View source for Horimono

{{Short description|Engraving on Japanese sword blade}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
[[File:脇差 固山宗兵衛宗次, Wakizashi forged by Koyama Sōbei Munetsugu 2.jpg|thumb|280px|''[[Wakizashi]]'' forged by Koyama Sōbei Munetsugu with a ''horimono'' engraved on the blade by Shōji Zenbei Nobutatsu. A [[vajra]] is engraved to pray for the protection of the offspring. Edo period]]
[[Image:Wakizashi horimono.jpg|right|thumb|100px|Antique Japanese wakizashi sword blade showing the ''horimono'', of a chrysanthemum]]
'''''Horimono''''' ({{lang|ja|彫り物}}, {{lang|ja|彫物}}, literally carving, engraving), also known as ''chōkoku'' ({{lang|ja|彫刻}}, "sculpture"), are the engraved images in the blade of a nihonto ({{lang|ja|日本刀}}) [[Japanese sword]], which may include [[katana]] or [[tantō]] blades.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.afuresearch.com/glossary1.htm |title=Glossary<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=24 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108190357/http://www.afuresearch.com/glossary1.htm |archive-date=8 November 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The artist is called a ''chōkokushi'' ({{lang|ja|彫刻師}}), or a ''horimonoshi'' ({{lang|ja|彫物師}}, "engraver"). 

There are a variety of designs, which include ''tsume'' ({{lang|ja|爪}})  "claws", ''kusa kurikara'' ({{lang|ja|草倶利伽羅}}) ([[Arabesque (European art)|Arabesque]] style), ''Munenagabori'' (created in [[Munenaga]]), ''renge'' ({{lang|ja|蓮華}}) (lotus blossom) and ''rendai'' ({{lang|ja|蓮台}}) (lotus pedestal), fruit, dragons, and many others as auspicious [[Motif (visual arts)|motif]]s. 

==Tattooing==
Horimono can also refer to the practice of traditional tattooing in Japanese culture; while [[irezumi]] usually refers to any tattooing (and often has negative connotations in Japan), "horimono" is usually used to describe full-body tattoos done in the traditional style.<ref name="history-irezumi-horimono">{{cite web|title=History of Irezumi/Horimono|url=https://irezumihorimonodesign.weebly.com/history-of-irezumihorimono.html|date=3 April 2019}}</ref>  In some cases, these tattoos can cover the whole body, including the arms and legs.

This type of tattoo is traditionally done using a tebori (手彫り) - an instrument constructed of a bundle of needles affixed to a bamboo rod. Public knowledge on this style of tattooing is limited, and one must enter an apprenticeship under a master in order to learn.<ref>{{cite web |title=Irezumi / Tebori / Horimono Tattoos – The story |url=https://blendup.art/en/tattoos/historia/irezumi-tebori-horimono-tattoos/ |website=Blendup |access-date=13 July 2022 |date=13 July 2022}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:脇差 南紀重国, Wakizashi forged by Nanki Shigekuni 1.jpg|''Wakizashi'' forged by Nanki Shigekuni ([[:ja:南紀重国|ja]]) with a ''horimono'' engraved on the blade by Ikeda Gonsuke Yoshiteru. Edo period, 1622, [[Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai#Shinsa|Important Sword]]
File:槍 隅谷正峯, Yari forged by Masamine Sumitani 1.jpg|A reproduction of the Nihon-go, one of the [[Three Great Spears of Japan]]. Forged in 1967 by [[Living National Treasure (Japan)|Living National Treasure]] [[Masamine Sumitani]] and engraved with a ''horimono'' by Sensyū Kokeguchi.
File:Wakizashi with horimono.jpg
File:Japanese katana with horimono (blade carving).jpg
File:Nakago no katana Met 2004.401.jpg
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Hamon (swordsmithing)]]
* [[Hajichi]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061030212819/http://www.galatia.com/~fer/sword/beauty/yoshihar.html Image of blades with Horimono]
* [http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/shige.htm Image of Horimono Blade]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716102556/http://www.sokenkinko.com/ So-ken Kin-ko To-shin Cho-koku  Katayama Shigetsune]
* [http://imgur.com/a/DWjI0#0 Modern engraved blades pictures]

{{Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment}}

[[Category:Japanese swords]]
[[Category:Japanese tattooing]]

{{Tattoo}}


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