{"id":16769,"date":"2020-06-22T15:56:47","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T06:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?p=16769"},"modified":"2025-05-09T08:52:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T23:52:19","slug":"episode-3-design-animal%e2%91%a1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/episode-3-design-animal%e2%91%a1\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 3: DESIGN -ANIMAL\u2461-"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 3: DESIGN -ANIMAL\u2461-<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Welcome back to the Tsuba Archives. We appreciate your interest in antique Japanese sword mountings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Continuing from the last time, we would like to cover animal designs in this article. We hope you will enjoy and find your favorite motif.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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INDEX<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u2466Fenghuang (\u9cf3\u51f0, Houou)<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u2467Crane (\u9db4, Tsuru)<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u2468Hawk (\u9df9, Taka)<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u2469Wild goose (\u96c1, Kari)<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u246aNami Chidori (\u6ce2\u5343\u9ce5)<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u246bDragonfly\/Autumn insects (\u873b\u86c9\/\u79cb\u866b, Tonbo\/Akimushi)<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u246cSpider (\u8718\u86db, Kumo)<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u246dMantis (\u87f7\u8782, Kamakiri)<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u246eButterfly (\u8776, Chou)<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u246fHuman (\u4eba\u7269, Jinbutsu)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You can jump to the product page by clicking each Tsuba’s image below.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2466Fenghuang (<\/strong>\u9cf3\u51f0, Houou)<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Houou is a member of four fantasy animals, which is called \u201cShirei (\u56db\u970a)\u201d with Kirin (\u9e92\u9e9f, Qilin), Kame (\u4e80, Turtle), and Ryu (\u9f8d, Dragon), and it is a god beast looks like a combination of chicken and peacock. Houou was considered an auspicious sign in ancient China, and it was believed that Houou would show up when the brilliant emperor appeared. People appreciate its graceful shape in Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2467Crane (\u9db4, Tsuru)<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0The pattern that describes flying cranes is called “Tobi Tsuru Mon (\u98db\u9db4\u6587)” in Japanese. There is a proverb that says cranes and turtles live a long life. It says cranes have even one thousand years lifespan; therefore, cranes and turtles have been considered as the symbol of longevity since a long time ago. Also, as cranes make compatible couples, its pattern represents happy marriage. Due to its pure white feathers and dignified appearance, it was favorably used as a good omen design for various ornaments or furnishings such as Kimono (\u7740\u7269, traditional Japanese costume) or Obi (\u5e2f, belt for Kimono). Senbazuru (\u5343\u7fbd\u9db4, thousand cranes) is one of Japan’s most popular Origami craft, which is made of Origami paper. A thousand cranes of paper are jointed, and it is mainly used for wishes of recovering.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2468Hawk (<\/strong>\u9df9, Taka)<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a> <\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Hawk is an intelligent bird used for hunting, called falconry. It was famous as a recreation among high-class Samurais. In the old days, it was also familiar with emperors and royal families, so it might be why the hawk was regarded as a symbol of the ruler’s authority. During the warring period, the boy’s success was to become an excellent Samurai; therefore, it has been thought that men (Samurai) and the hawk had a deep connection as a symbol of advancement and authority. Many Samurais loved this design based on that reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Furthermore, its wings were used for one of Samurai’s primary weapons; an arrow (They put hawk’s wings as arrow’s feather). The arrow itself is reminiscent of victory or defeat, battlefield; it is not difficult to imagine that Samurais also liked the hawk wings attracted to arrows. Still today, various family crests use this bird wing’s motif.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2469Wild goose (\u96c1, Kari)<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0The wild goose is a migratory bird that represents fall. Its pattern is also called “Karigane (\u96c1\u91d1),” and some families used this motif for their family crests. The design that describes diagonally flying wild geese is named “Gankou Mon (\u96c1\u884c\u6587).” This bird is engraved by not only a realistic figure but also a very simplified shape: Hiragana (\u3072\u3089\u304c\u306a, a kind of Japanese letter) “he (\u3078)” shape that sometimes makes also wild goose.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u246aNami Chidori (\u6ce2\u5343\u9ce5)<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\" <\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Nami Chidori pattern represents a happy marriage and family safety. In Japan, people have treated it as a good omen since the Nara period (648-781). The Nami (\u6ce2) means waves, and the Chidori (\u5343\u9ce5) means plovers in Japanese. Waves are compared to the world, which describes determination: overcoming difficulties with a partner even if there are small or big waves (difficulties\/troubles). Also, the plover pattern is used as a prayer. The Japanese name of the plover, Chidori, was associated with the word Chidori (\u5343\u53d6\u308a, which literally means get a thousand). Therefore, its design contains prayers for victory and wishes for goal achievement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u246bDragonfly\/Autumn insects (\u873b\u86c9\/\u79cb\u866b, Tonbo\/Akimushi)<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Dragonflies have been inhabited in Japan for a long time. Since they prey quickly, their heroic figure was sometimes the object of belief. The dragonfly was called the Kachimushi (\u52dd\u3061\u866b, winning insect) during the Warring States period because of its fearless character. Dragonflies fly around fast to catch pests, moving only forward, not backward. Therefore, people thought the behaviors of this insect showed the spirit of Futaiten (\u4e0d\u9000\u8ee2); it is a state of mind or a state in which a person has some conviction and does not give in to difficulties. It is very persuasive that Samurai warriors cherished this design as an auspicious motif because of the spirit that Samurai should be prepared for the battlefields. Not only for sword mountings, dragonfly patterns were also incorporated into various items such as helmets, armor, battle coats, etcetera.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Above all, the dragonfly patterns combined with arrows and iris flowers were pleased. Allow was once one of the Samurai\u2019s primary weapons. Needless to say, it is closely related to Samurai culture. The Iris flower is called the Shoubu (\u83d6\u84b2) in Japanese, and there is the word Shoubu (\u52dd\u8ca0), which means battle. So, \u201cShoubu\u201d (\u83d6\u84b2, iris flower) and \u201cShoubu\u201d (\u52dd\u8ca0, fight), these two words have the same pronunciation; therefore, the iris flower pattern reminds Samurai warriors battlefields.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u246cSpider\/Cobweb (\u8718\u86db\/\u8718\u86db\u306e\u5de3, Kumo-no Su)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0As spiders nest and catch prey with their web, people considered the spider pattern had the meaning of \u201cgrabbing happiness\u201d or \u201cattracting things.\u201d The cobweb was treated in Nihonshoki (\u65e5\u672c\u66f8\u7d00, Nihongi, The Chronicles of Japan), Kokin Wakashu (\u53e4\u4eca\u548c\u6b4c\u96c6, an early anthology of Japanese poetry) and also Heike Monogatari (\u5e73\u5bb6\u7269\u8a9e, The Tale of the Heike). When the cobweb goes down in the morning, it was thought, \u201cthe person you are waiting for will come.\u201d <\/span>The spider pattern has been appreciated thanks to its beautiful nest shape and the meaning of the design. People enjoy using this motif for Kimono (traditional Japanese costume) or ceramics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u246dMantis (\u87f7\u8782, Kamakiri)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Mantis is also called \u201cOgami-Mushi (\u62dd\u307f\u866b),\u201d or \u201cInori-Mushi (\u7948\u308a\u866b)\u201d in Japanese. Both of these names mean a praying insect. Mantises hold their arms together, and their long wings cover their lower bodies. As this posture looks like a priest who prays to God, the mantis is likened to a \u201cpraying mantis.\u201d Mantises lay well. Therefore mantis is considered a symbol of children.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u246eButterfly (\u8776, Chou)<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0A larva becomes a chrysalis, and it grows up to a butterfly. As this insect changes its looks, it symbolizes reborn; therefore, Samurai loved the butterfly pattern. Also, as butterflies make a couple on good terms, this motif represents happy marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u246fHuman (\u4eba\u7269, Jinbutsu)<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> \"\"<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0The designs of people or stories are often expressed based on myths, legends, past events, Noh (\u80fd, a kind of classical Japanese dance-drama), and Japanese poetry. So that we could know Samurai’s wishes and how cultured they were. We treat many lots of Tsubas that depict human life or legends. Please check the list of Tsuba.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0We are going to update new episodes about plant design. We will see you in the next episode.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 3: DESIGN -ANIMAL\u2461- \u00a0Welcome back to the Tsuba Archives. We appreciate your interest in antique Japanese sword mountings. \u00a0Continuing from the last time, we…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16774,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tsuba"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16769"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43733,"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16769\/revisions\/43733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}