Page 136 - Edo: Art in Japan, 1615–1868

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Set of sword accessories: Menuki,
kozuka, and kógai
Shakudô and colored metals
3
Length of kógai 21.2 (8 /s)
Tokyo National Museum

• This set of sword accessories is
known as mitokoromono, literally
"things of three places," the "three
places" being either side of the scab-
bard and the sides of the hilt. The
kozuka (the rectangular object seen 135
here) is the hilt for a knife blade,
which was kept in a pocket at one
side of the scabbard, with the end
protruding slightly through a hole in
the sword guard. These utility knives
were used to cut paper, not as wea-
66
pons. The two menuki hilt orna-
ments in the form of folding fans
were bound on either side of the hilt
in order to facilitate the hand's grip.
The kógai, secured on the other side
of the scabbard, could be used for
dressing the hair and even as a hair-
pin. The turned-up lip on the end
was used for cleaning the ears. VH

67
Set qf sword accessories: Menuki,
kozuka, and kógai

Shakudô and colored metals
Length of kógai 21.1 (S'A)
Tokyo National Museum

• This set of mitokoromono is deco-
rated with cranes flying among clouds
and over pine trees inlaid in gold and
67 colored metals on a ground of sha-
kudó, a black alloy of copper contain-
ing a small percentage of gold. Cranes
and pines are both auspicious sym-
bols, and when taken together, they
may allude to Hóraizan, the mythical
Isle of the Immortals. VH