Oshigata

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As Oshigata ( jap. 押形 ., Dt "printing form") is known in Japan , the graphical 1: 1 reproduction of a traditionally manufactured Japanese sword ( Nihonto ) or parts thereof, in particular the Nakago , on paper similar to the brass rubbing .

Oshigatas are made to reproduce the blacksmith's signature carved on the nakago, the hardness line (hamon) and other characteristics on the surface of the sword. Capturing all of the sword's characteristics requires intensive study of the blade as well as a high level of concentration and accuracy. A carefully made oshigata then allows an exact classification and assignment of the blade. For example, blades forged by Kōtetsu ( 虎 徹 ) and those by Hōjoji Masahiro ( 法 城 寺 正弘 ) - two swordsmiths from the Shinto period - are very similar. The main difference between the two swordsmiths is only in the way they produced Ashi on the blade . This difference can be identified in a carefully crafted oshigata and can help distinguish the blades of both smiths, which also makes a financial difference in view of the high esteem of Kotetsu.

history

Even before the Japanese Middle Ages, sword lovers and polishers used oshigatas to grasp the metallurgical characteristics of a blade. The exact technique for creating oshigata was passed on from teachers to their respective students.

Manufacturing

Materials needed to make oshigatas:

  • Sekkaboku (hard ink)
  • thin Japanese paper
  • Mounting brackets or weights (wrapped in fabric to avoid scratching the blade)
  • Soft lead or carbon pen (to better trace the contours)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Tokutarō Inuzuka: The Technique of Oshigata Making of the Japanese Sword , p. 189
  2. ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from September 13, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.thejapanesesword.com

literature

  • Tokutarō, Inuzuka: The Technique of Oshigata Making of the Japanese Sword , Hakusyusha Co., Ltd., Tokyo
  • Slough, John Scott: An Oshigata Book of MODERN JAPANESE SWORDSMITHS 1868-1945 , Rivanna River Co., Second Printing 2004
  • Fuller, Richard / Gregory, Ron: The Oshigata book , Privately published and printed by the authors, 1985

Web links