After China ceded the island of Formosa (present-day Taiwan) to Japan in 1895, the Governor-General of Formosa was established to administer the territory, with a corresponding bureaucracy headed by a governor-general. The distinctive feature of this office was the “double triangle” emblem, which is primarily present on the uniforms of officials. Also this sign can be found in the ornamentation of one sword and several dirks, very similar to the samples of Japanese naval edged weapons: naval ceremonial saber and officer’s dirk model 1883, respectively. Despite the resemblance to the naval models, these weapons were not related to the Japanese navy. It was worn only by officials of the Governor-General’s office as uniform or ceremonial swords and dirks.
Classification of officials
Officials were divided into three ranks: hannin (junior), sonin (appointed with the emperor’s approval), and tökunin (appointed by the emperor). Swords were regulated in 1899, while dirk designs were not approved until 1911.
Dirk of the junior officials of the Governor-General of Formosa, 1911 model.
The handle of the dirk was made of gilded brass and fully decorated with engraving. The cap of the pommel, decorated with a relief image of sakura (cherry color) and leaves, had openwork slits on both sides. The handle was wrapped with black lacquered, polished scat leather (sama) and wrapped with gilded wire placed in grooves. Decorative overlays of the handle (menuki) covered the bolt and nut, by which the handle was attached to the shank. The menuki were made in the form of a “double triangle” – the Formosa badge.
On the back of the cross-shaped guard was a stamp with Japanese characters reading as: Kyoto Yechizen-ya sei, which translates to “made in the Yechizen workshop in Tokyo”. In this case, the word “Kyoto” means “eastern capital”, i.e. Tokyo, and the name of the city of Kyoto is written in other characters. The same marking is present on the ceremonial saber of Formosa.
Blade characteristics
The blade is a standard machine-made dirk with doles, fitted with a brass habak (collar on the base of the blade). The wooden scabbard was covered with dark brown or black lacquer. It is not known if other sheath coatings such as leather or shagreen were allowed. Both medallions were decorated only with dot engraving. A conventional clip and button system was used to secure the blade in the scabbard.
Dimensions and weight of the dirk
The total length of the dirk in the scabbard was 410 mm. Length of the hilt – 107 mm, length of the blade (up to the guard) – 251 mm, length of the scabbard – 302 mm. The weight of the dirk in the scabbard is 10 ounces. This dirk was apparently worn by hannin officials (equivalent to army junior officers).
So far, only one specimen of such a dirk is known, so this variety is considered very rare.
Rare specimen
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Swords and dirks on the island of Formosa
Swords and dirks on the island of Formosa
After China ceded the island of Formosa (present-day Taiwan) to Japan in 1895, the Governor-General of Formosa was established to administer the territory, with a corresponding bureaucracy headed by a governor-general. The distinctive feature of this office was the “double triangle” emblem, which is primarily present on the uniforms of officials. Also this sign can be found in the ornamentation of one sword and several dirks, very similar to the samples of Japanese naval edged weapons: naval ceremonial saber and officer’s dirk model 1883, respectively. Despite the resemblance to the naval models, these weapons were not related to the Japanese navy. It was worn only by officials of the Governor-General’s office as uniform or ceremonial swords and dirks.
Classification of officials
Officials were divided into three ranks: hannin (junior), sonin (appointed with the emperor’s approval), and tökunin (appointed by the emperor). Swords were regulated in 1899, while dirk designs were not approved until 1911.
Dirk of the junior officials of the Governor-General of Formosa, 1911 model.
The handle of the dirk was made of gilded brass and fully decorated with engraving. The cap of the pommel, decorated with a relief image of sakura (cherry color) and leaves, had openwork slits on both sides. The handle was wrapped with black lacquered, polished scat leather (sama) and wrapped with gilded wire placed in grooves. Decorative overlays of the handle (menuki) covered the bolt and nut, by which the handle was attached to the shank. The menuki were made in the form of a “double triangle” – the Formosa badge.
On the back of the cross-shaped guard was a stamp with Japanese characters reading as: Kyoto Yechizen-ya sei, which translates to “made in the Yechizen workshop in Tokyo”. In this case, the word “Kyoto” means “eastern capital”, i.e. Tokyo, and the name of the city of Kyoto is written in other characters. The same marking is present on the ceremonial saber of Formosa.
Blade characteristics
The blade is a standard machine-made dirk with doles, fitted with a brass habak (collar on the base of the blade). The wooden scabbard was covered with dark brown or black lacquer. It is not known if other sheath coatings such as leather or shagreen were allowed. Both medallions were decorated only with dot engraving. A conventional clip and button system was used to secure the blade in the scabbard.
Dimensions and weight of the dirk
The total length of the dirk in the scabbard was 410 mm. Length of the hilt – 107 mm, length of the blade (up to the guard) – 251 mm, length of the scabbard – 302 mm. The weight of the dirk in the scabbard is 10 ounces. This dirk was apparently worn by hannin officials (equivalent to army junior officers).
So far, only one specimen of such a dirk is known, so this variety is considered very rare.
Rare specimen
This article describes the history and features of the swords and dirks of the
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