432 ART INDUSTRY AND RELATED OCCUPATIONS. 



closely on the two sharply arched sides, but cross each other over 

 the broad sides so that rhomboid meshes are formed, through 

 which the decorations of the handle, including the Me-nuke, 

 appear. 



The sword-shell, or guard, Tsuba, is as old as the sword. It 

 is an oval metal plate from one to two millimeters thick and about 

 six centimeters in diameter, with an opening in the middle to 

 admit the blade of the sword. A second opening at the side 

 serves for the fitting in of a straight knife, the Ko-dzuka, whose 

 blade has been made to lie in an outside furrow of the sheath, 

 with a groove for the point. There is often a third perforation in 

 the opposite side of the guard, through which the K6-gai, or " hair- 

 pin " was put. 



Saya, the sword sheath, was usually made out of the wood of the 

 H6-no-ki {Magnolia Jiypoleuca) protected and decorated by coats 

 of lacquer varnish. The greatest luxury in the metal decoration 

 of sword guards, hilts, and ends of the Ko-dzuka, was developed 

 in the 15th century, the time of the Ashikaga Shoguns. This 

 branch of art-industry "has given to Japan its thousands of skilled 

 workmen and its scores of famous masters." ^ 



As has been said on p. 426 the iron industry, in so far as the 

 equipment of warriors was concerned, received its great impulse 

 during the struggles of the Taira and Minamoto (see vol. i. 

 p. 228). Skilful sword-cutlers gained for themselves high social 

 position, and won immortal glory and fame with their swords. 

 Kioto, Osaka and Kamakura were their chief seats ; in later 

 centuries also Okayama in Bizen, Sakai in Idzumi, Seki in Mino, 

 and Tokio. 



Masamune, who lived in Kamakura, about the year 1290, was 

 especially highly esteemed.^ His name became an appellative in 

 the sense of most perfect workmanship, and was later bestowed on 

 the celebrated sculptor Jocho, at Nara in Yamato, a distinction 

 enjoyed by his descendants for six generations. ^ 



Many smiths acquired great skill also in making the Gusoku 

 or armour, especially the Kabuto (helmets), Kusari-katabira (chain 

 coats or mail) and the Oke-gawa or breast armour, which super- 

 seded them later. Among these Yoroi-shi or armour-smiths, the 

 family Miyochin has especially distinguished itself for many 



^ See W. Anderson, in Murray's " Hand-book of Japan," 2nd ed., p. 115. 

 2 Whoever wishes to learn more of the history of Japanese swords is referred 

 to the following treatises. 



1. " The Sword of Japan," by Thomas McClatchie, in Transactions of the As. 

 Soc. of Japan. Vol. ii. 1874, p. 63 ff. 



2. "Die Japanischen Schwerter," von G. lAvWtY-'^t^zV., Zeitschrift fiir Ethno- 

 logie, 15. Bd. 1882, p. 30 ff. 



3. "Das Japanische Schwert," von G. Hiitterott. " Mittheil. der deutsch. 

 Gesellschaft Ostasiens," ^2> Heft, 1885. 



2 See W. Anderson, in Satow and Hawes : "A Hand-book for Travellers in 

 Japan." 2nd ed. London, 1884, p. 103. 



