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Oto River FountainSpecial exhibit at the MIKAWA SAMURAI MUSEUM
"THE ALLURE OF KOSHIRAE"
From march 19-may 10 2005, the Museum on the Okazaki park had and exhibition on the different styles of Koshirae......
The koshirae featured in this exhibit adorn swords, the symbol of the SAMURAI...They have been produced using a variety of techniques....but all have been carefully preserved and handed down form generations...
KOSHIRAE, refers to the outer adornments on a traditional japanese sword....
Koshirae, comes from the verb....KOSHIRAERU, which means, TO MAKE or TO CREATE.....and often carries the meaning of decorating something with a copper-gold alloy or with silver...
KISHIRAE, come in many shapes and forms...Some were made to reflect the owner's SOCIAL POSITION or RANK...
Other reflect the owner's TASTES and the FASHION of the times ...or have personal touches added by the owner...so the shapes and style are truly myriad......
Many are valuable as works of art; the lacquer designs on swords sheaths are intricate world of japanese craftsmanship...
"ITOMAKITACHI KOSHIRAE"
This design features plaited thread bound around part of the sheath of a tachi sword..
The sword's blade faces downward, toward the ground, and sheath and sword hang at waist level...
These were worn at ceremonies by warriors of relatively high rank, and given as gifts and offerings at temples and shrines..
"KATANA KOSHIRAE"
This is the adornment on a KATANA sword, which hangs from a belt at the waist...Blade facing upward...
Beginning in the latter days of the Muromachi period(16 c)...warriors carried a set of two blades together....
One was long, the KATANA and the other short, WAKIZASHI...this style is called DAISHO KOSHIRAE..
"AIKUCHI KOSHIRAE"
This style is common on short blades.....
There is no guard on the sword's handle, and the sword's handle meets up neatly with the mouth of the sheath..
