When examining the finished hilt (tsuka),
it is clear that the wrapped hilt is an art work consisting of several basic
parts. First there is the core of the tsuka, usually of ho, a type of
magnolia wood. This must be split and inlet to accept the shape of the tang
(nakago). After being glued back together, the tsuka is covered with the
skin of a ray (same kawa). This can be done in two ways: either with two
panels covering only the visible areas, or with a sheet that completely
wraps around the tsuka. Next, thin strips of wood are placed along the upper
and lower edges of the tsuka. The wooden strips determine the shape of the
tsuka, and also act as a bridge for the ito to stretch over the same kawa
without catching on the rough nodes of the skin. Beginning the wrap is
called maki-dashi, and the actual wrapping of the tsuka begins with the
center of the length of ito placed flat on the front (omote) side of the
tsuka, just behind the collar (fuchi). The work then proceeds down the
length toward the butt end of the hilt with the two half lengths of ito
intertwining and crisscrossing. The goal of wrapping is to prevent the ito
on the hilt from being totally unraveled when one portion is cut.
As the ito is wrapped and twisted around
the tsuka, paper triangles (hishi-gami) are placed on the same kawa, under
the ito, with the bases of the triangles next to the wood strips. These
triangles help to define the diamond-shaped openings commonly found on a
hilt, through which the same kawa and hilt ornaments (menuki) can be seen.
These hishi-gami also build up the hilt to an appropriate shape for
practical use. When the entire length of the hilt has been wrapped, a knot
is tied, bringing together and locking the ends of the single piece of
braid. The knot often holds the pommel (kashira or tsuka-gashira) in place,
as well.
The actual design and twisting of the wrap
on any given hilt probably fit into one of the more than seventy recorded
styles. Although there are a great many styles of wrapping, some of the
common or more popular styles are tsumami-maki, katate-maki, hira-maki,
jabara-maki, and kumiage-maki.