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Tsuba depicting Shōki and a demon
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Details
- Associated place
- Date
- 18th century (1701 - 1800)
- Material and technique
- shibuichi, with iro-e zōgan (multi-metal inlay) decoration, and engraved decoration; tang-hole plugged with soft metal, probably copper
- Dimensions
- 6.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 cm (height x width x depth)
- Material index
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processed material › metal › alloy › silver alloy › shibuichi,processed material › metal › alloy › copper alloy › shibuichi,
- Technique index
- Object type index
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arms/armour › koshirae › kodogu › tsuba
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Bequeathed by Sir Arthur H. Church, 1915.
- Accession no.
- EAX.10935
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Further reading
Koop, Albert James, The A. H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba), 3 vols (Oxford, Ashmolean Museum, 1929), no. 935
Glossary (3)
Shōki, shibuichi, tsuba
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Shōki
Zhong Kui, or Shōki in Japanese, is a figure from Chinese folklore who appeared to the ailing 8th century Chinese Emperor Xuanzong in a dream and dispatched the demons that were haunting him. Shōki promised the Emperor that he would rid the world of demon
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shibuichi
alloy of copper and silver, patinated to a dull grey-green colour
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tsuba
Japanese sword guard.
Location
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- 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
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The A. H. Church Collection of Japanese Sword-Guards (Tsuba)
Bold iroye incrustation and slight modelling; Shōki (Chung Kuei, the Demon-queller of Chinese mythology) standing by a stream, with broad hat and drawn sword; at the back a demon (oni) who laughs as he runs away with Shōki's banner; fine engraved lines to indicate rain. Signed by the same artist as 933 [EAX.10933] (with the kakihan partly cut away).
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