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Tsuba (Sword guard) with design of dragon among clouds / Okada Masatoyo

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Record Details

Accession Number
1978/2.6
Title
Tsuba (Sword guard) with design of dragon among clouds
Artist Nationality
Japanese
Artist Life Dates
act. 1789
Object Creation Date
19th century
Object Creation Place
Asia (continent)
Japan (nation)
Kanto (region)
Saitama-ken (prefecture)
Musashi (province)
Creation Place 1
Asia (continent)
Creation Place 2
Japan (nation)
Creation Place 3
Kanto (region)
Creation Place 4
Saitama-ken (prefecture)
Creation Place 5
Musashi (province)
Inscription
on centerpiece
Dimensions
7.4 cm x 6.7 cm x 0.4 cm (2 15/16 in. x 2 5/8 in. x 3/16 in.)
Century
19th century
Primary Object Classification
Arms and Armor
Primary Object Type
sword guard
Secondary Object Classification
Metalwork
Secondary Object Type
sword guard
Physical Description
The flat iron plate with quatrefoil shape and the design of a dragon in midst of clouds. It has three holes: one for blade (middle) flanked by two deformed oval-shape holes (for kougai and kozuka). Around the blade hole, there is the carver’s signature. The design of a dragon, among stylized clouds, is intricately carved in high relief; the dragon has almost three-dimensional quality. On the back, the dragon tail, some parts of the body, one claw are peeking from clouds. The dragon coils around the center holes. The rims of the three circles are wavy, as if they are the part of the cloud design. The stoppers on the blade hole edges are made of gold. Some silver inlays are applied on the dragon’s eye blow and some nails.
Subject Matter
Tsuba (sword guard) is inserted between a sword handle and blade to protect hands from sharp blades. The center hole is where the sword is placed. A smaller hole on the left is to place an ornamental stick, kozuka. Another hole on the right is to insert kougai, spatula-like sticks which are said to be used for itching hair underneath hats or helmets. The dragon is a popular motif in Eastern Asian culture. In Chinese tradition, the mythical creature is associated with the eastern direction and blue-green color. The dragon was also linked with water (oceans, rivers, mist and clouds), symbolizing the dark, wet, and nurturing female qualities of in-yô (Chinese: yin-yang) cosmology. Thus, the animal is often accompanied with some form of water; in this case, clouds. Japan took from China the habit of associating the dragon with the imperial institution, Buddhism, and the virtue of vigilance. (Reference: Baird, Merrily. Symbols of Japan)
Primary Keywords
clouds
dragon
hilt
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Technical Details

Image Size
2050 x 1959
File Size
557 KB
Record
1978/2.6
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1978-sl-2.6/1978_2_6_view1.jpg

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https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1978-SL-2.6:1978_2_6_VIEW1.JPG

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"Tsuba (Sword guard) with design of dragon among clouds; Okada Masatoyo." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1978-sl-2.6/1978_2_6_view1.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 25, 2024.
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