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下らない

Majestic

先輩
12 Oct 2013
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Two questions about the use of 下らない

In the NBTHK's rules of judging Japanese swords, the first criterion of any sword to be appraised is:
  • 江戸時代を下らない各時代・各流派の作で銘の正しいもの、若しくは無銘であっても年代・国・系統を指摘し得るもの。

This is translated into English as
1) Edo and earlier blades with correct mei, or mumei blades on which the time period, kuni and group can be identified, may receive Hozon paper.

I don't understand the use of 下らない here. Why does 下らない encompass Edo and older?
And...in this case how is 下らない pronounced? くだらない?
 
下る indicates the direction along to "time passing/from past to future" on the time line, as opposed to さかのぼる "going back to the past". So, the negative form ~を下らない means "older than the reference point". The reference point/period 江戸時代 is included in it since 下る refers to the newer eras than it (明治, 大正, 昭和 etc.).

And...in this case how is 下らない pronounced? くだらない?
Yes, the reading is くだらない.
 
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