Help with Kanji | Nihonto Club

Help with Kanji

Submitted by Pavel on Sat, 2011-09-17 01:39

Hello Aficionados,
Hope you all are having wonderfilled days.
I was wondering if I could get some help with some kanji, I found inside a saya.
Any and all assistance would be appreciated.

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	#1Submitted by saipan59 on Sat, 2011-09-17 15:27. date and name? The longer part is a date (ANSEI 4 NEN), 1858, followed by a name (something like "Norisaka"?). Pete Login or register to post comments


	#2Submitted by saipan59 on Sat, 2011-09-17 23:08. Yuu Yuu Kai The 3 kanji on the bottom are "YUu YUu Kai". Old Nelson numbers 4756, 5030, 1464. We don't understand the meaning of those 3 together, but the 3rd one means "change, modify, renew, mend", so that might fit somehow... Update: "YUu YUu" is also a first name, "Kunio". So, maybe the name of the guy that repaired the saya or the blade...? Pete Login or register to post comments


	#3Submitted by Pavel on Sun, 2011-09-18 03:08. What are "Nelson numbers"? saipan59 wrote: The longer part is a date (ANSEI 4 NEN), 1858, followed by a name (something like "Norisaka"?). Pete Hiya Pete, How have you been? Thanks for taking the time with this. The Shikkake school(Yamato) had a lot of Nori's in it. Do you think the blade that was in the saya, was made, or altered in 1858? The blade that is in the saya is either a Unokubi-zukuri or a nagamaki-naoshi, it has no yokote. saipan59 wrote: The 3 kanji on the bottom are "YUu YUu Kai". Old Nelson numbers 4756, 5030, 1464. We don't understand the meaning of those 3 together, but the 3rd one means "change, modify, renew, mend", so that might fit somehow... Update: "YUu YUu" is also a first name, "Kunio". So, maybe the name of the guy that repaired the saya or the blade...? Pete What are "Nelson numbers"? The nakago has two gold spots, almost like little drops. The rest is so built up with rust you can barely see the yasurime, it is Takanoha. Login or register to post comments


	#4Submitted by saipan59 on Sun, 2011-09-18 15:26. Nelson's dictionary "Japanese-English Character Dictionary" by Andrew Nelson. This dictionary is "the old standard" kanji dictionary for English-speaking folks. The "old Nelson" is the original version. There is a newer version that has many changes, including changing the numbers of the kanji (a mistake, in my opinion). Pete Login or register to post comments


	#5Submitted by Pavel on Mon, 2011-09-19 18:07. BASHOU ARATAMERU saipan59 wrote: "Japanese-English Character Dictionary" by Andrew Nelson. This dictionary is "the old standard" kanji dictionary for English-speaking folks. The "old Nelson" is the original version. There is a newer version that has many changes, including changing the numbers of the kanji (a mistake, in my opinion). Pete Thanks Pete, I must buy a good kanji book soon. What in your opinion is the best kanji book for a slow learning beginner? I just received an email from H.A. Watson(translator of the Nihon To Koza). He said "The writing on the inside of the scabbard appears to be that of the person who reshaped the sword. That was a naginata, and has been made into a wakizashi." The date appears to be a month in 1857, but the name of the month is a bit smeared. The other three kanji appear to me to say BASHOU ARATAMERU, meaning changed by a person called Bashou. In this case, shou ryhmes with show." Guess that would make the sword that was in the saya a naganata-naoshi? That is pretty exciting to me. Pavel Login or register to post comments


	#6Submitted by Pavel on Mon, 2011-09-19 18:07. BASHOU ARATAMERU saipan59 wrote: "Japanese-English Character Dictionary" by Andrew Nelson. This dictionary is "the old standard" kanji dictionary for English-speaking folks. The "old Nelson" is the original version. There is a newer version that has many changes, including changing the numbers of the kanji (a mistake, in my opinion). Pete Thanks Pete, I must buy a good kanji book soon. What in your opinion is the best kanji book for a slow learning beginner? I just received an email from H.A. Watson(translator of the Nihon To Koza). He said "The writing on the inside of the scabbard appears to be that of the person who reshaped the sword. That was a naginata, and has been made into a wakizashi." The date appears to be a month in 1857, but the name of the month is a bit smeared. The other three kanji appear to me to say BASHOU ARATAMERU, meaning changed by a person called Bashou. In this case, shou ryhmes with show." Guess that would make the sword that was in the saya a naganata-naoshi? That is pretty exciting to me. Pavel Login or register to post comments


	#7Submitted by saipan59 on Tue, 2011-09-20 03:30. Bashou ? You can trust Harry Watson's interpretations. However, it's possible that Harry is mis-reading the first kanji ("Ba" is slightly different), but it doesn't really matter -- knowing the name is not useful, unless it is a famous person. Pete Login or register to post comments


	#8Submitted by Pavel on Tue, 2011-09-20 09:10. Thanks saipan59 wrote: You can trust Harry Watson's interpretations. However, it's possible that Harry is mis-reading the first kanji ("Ba" is slightly different), but it doesn't really matter -- knowing the name is not useful, unless it is a famous person. Pete Yea maybe, but as you say it doesn't really matter. I am very happy knowing that it was made prior to 1850. Just have to clean it enough to see the hada and hamon. Thanks for your help Pete. Pavel Login or register to post comments