Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 7.djvu/237



the guard of the katana is either without these holes, or has them filled with removable plates. The served the samurai as a kind of hair-pin for fastening on his official cap (kammuri). In time of war it was put to a different use, being thrust into the head of a slain adversary for purposes of subsequent identification so that the victor might claim the honour due to his prowess. The kōgai sometimes takes the form of a pair of skewers.

The  Kurigata —an oval knob fastened on one side of the scabbard, and having a hole through which the pendent cord (sage-o) is passed. The sage-o, which is always a strong braid of silk, is twisted round the scabbard like a sword-knot, but its chief use is to tie back the long sleeves of the surcoat during a fight. In the case of the curved sword (tachi), however, the sage-o served to fasten the scabbard to the girdle.

The  soritsuno —a piece of metal fixed on the scabbard of the "companion sword" below the kurigata to prevent the scabbard from slipping (sori) in the girdle.

The  kojiri —a metal cap sometimes placed on the end of the scabbard.

The furniture of the curved sword (tachi) has a different nomenclature from the above. Its various parts are as follows:—

 Kabuto-gane  (lit. helmet-metal)—the cap on the hilt, corresponding to the kashira of the ordinary sword.

 Musubi-gane  (lit. knot-metal)—a ring attached to the cap for the purpose of receiving a small knot.

 Tsuka-ai  (lit. hilt-companions)—corresponding to the menuki of the ordinary sword.

 Ichi-no-asbi  and  ni-no-ashi  (lit. the first foot and second foot)—two bands with rings encircling the scabbard to receive the sword-knot (sage-o).

 Shiba-biki —the lowest ring on the scabbard.

 Ishi-zuki —the "boot" of the scabbard.

In order to reach the standpoint from which the Japanese view these decorative objects, to learn how they were regarded by connoisseurs in the country of