Horimono
{{Short description|Engraving on Japanese sword blade}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Italic title|reason=:Category:Japanese words and phrases}}
File:脇差 固山宗兵衛宗次, Wakizashi forged by Koyama Sōbei Munetsugu 2.jpg forged by Koyama Sōbei Munetsugu with a horimono engraved on the blade by Shōji Zenbei Nobutatsu. A vajra is engraved to pray for the protection of the offspring. Edo period]]
Horimono ({{lang|ja|彫り物}}, {{lang|ja|彫物}}, literally carving, engraving), also known as chōkoku ({{lang|ja|彫刻}}, "sculpture"), are the engraved images in the blade of a nihonto ({{lang|ja|日本刀}}) Japanese sword, which may include katana or tantō blades.{{Cite web |url=http://www.afuresearch.com/glossary1.htm |title=Glossary |access-date=24 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108190357/http://www.afuresearch.com/glossary1.htm |archive-date=8 November 2006 |url-status=dead }} The artist is called a chōkokushi ({{lang|ja|彫刻師}}), or a horimonoshi ({{lang|ja|彫物師}}, "engraver").
There are a variety of designs, which include tsume ({{lang|ja|爪}}) "claws", kusa kurikara ({{lang|ja|草倶利伽羅}}) (Arabesque style), Munenagabori (created in Munenaga), renge ({{lang|ja|蓮華}}) (lotus blossom) and rendai ({{lang|ja|蓮台}}) (lotus pedestal), fruit, dragons, and many others as auspicious motifs.
Tattooing
Horimono can also refer to the practice of traditional tattooing in Japanese culture; while irezumi usually refers to any tattooing (and often has negative connotations in Japan), "horimono" is usually used to describe full-body tattoos done in the traditional style.{{cite web|title=History of Irezumi/Horimono|url=https://irezumihorimonodesign.weebly.com/history-of-irezumihorimono.html|date=3 April 2019}} In some cases, these tattoos can cover the whole body, including the arms and legs.
This type of tattoo is traditionally done using a tebori (手彫り) - an instrument constructed of a bundle of needles affixed to a bamboo rod. Public knowledge on this style of tattooing is limited, and one must enter an apprenticeship under a master in order to learn.{{cite web |title=Irezumi / Tebori / Horimono Tattoos – The story |url=https://blendup.art/en/tattoos/historia/irezumi-tebori-horimono-tattoos/ |website=Blendup |access-date=13 July 2022 |date=13 July 2022}}
Gallery
File:脇差 南紀重国, Wakizashi forged by Nanki Shigekuni 1.jpg|Wakizashi forged by Nanki Shigekuni (ja) with a horimono engraved on the blade by Ikeda Gonsuke Yoshiteru. Edo period, 1622, Important Sword
File:槍 隅谷正峯, Yari forged by Masamine Sumitani 1.jpg|A reproduction of the Nihon-go, one of the Three Great Spears of Japan. Forged in 1967 by Living National Treasure Masamine Sumitani and engraved with a horimono by Sensyū Kokeguchi.
File:Wakizashi with horimono.jpg
File:Japanese katana with horimono (blade carving).jpg
File:Nakago no katana Met 2004.401.jpg
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061030212819/http://www.galatia.com/~fer/sword/beauty/yoshihar.html Image of blades with Horimono]
- [http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/shige.htm Image of Horimono Blade]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716102556/http://www.sokenkinko.com/ So-ken Kin-ko To-shin Cho-koku Katayama Shigetsune]
- [http://imgur.com/a/DWjI0#0 Modern engraved blades pictures]
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