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Subject:Re: cast iron cauldron symbols
Posted By: Bill H Sun, Mar 01, 2015
Hi Anthony & Rat. I believe Rat is right-on in his assessment of the cauldron's characters. A Google search indicates the name 与次郎, which is transcribed in Japanese as Yojiro, is associated with a "caster of iron" and kettle-maker named Tsuji Yojiro, who was active during the Momoyama Period (1573-1615). Whether this is the same Yojiro who made and signed your particular cauldron is a matter for experts to decide, but at least you have a place to start, including these relevant Japanese-language links:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Japanese-Large-Garden-Iron-Lantern-Toro-signed-Yojiro-okimono-/201203728113?nma=true&si=8H0tdirF2WAkucVCvfF3uTuZo7A%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557#
http://www.letao-cn.com/yahoojp/auctions/item.php?aID=q52738236#enlargeimg
Among other mentions of Yojiro, the Momoyama kettle-maker, was a 2002 Google book by Louis Frederic called "Japan Encyclopedia", which contains the following entry on page 1054:
"Yojiro. Caster of iron objects (Tsuji Yojiro, late 16th century) who speciaized in making kettles (chagama) for the tea ceremony (chanoyu). Nishimura Dojin's student, he worked for Sen no Rikyu."
According to Wikipedia.org, "Sen no Rikyu (千利休, 1522 – April 21, 1591), also known simply as Rikyū, is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese "Way of Tea"... ."
As for the dubiously intentioned comments left in this thread by someone who signed off as DUNG, I am moved to speculate, in the absence of a better basis for such input, that this is just more of the recent spike in spam. Perhaps in this instance we can simply chalk it up to a case of "dung happening"?
Bill H.
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