Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

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Tsuba depicting Nitta Shirō Tadatsune searching a cave

Glossary

tsuba

  • tsuba

    Japanese sword guard.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The A.H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba) by Albert James Koop

    The A. H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba)

    In bold iroye incrustation is the Japanese hero Nitta Shirō Tadatsune, in full armour, with upraised torch, searching the cave which is represented by the rough surface of the guard, including a perforation below; scattered vegetation in gold; at the back, rocks, a stream, and hanging pine-trees.

    Tadatsune (also called Nitan no Shirō, 12th century) once visited a cave where "he saw a goddess who complimented him upon his courage".

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