Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-25
ARTISTIC METAL WORK
Japanese Sword Guards, Knife
Handles, Vases, Etc.
IN THE MOVES COLLECTION
Now on Exhibition at the Library of
Congress.
SCHOOLS OF TSUBA MAKERS
Superstitions of the Forgers-Making
Of Sword Regarded as Solemn
Business-The Bronze Vases.

The japanese from the earliest DAYS have
been great workers in metal their sword
blades have never been excelled and their
bronzes are as perfect as any which have
been produced. 1t is a distinct branch of
their art and there is none other in which
their national characteristics are more
strikingly displayed.
While Inherently the most esthetic peo-
pie under the sun, the Japanese are tradl-
tionally warlike, and as an object of veneer
alton the sword Is given first place. 1t is
not only made strong, but beautifuI-its
blade is reverently wrought and it's guard
and accessories devised with the utmost
artistic skill. This in itself is a curious
contradiction and stands as type of the
nation which gave it birth. The Japanese
are fighters, but they are also artists, and
their love of art has In no way impaired
their manhood.
From the twelfth to the sixteenth centu-
ries Japan was almost continually at war.
During that period her great military
class, the Samurai, arose; the Bushido, a
stern but admirable creed of valor became
the accepted moral code, and the heroic
deeds afterward extolled in history and
romance found original enactment. That
was the age of the sword. Then came the
Tokugawa Shoguns. bringing with them
peace the ascendancy of the Dalmos, the
feudai lords, and the development of the
minor arts The sword found little serv-
ice, but lavish establishment. Il was
handed down from father to son for gener-
alton after generation, its history and eti-
quet were part of each lads education, and
1t was ornamented by the leading artists
and artisans.
In the latter part of the fifteenth CEN
tury," Thomas w. Cutler says, the art of
ornamental working in metal was greatly
advanced by Yuijo, founder of the cele-
brated Goto family who was a personal
friend of Motonobu, the painter, one of the
first opponents of the kano school" Many
of the designs which this famous metal
worker and his descendants set forth in
taken originally from drawings by the
Kano artists. Thus 1t will be seen how
the whole history of japanese art is inter-
twined and how closely moreover it is re-
lated TO the social and civil life of the ma
ton.
Sword Guards and Other Metal Work.
Much interest is being evinced In the
Japanese art collection got together by Mr.
c. S. Noyes, which is now to be seen at
the Library of Congress. OF the several
cases In which the special exhibit is dis
played one is given over almost exclusively
to sword guards, knife handles, vases and
other work in metal. The tsuba, or sword
guard, plays an important part In every
notable japanese collection and to these
at the present time attention is specially
directed. They are usually circular or clip
teal and measure about three inches in
diameter
Commonly each has three openings-a
central wedge-shaped hole through which
the blade of the sword passes and two
smaller Sits, one on each side, to allow for
the passage of the knife and pin which
were inserted in either side of the scabbard
They were cast, or chiselled for the most
part, In iron, and enriched by the addition
of various colored alloys of precious metals
Upon their design much thought was ex-
pended and in their execution no pains
were spared. They are of almost every
description. and in even a limited catalogue
many varieties of subjects will be found
set down.
But before scrutinizing more closely the
workmanship and design of these orna-
mental guards it will be interesting to turn
to the blades themselves and inquire some
what into their specific nature.
The forging of a sword has always been
regarded by the Japanese as q solemn busi-
ness, and has been entered upon with re-
lgious ceremony. THE katanya or sword
smith," Stewart Dick says, tasted for days
before and when all was prepared he went
to the temple and prayed for a blessing on
his work In the forge was hung con-
secrated piece of straw and clippings of
paper to drive away evil spirits; and, hav-
ing first propitiated the five elements-fre,
wood water, metal and earth-the smith
donned the ceremonial robes of a court
noble and binding back the wide sleeves,
was READY 10 take manner IN manu-.
The process was comparatively simple,
consisting of a repeated series of doubling
and welding a strip of steel. The temper
ing was the most difficult part of the
operation, and was always done by the
smith himself, and often with secrecy.
Songs of the Forgers.
The forgers customarily sang at their
work and there is a quaint superstition
to the effect that the spirit Of their music
Jad md
controlled ever afterward its fortune.
Peace be on earth, peace" was the chant
Of Masamune, one of the most famous of
the swordmakers, and his blades never
failed, 1t is said, to bring thelr owners
victory Huramasa his pupil, however
cbanted instead, trouble in the world,
trouble in the world with the result that
those who carried his swords were con-
tinually embroiled and always In sorrow
and turmoil. o,o T.,
which the sword was held and the con-
scientious care bestowed upon us eXeculioh,
II does not seem strange that SO mucn time
and talent should have been given 10 It's
orna mentatfon The tsuba often represented
the work of years and stood for the most
skiilful accomplishment. The earliest We're
made of iron. but later bronze came IN
instance a single metal-the metal workers
of Japan were literally painters and color
lists Their palettes were set with various
allows. for example, one OF copper and gold
which produced blue. black surface. and
another of copper and silver, which made
silyery gray. and these they combined with
pure metals in many and varied effects.
They cast nodded. carved and engraved
their guards and by chasing and inlaytng
lent them original guise. The workmanship
of these little discs alone Is worthy of re-
mark. Each Is exquisitely fashionad-there
are no rough edges or careless mistakes.
Whether the device be simple or compli-
Gated. 1t shows mature handling and skiilful