isnt he?
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Post by Verity on Aug 27, 2020 15:48:20 GMT
Yeah. Handachi were not uncommon. Especially during early Muromachi as the katana became the mainstay from tachi.
Oei saw a lot of shifts in both blade design and Koshirae.
Handachi show up throughout Edo as well.
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Post by Stef on Aug 27, 2020 15:50:32 GMT
Yes, exactly what i meant; so Edo period fits, right? Because "Toranaga" is meant to be "Tokugawa", isnt he? from the link late Edo yes Behold a very long sword indeed. This is a super example of a Bakumatsu (Late Edo) sword, with a mesmerizing length of 76.5cm (and 110cm from tip to tip). It has a thick kasane (thick back edge of the blade), with little difference in the blade’s width at the top and bottom of the sword. This blade is in very good condition, with an eye-catching masame-hada body (straight surface grain pattern). And what a saya (scabbard). This saya is known as Han-dachi Koshirae, or a “Half-Tachi”. “Han” means half, and dachi is for “Tachi”. This is koshirae is halfway between katana and tachi mounts. Han-dachi originally appeared during the Muromachi period when there was a transition from tachi to katana. The sword was being worn more and more edge up when on foot, but edge down on horseback as the tachi was used for. The handachi is a response to the need to be worn in either style. In the Bakumatsu period the idea of a “return to the past” and along with talk of returning to the righteous government of old, there was a movement for Samurai to wear tachi in the same style of their ancestors. Naturally, the majority were not riding around on horseback. Late-Edo mounts were clearly set up as katana but with tachi mounts, which we see in this brilliant piece. All parts match beautifully – this is a truly complete sword and very representative of its period. The incredibly striking tsuba (guard) is big and bold, and brings balance to the sword. The rather large menuki (under the silk tsuka handle) is of the fan that a sumo referee holds in the ring. A fitting tribute to this warrior blade. The hearts on the sword’s scabbard are not actually, hearts. They are called “inome” – the eye shape of an Inoshishi. An inoshishi is Japan’s ‘wild boar’ (Ino for Inoshishi, “Me” is the word for eye in Japanese). The inoshishi is famous for have a very focused and driven character that doesn’t give up. Attacks with purpose. Like the tombo, the dragonfly, that flies in formation and does not retreat, the inoshishi was revered in the Japanese Samurai. Both the dragon fly and inoshishi were often symbolized on the mountings of Japanese Samurai swords.escription:
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Post by tancred on Aug 27, 2020 17:04:47 GMT
People who know more than I have already chimed in, but yes, handachi koshirae.
This might go without saying, but I'm going to anyway, because I'm such a stickler for historical accuracy. But this series, "Shogun," was written by James Clavell. Just like his other "historical" work, "The Last Valley," it is pretty inaccurate historically. Throughout both of those works, Clavell seems to have a slant that outweighs accuracy.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 27, 2020 17:25:00 GMT
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Post by RaylonTheDemented on Aug 27, 2020 17:58:10 GMT
People who know more than I have already chimed in, but yes, handachi koshirae. This might go without saying, but I'm going to anyway, because I'm such a stickler for historical accuracy. But this series, "Shogun," was written by James Clavell. Just like his other "historical" work, "The Last Valley," it is pretty inaccurate historically. Throughout both of those works, Clavell seems to have a slant that outweighs accuracy. Lets call it historically inspired. The novel is excellent despite not being historical. I remember the tv series with fondness.
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Post by Lord Newport on Aug 27, 2020 18:23:11 GMT
I have always preferred han-dachi fittings on my competition/cutting swords... Howard Clark L6 with blackened iron fittings (kabuto-gane/fuchi/semegane/sayajiri) by Patrick Hastings. Standard handachi kabuto-gane on a Hataya Sensei Kotetsu katana
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Post by tancred on Aug 27, 2020 22:12:01 GMT
People who know more than I have already chimed in, but yes, handachi koshirae. This might go without saying, but I'm going to anyway, because I'm such a stickler for historical accuracy. But this series, "Shogun," was written by James Clavell. Just like his other "historical" work, "The Last Valley," it is pretty inaccurate historically. Throughout both of those works, Clavell seems to have a slant that outweighs accuracy. Lets call it historically inspired. The novel is excellent despite not being historical. I remember the tv series with fondness. Oh yeah, "Shogun" is an excellent, entertaining tv series. No denying that. Inspired by history is fine. Accurate would be far-fetched. Things in that series and "The Last Valley" just hit like nails on a chalkboard for me. So, had to say something. In any case, I did see the series when it originally aired on tv. I was too young for it to really stay with me, but I do remember it. Interestingly enough, when I was in Japan, a Japanese friend of mine, after a full day of sightseeing, asks me at about 10 PM if I want to watch "Shogun." I'm like, "I don't want to be up that late." He says, "don't worry; we'll have plenty of time." The Japanese version is heavily edited. I think its only 2.5 hours long or so. Might border on political to say why the series is edited, so I'll just leave it for people to guess why.
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Post by Dandelion on Aug 27, 2020 22:15:00 GMT
Lets call it historically inspired. The novel is excellent despite not being historical. I remember the tv series with fondness. Oh yeah, "Shogun" is an excellent, entertaining tv series. No denying that. Inspired by history is fine. Accurate would be far-fetched. Things in that series and "The Last Valley" just hit like nails on a chalkboard for me. So, had to say something. In any case, I did see the series when it originally aired on tv. I was too young for it to really stay with me, but I do remember it. Interestingly enough, when I was in Japan, a Japanese friend of mine, after a full day of sightseeing, asks me at about 10 PM if I want to watch "Shogun." I'm like, "I don't want to be up that late." He says, "don't worry; we'll have plenty of time." The Japanese version is heavily edited. I think its only 2.5 hours long or so. Might border on political to say why the series is edited, so I'll just leave it for people to guess why. We have the TV version box, 4 DVDs and one bonus disc. The movie exists in germany too, but its a mangled corpse. Like the cinema version of "The Boat"; horrible.
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Post by Student of Sword on Aug 28, 2020 0:35:25 GMT
In the Shogun court, only black tsukamaki over white samegawa and black lacquered saya is allowed, anything showy is not allowed.
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Post by legacyofthesword on Aug 28, 2020 1:15:52 GMT
I have always preferred han-dachi fittings on my competition/cutting swords... Howard Clark L6 with blackened iron fittings (kabuto-gane/fuchi/semegane/sayajiri) by Patrick Hastings. Standard handachi kabuto-gane on a Hataya Sensei Kotetsu katana Very nice! If you don't mind discussing it, how much were the fittings on the top katana? And where did you get the ones on the bottom katana? I've been wanting to get some handachi fittings for a Bugei bare blade that I'm trying to turn into my dream katana.
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Post by Dandelion on Aug 28, 2020 17:43:08 GMT
I have always preferred han-dachi fittings on my competition/cutting swords... Howard Clark L6 with blackened iron fittings (kabuto-gane/fuchi/semegane/sayajiri) by Patrick Hastings That is an awesome sword; and yes, thats the type of fittings i meant. They are in the "Ghost Of Tsushima" game too. So different from the usual "standard" katana style.
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Post by captainharlock on Aug 29, 2020 2:26:11 GMT
I watched this series on TV when it aired and I have bought the series on DVD and on Blu-ray. Definitely historically inspired and it’s just a great series that has aged very well. I rewatched it during my Covid vacation and I was surprised how great it still is. This series and highlander sparked my interest in swords that still exists to this day.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 29, 2020 5:14:19 GMT
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Post by Dandelion on Aug 29, 2020 5:44:07 GMT
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Post by captainharlock on Aug 29, 2020 14:30:24 GMT
I have always preferred han-dachi fittings on my competition/cutting swords... Howard Clark L6 with blackened iron fittings (kabuto-gane/fuchi/semegane/sayajiri) by Patrick Hastings. Standard handachi kabuto-gane on a Hataya Sensei Kotetsu katana Those are both beautiful and well mounted especially the Howard Clark. Thanks for sharing
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Post by treeslicer on Sept 3, 2020 4:37:04 GMT
Yes, exactly what i meant; so Edo period fits, right? Because "Toranaga" is meant to be "Tokugawa", isnt he? People who know more than I have already chimed in, but yes, handachi koshirae. This might go without saying, but I'm going to anyway, because I'm such a stickler for historical accuracy. But this series, "Shogun," was written by James Clavell. Just like his other "historical" work, "The Last Valley," it is pretty inaccurate historically. Throughout both of those works, Clavell seems to have a slant that outweighs accuracy. People who know more than I have already chimed in, but yes, handachi koshirae. This might go without saying, but I'm going to anyway, because I'm such a stickler for historical accuracy. But this series, "Shogun," was written by James Clavell. Just like his other "historical" work, "The Last Valley," it is pretty inaccurate historically. Throughout both of those works, Clavell seems to have a slant that outweighs accuracy. Lets call it historically inspired. The novel is excellent despite not being historical. I remember the tv series with fondness. In the Shogun court, only black tsukamaki over white samegawa and black lacquered saya is allowed, anything showy is not allowed. Shogun is a hellaciously romanticized, moderately-historically-accurate novel and miniseries loosely based on Japanese history as well as the career of William Adams. Being based primarily on incidents during the late Sengoku phases of the Muromachi Period, prior to to Ieyasu's victory at Sekigahara in 1600, it is by definition entirely set in pre-Edo times. Showy was fine, the Edo-period props, costumes, and customs scattered through the TV show aren't. This crap grates on me like classical Greek props, costumes, and sets in a Trojan War epic does. I also loathe when authors like Clavell and Michener fictionalized their locales and characters to avoid being held to any standard of accuracy.
Handachi parts on a katana mounting are fine. At the time portrayed, the rules on such things hadn't been written yet.
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Post by tancred on Sept 3, 2020 6:15:45 GMT
I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I'm like that with anything I have a remote knowledge of the real history, but I get that way 100x over when it comes to movies or tv shows related to the Crusades (*looking at you, Ridley Scott, and your Kingdom of Heaven crap!*).
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