Path: ccsf.homeunix.org!ccsf.homeunix.org!news1.wakwak.com!nf1.xephion.ne.jp!onion.ish.org!news.heimat.gr.jp!news.jone-system.com!mmcatv.co.jp!news.moat.net!news.glorb.com!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!local1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.comcast.com!news.comcast.com.POSTED!not-for-mail NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 22:16:07 -0500 From: "SS" Newsgroups: fj.sci.lang.japanese Subject: help with inscription on Japanese sword Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 23:16:31 -0400 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409 Message-ID: Lines: 17 NNTP-Posting-Host: 68.85.234.0 X-Trace: sv3-VzBAK5+nAKz46/s0E36HhZq65x986cHUwu12LK6RZOHVxpgEVYERJkAy8xTjavMAFhTU4boBSSF0yl4!2pegkaDwaGRJVxlj3VZCBywAccPtL1xSuD5csarc0Ff8w0ny2wapKLil5Wo= X-Complaints-To: abuse@comcast.net X-DMCA-Complaints-To: dmca@comcast.net X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint properly X-Postfilter: 1.1 Xref: ccsf.homeunix.org fj.sci.lang.japanese:496 Hello -- a friend of mine is interested in antiques and recently purchased what was described as a Japanese sword. The authenticity and date of the sword are both very much in question. On the sword is the inscription ??? ( ? is written with an older version of the radical). In this context, what is the likely reading of this name, and does it shed any light on the age or authenticity of the sword? I know that the most common "current" reading for ?? would be ????, but in this setting, I was wondering if the name might more likely be something along the lines of ???????, (cf., ???? -- ????????. I know very little about Japanese antiques or swords, and would be thankful for any feedback that might help my friend better appreciate her purchase. I have uploaded a small picture of a pencil rubbing of the inscription here: http://www.jetranslation.com/sword/sword inscription.jpg . Thank you for your help -- SS