Tsuba with Chinese Landscape

Tsuba with Chinese Landscape is held by Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe (Germany). Description supplied by the holding institution: The egg-shaped sword guard, a so-called "tsuba", features a smooth rim.

It belongs to the "nagamaru gata" type. The work is signed "Chôshû Hagi Jû Hisatsugu Saku". Stylistically, the piece thus counts among the "Chôshû tsuba". The decoration shows, in fine and detailed relief, a Chinese mountain landscape by a lake. A flock of wild geese traces its path in the sky. "Tsuba" are Japanese sword guards made of iron, copper, or copper alloys that sit between the hilt and the blade of a sword.

In the center of the guard is an opening for the sword's tang. Two further openings are intended for a utility knife ("kozuka") and a sword hairpin ("kôgai"). Tsuba protected the hand from the opponent's sword and from the danger of slipping onto one's own blade when thrusting. In Japan, tsuba possessed status symbol value. They embodied the aesthetic principles and social standing of the owner. Literature:… The collection record gives measurements Höhe: 7.9 cm, Breite: 7.7 cm, Tiefe: 0.55 cm [Height: 7.9 cm, Width: 7.7 cm, Depth: 0.55 cm].

Published through Europeana; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.