Lacquer Artisans and the Beauty of Sword Mountings——Lacquer Techniques Adorning Koshirae (拵え) and Contemporary Transmission of Lacquer Craft in Sword Fittings (刀装具)
* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Table of Contents
Lacquer and Japanese Swords——The Invisible Craftsmanship
When discussing the beauty of Japanese swords, many people focus on the radiance of the forged blade and the intricate patterns of the blade's edge. However, the beauty of a sword does not exist in the blade alone. It is only when the "koshirae"——the entire exterior consisting of the tsuka, tsuba, and saya——is added that the sword's beauty becomes complete. And the material that forms the core of the koshirae is "lacquer (urushi)."
Lacquer artisans are the most humble yet indispensable figures in the world of sword mounting craftsmanship. Specialized craftspeople such as coating artisans, makie artisans, and raden artisans breathe life into the koshirae through their respective techniques.
The Role of Lacquer in Sword Mountings
Lacquer is not merely a decorative material. In sword mounting components, lacquer serves multiple functions.
- Protective Function: By coating wooden saya with lacquer, it protects the wood from water, moisture, and impact. When dry, lacquer forms an extremely hard film while also maintaining appropriate elasticity.
- Adhesive Function: Lacquer is used for joining saya components and securing metal fittings. In a process called "hon-kataiji," a mixture of lacquer and powder stone called "sabi-urushi" is used as a ground material.
- Decorative Function: The most visible function of lacquer is decoration. Different coating styles such as glossy black lacquer, red lacquer, and amber lacquer reveal the formality and era of the koshirae.
The Work of Coating Artisans——Specialists in Saya Finishing
Coating artisans are lacquer specialists who handle everything from surface preparation of the saya to final coating, and the process is far more complex and labor-intensive than imagined.
- Ground Preparation: First, "sabi-urushi" is applied to the wooden saya created by the saya maker to fill surface irregularities. This process is repeated several times to create a smooth ground, and after drying, the surface is honed with a whetstone to achieve a flat finish.
- Middle Coating: Several coats of intermediate lacquer are applied over the ground layer. Each layer is completely dried, honed, and then the next layer is applied——this repetition produces the final deep luster.
- Final Coating: Finally, the top coat of lacquer is applied. For the finest saya, lacquers such as bengara-urushi or nama-shoumi-urushi are selected to achieve a perfect mirror-like surface without brush marks, depending on the intended effect.
A technique known among coating artisans is "kawari-nuri" (variation coating). This technique involves mixing gold powder, silver powder, tin powder, and shell powder into lacquer, or intentionally creating patterns during the lacquer drying process. There are various types such as nashiji, gold nashiji, silver nashiji, ishime, and gold ishime.
Makie Artisans——Painting a Golden World on Lacquer
Makie is a unique Japanese lacquerwork technique in which gold powder and silver powder are sprinkled onto designs painted with lacquer and fixed with lacquer. Makie on sword mounting components was one of the most eloquent indicators of a sword's rank.
Makie techniques are broadly classified into three types.
| Technique | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Hira-makie | Basic technique. Designs are painted with lacquer, gold and silver powder are sprinkled, then fixed and honed with lacquer. Despite its flat finish, it can express refined designs. |
| Togidashi-makie | A technique that creates depth by applying and honing additional lacquer over hira-makie, giving the appearance of gold and silver embedded within the lacquer. |
| Taka-makie | A technique that raises design areas with lacquer or charcoal powder to create a three-dimensional effect, then applies makie. Floral, bird, and dragon motifs appear three-dimensionally raised, and was frequently used on daimyo koshirae during the Edo period. |
Raden Artisans——Embedding the Radiance of Shells into Lacquer
Raden is a technique in which the luminous inner layer (nacre) of shells such as nautilus, abalone, and mother-of-pearl is cut into thin pieces and inlaid into the surface of lacquerware. In sword mountings, it is frequently used to decorate the saya.
Raden artisans begin with shell processing. Thin slices are cut out and trimmed and shaped into pieces that fit the design. These are fixed with lacquer, the surrounding area is filled with lacquer and honed, resulting in a finish where the shell's luster appears to float within the lacquer.
Raden that shimmers with seven colors depending on the angle of light is particularly popular with foreign collectors. The raden technique, which began with the furnishings of aristocrats during the Heian period, is said to have been incorporated into sword mountings from the Muromachi period onward.
Modern Lacquer Artisans and the Crisis in Sword Mounting Craftsmanship
Contemporary sword mounting craftsmanship faces a serious succession crisis. Craftspeople who once specialized in creating koshirae for swords were concentrated in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, but many workshops closed due to declining demand after the period of rapid economic growth.
Currently, there are reportedly only a few dozen coating artisans nationwide who specialize in lacquered sword mountings. Makie artisans are even fewer, with only a limited number of craftspeople capable of applying makie to sword mountings.
In response to this situation, some sword smiths and koshirae makers are exploring partnerships with other industries. Cases have emerged where lacquerwork specialists focused on cultural property restoration handle sword mounting repairs, and cases where lacquerwork program graduates from universities and vocational schools transition into sword mounting craftsmanship.
Moreover, growing interest in Japanese lacquerwork abroad has contributed to increased international recognition of sword mounting craftsmanship. An increasing number of Japanese lacquerwork specialists are receiving restoration requests from Western art museums and institutions for daimyo furnishings and sword fittings in their collections, and in some cases, techniques developed through this work are returned to domestic sword mounting craftsmanship.
Deepening Sword Appreciation Through Understanding Lacquer Artisans' Work
When appreciating Japanese sword koshirae, understanding the techniques of coating artisans, makie artisans, and raden artisans greatly deepens one's appreciation. The dozens of layers of lacquer built up within what appears to be a simple black-lacquered saya, the precise gradation of gold powder in makie, the precision of raden cutting——all of these embody the invisible artisan's skill and time.
Sword appreciation does not end with the blade alone. When Japanese swords are understood as a whole including the koshirae, a true integrated artwork emerges that combines multiple crafts: smithing, polishing, saya making, metalwork, and lacquerwork.
