Tsuba (Sword guard) with design of dragon among clouds / Okada Masatoyo
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1978/2.6
- Title
- Tsuba (Sword guard) with design of dragon among clouds
- Artist
- Okada Masatoyo
- Artist Nationality
- Japanese
- Artist Life Dates
- act. 1789
- Medium and Support
- iron with gold and silver inlays
- 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)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Weston
- 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)
- Secondary Keywords
- animals and creatures
- associated concepts
- components
- components and systems
- components by specific context
- earth sciences concepts
- edged weapon components
- legendary creatures
- people and culture
- physical sciences concepts
- scientific concepts
- weapon components
- weather and related phenomena
- weather-related phenomena
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- 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
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1978-SL-2.6:1978_2_6_VIEW1.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"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 24, 2024.