Title: Chikubai Zu (竹梅図)
Description
This item is an antique Kougai (笄), a traditional hair ornament used by Samurai to arrange or secure their hairstyles. It was typically stored in a special slot on the scabbard called the Kougai-hitsu.
The theme of this Kougai is Chikubai-zu (竹梅図), a design that depicts bamboo and plum blossoms—two of the three auspicious motifs known as Sho-Chiku-Bai (松竹梅, pine, bamboo, and plum). In Japanese culture, this pattern symbolizes perseverance and renewal: bamboo represents strength and resilience, as it bends without breaking even in strong winds, while plum blossoms bloom in the cold of late winter, heralding the coming of spring. Together, they express the virtues of endurance, vitality, and hope for good fortune.
Traditional techniques are used in this piece, including Nanakoji (魚々子地), a method of making small dot patterns on the surface that look like fish eggs, Takabori (高彫), a deep carving technique that makes the design stand out in a three-dimensional way; and Kin-iroe (金色絵), a technique where gold is added to decorate the carved parts.
*As this item is an antique, please check each photo and ensure its condition.
Why is it that the sword mounting was important for Samurai?
The sword mountings of the Japanese sword have many kinds of decorations such as handguards (Tsuba), sword hilt (Menuki), pommel (Fuchi Kashira). The Japanese sword worked as a weapon and as an object to show who he was. For example, it shows their personalities and beliefs. You could say that it is like decorations for smartphones today. We recommend you zoom in on the pictures of the sword fittings. When you do so, you can see the skill of Japanese metal engraving techniques. They are mainly made of iron and copper with inlays of gold, silver, and bronze. When it comes to handguard (Tsuba), each one has a different outline and weight. These sword fittings that have lived with Japanese swords of the same age might be worth as much as the Japanese swords. They are inconspicuous parts of the Japanese sword. Nevertheless, if you are knowledgeable or particular about it, you will become a connoisseur of the Samurai.
【About us】
Samurai Museum is located in Tokyo, Japan, exhibiting antique artifacts related to the Samurai history. Samurai Museum Shop is the place for those who are interested in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. We deal with antique Samurai swords/armor, traditional crafts made in Japan and so on.
【Payment method】
We accept payment through Stripe (Credit card), PayPal, Apple Pay or ChromePay, all of which are secure payment methods. Also, you don’t need to make an account on Stripe for the checkout. If you prefer other payment method, please contact us. You may either pay in JPY, USD, AUD, CAD, EUR, CHF or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.
【Shipping duration】
We normally ship via EMS (Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. It usually takes at least 5-14 days to deliver the package after you place an order. Time of delivery is estimated as accurately as possible by the carrier but does not take into account any delays beyond our control such as by inclement weather, post office holiday seasons.
We offer Free International Shipping as long as we can ship your order by EMS. If you prefer other shipping carriers, please contact us.
We will inform you of the order’s tracking number via email. Please make sure you fill out your valid email address correctly.
【How to make sure the condition】
Please keep in mind that what you are going to purchase is an antique item. We uploaded high resolution photos for you to check its condition thoroughly. If you like to see more photos with different angles, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send them to you so that you can make informed decision.
It is essential for us to know that you are happy with your choice of Kozuka and we are prepared to use the best of our ability to serve you.
Would you like see some more Kozuka for sale? Please check the link below. We hope you can find your favorite Kozuka.
https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product-category/decorations/koduka/
