Brian
New Member
Posts: 6 
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Post by Brian on Jul 31, 2013 12:48:50 GMT -5
Hello,
My apologies if this was covered; unable to find any references in my searches.
Can anyone comment on the matter of animal fur on saya? I'm interested in the following points especially:
* Are they post-period? What periods?
* Which animals?
* Are they a status thing?
* Are the tiger skins souvenirs of the Korean invasion under Hideyoshi?
Thank you!
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Post by Please Delete on Aug 3, 2013 11:37:19 GMT -5
You see them early on, specifically on tachi. Leather is often on the saya from where the ashi sit to the end of the kojiri, and it seems to be any kind of leather or fur. My understanding is it protects the wood of the saya from both weather and the constant wear and tear against armor. I don't know that I've seen it used as much on katana--I would think it would get in the way. However, they seem to have continued to use leather covers, at least occasionally, into WWII.
-Ii
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Post by kazuyama on Aug 3, 2013 22:03:47 GMT -5
I saw a painting a few years ago that goes right along with what Ii dono said. It was a warrior in full Yoroi armor from the Heian era with a Tachi, and the saya was covered in what looked like tiger fur. That would place it well before the Hideyoshi campaign in Korea. That is the only time I have seen it done in a painting.
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AJBryant
New Member
甲冑師 katchuu-shi
Posts: 1,972
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Post by AJBryant on Aug 4, 2013 14:20:39 GMT -5
What you probably saw was a later period illustration of older stuff.
A classic example is the large number of picture scrolls of Heian tales (Genji, various otogizoshi, etc.) that show the nobles in their Heian finery sitting on tatami-matted floors -- when covering floors in matting is a later period thing.
Essentially, the picture was little different from an Italian altar piece where soldiers at the Crucifixion wore fine renaissance armour -- only they went the other direction.
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Post by worldantiques on Aug 22, 2013 0:24:16 GMT -5
Hello, My apologies if this was covered; unable to find any references in my searches. Can anyone comment on the matter of animal fur on saya? I'm interested in the following points especially: * Are they post-period? What periods? * Which animals? * Are they a status thing? * Are the tiger skins souvenirs of the Korean invasion under Hideyoshi? Thank you! Animal fur was used as evidenced by photos and drawings but I have no idea when this began, I have seen tiger used and other unidentified types as well. These seem to be some sort of status symbol as opposed to the plain leather coverings for the saya and tsuka that were also used. These types of exotic furs could have come by way of trade with several countries such as China and Portugal, the Portuguese were known to have brought Indo-Persian items to Japan. A few examples.     |
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Post by worldantiques on Sept 14, 2013 8:34:38 GMT -5
Hello, My apologies if this was covered; unable to find any references in my searches. Can anyone comment on the matter of animal fur on saya? I'm interested in the following points especially: * Are they post-period? What periods? * Which animals? * Are they a status thing? * Are the tiger skins souvenirs of the Korean invasion under Hideyoshi? Thank you! A little more information on the subject, the covers are called "SHIRI-ZAYA". |
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