Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 7.djvu/244



Ichikawa Hirosuke, who, working with three kinds of chisel only, originated the decorative sculpture of sword ornaments as it is now known. However that may be, the world certainly recognises Yūjō as the father of the art. Possibly the natural pride of the Goto family is in some degree responsible for this fact, but their pre-eminent achievements have silenced too close scrutiny into dates. It is beyond question, however, that so far as the menuki are concerned, the idea of giving to them various shapes according to the fancy of their owner was already in vogue during the time (1334—1573) of the Ashikaga Shōgun's sway in Kyōtō, and continued to be in fashion until the menuki became objects of artistic rivalry. Whether anything of the kind existed in China is not known.

It is not certain when the kozuka first came to be carried in the scabbard of the companion sword (wakizashi). In the Taira Annals (Taihei-ki) there is a description of the assassination of Prince Otō by Fuchibe, chieftain of Iga (1335 ): "Drawing the katana of the companion sword, he plunged it twice into the heart of the prince." The katana here mentioned seems to have been the present kozuka. On the whole, it may be concluded that the custom of carrying the kozuka in the scabbard of the short-sword had its origin in the Ashikaga era (fourteenth century).

The word is another way of pronouncing kamikaki (hair comb.) There is ample evidence to prove this, as well as to show that the was actually used in old times for combing the hair. When helmets were worn, the hair naturally became dishevelled, and the consequently became an essential of the warrior's equipment.

There is no explanation of the custom which commonly groups these objects together and speaks of the fuchi-gashira