Patriotic Paperweight - Nikudan Sanyushi

[zachb]

Recently added this "Three Human Bullets"/Nikudan Sanyushi paperweight to my collection. The paperweight has a Sacred Mirror outline and I believe the kanji on the back is a poem. The paperweight is missing the cord but that's ok it would have obscured the image.

It appears that there is a name scratched/engraved on the reverse, can anyone translate this?

Thanks, Zach

N OBV 2.jpg

N REV 1.jpg

[zachb]

Name?

N Name 2.jpg

Nikudan Sanyushi Collection.jpg

[GHP]

The name scratched onto the base is:

福田 親成
Fukuda Chikashige


--Guy

[GHP]

The waka [Japanese poem] on the back of your paperweight is the first stanza of a poem written by Emperor Meiji:

くろがねの　まと射し人も　あるものを　つらぬきとほせ　大和ごころを

Of Kurogane
Even the person shooting at a target
A certain thing
Penetrates 。。。
The Spirit of Japan

しきしまの　大和心を　みがかずば　剣おぶとも　かひなからまし

明治天皇 御製

No, I cannot translate that! It's Japanese poetry.

1. くろがね の "Kurogane" [black iron] refers to a sword, at least in the online hits I've received [discounting all the silly manga stuff]. Of Kurogane [black steel]; or Kurogane's. I do not REALLY know what this actually means! Perhaps a person called Kurogane. There is a tale, "THE GOBLIN OF OYEYAMA" in which a Palace called Kurogane existed:

It is therefore called the Palace of Black Iron or Kurogane. It is large, and the inside is as beautiful as a great Daimio's palace. Within the walls of the Palace of Black Iron, Shutendoji holds a feast night and day. He is waited upon by maidens such as I, whom he has carried off from the capital and from the provinces to be his slaves.

Still don't know if I'm missing the meaning!

2. まと射 is 的射 【matoi】and is an obscure term meaning target shooting (with bow & arrow)

3. あるものを There is something

4. つらぬきとほせ Tsuranukito hose. 貫き通す(P); つらぬき通す 【つらぬきとおす(P); ぬきとおす(貫き通す) 1) to go through; to pierce; to penetrate; (2) to persist; to stick to; to enforce (one's) will; The "hose" [ho-say] suffix I do not understand. In one poetry page it was explained as Ohose meaning "an order from a higher person", but I do not know for certain; it just might be some normal suffix ending. Or not.

5. 大和ごころを Yamato kokoro wo. Into the spirit/heart of Japan.

And ... since this is archaic Japanese/Chinese poetry -- by Emperor Meiji -- I'd bet that modern Japanese would also have some difficulty with it unless they are students of poetry.

I'll not attempt the second stanza that says something like "Shikishima's [poetic meaning Island of Japan] "Yamato Spirit", if not polished, like the sword will ... [dunno ... become dull and rusty?] ... can't make out the last part.

Uggh!

Goodnight,
--Guy

[GeorgeP]

Nice collection, Zach!

It would be interesting to know where truth ends and legend begins with this trio. No doubt very brave, but I wonder if these guys had intentions of being martyrs that day.


Tom

[zachb]

Thank you Guy so much for your work on deciphering the poem and giving me the name engraved on the back. That is very much appreciated.

Tom thank you for your compliments and what you say is very true. It seems like stories concerning the incident that gave rise to the Nikudan Sanyushi range from "it never happened" to the versions that were propagated in pre-war Japan. Many lessons can be learned from studying this material.