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Japanese Military Armor
Most of the Japanese military objects William and Henry Walters collected were made during the Edo (1615-1867) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods. During these years, Japan was largely at peace. There was still a military class (the samurai), but they rarely engaged in active battle. Arms and armor became an outward symbol of status among the military class. Once Westerners were able to freely enter Japan after 1854, swords and sword fittings became popular items to collect. Some of the fittings in the Walters collection were made specifically for sale to Westerners and were never mounted on swords.
One of the most popular sword fittings among collectors was the “tsuba” or sword guard. Tsubas are placed at the end of the sword handle, or “tsuka,” to protect the bearer’s hand from being cut. Adjacent to the tsuba is a small decorated ring called the “fuchi.” This surrounds the opening on the handle and is usually paired with a “kashira” that covers the pommel end of the handle. On either side of the handle were “menuki.” These were originally developed because they helped the bearer maintain his grip on the handle, but later became strictly decorative adornments. The scabbard covering the blade is called the “saya.” In addition to shielding the sword, it often has openings along the outside to hold a utility knife and a hairpin, chopsticks or a tool designed to spur a horse. The decorated handle of the utility knife is called the “kozuka.” The other items are called “kogai,” warikogai” and “umabari.” In some cases all of these fittings were made as a set by one artist, but more frequently three or four different artists would make the pieces used in one mounting.

Box for Japanese Armor | Title |
18th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1365L | Accession |

Breastplate (Dō) | Title |
early 17th century (Momoyama; Edo) | Period |
51.595 | Accession |
creature, tsuba, dragon, smvdragon | Tags |

Breastplate (Dō) | Title |
1721 (Edo) | Period |
51.598 | Accession |
samurai | Tags |

Dagger (Tanto) with Silver Saya with Lotus Pond Life, Flower Lotus Decoration | Title |
n.d. | Period |
51.1246 | Accession |
mask | Tags |

Dagger in Scabbard with Butterflies and Peonies | Title |
ca. 1320 (Kamakura) | Period |
51.1237 | Accession |
ravi teja | Tags |

Dagger in the Form of Rotting Wood | Title |
18th century (Momoyama) | Period |
51.1181 | Accession |

Dagger with Wisteria and Puppies | Title |
Blade: ca. 1590; Scabbard: 19th century (Momoyama) | Period |
51.1213 | Accession |

Fuchi Remounted at a Box with Legendary Figures | Title |
Original: 18th century (?); Mounted: late 19th-early 20th century (Edo-Meiji) | Period |
57.1330A | Accession |

Fuchi with a Chinese Boy | Title |
1736-1787 (Edo) | Period |
51.950 | Accession |

Fuchi with a Chinese Immortal on a Crane | Title |
18th century (Edo) | Period |
51.952 | Accession |

Fuchi with a Chinese Man on a Horse and a Peasant | Title |
1736-1787 (Edo) | Period |
51.974 | Accession |

Fuchi with a Lion near a Waterfall | Title |
ca. 1771-1825 (Edo) | Period |
51.1100 | Accession |

Fuchi with a Man Carrying a Gourd | Title |
ca. 1750-1775 (Edo) | Period |
51.972 | Accession |

Fuchi with a Man Chasing Runaway Horse | Title |
1st half 19th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1018 | Accession |

Fuchi with a Man Fishing | Title |
18th century (?) (Edo) | Period |
51.994 | Accession |

Fuchi with a Man Pouring Water or Sake into a Bottle | Title |
1736-1787 (Edo) | Period |
51.942 | Accession |

Fuchi with Ants | Title |
n.d. | Period |
51.1050 | Accession |
egg | Tags |

Fuchi with Armor | Title |
18th-19th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1120 | Accession |

Fuchi with Armor | Title |
2nd half 19th century (Edo-Meiji) | Period |
51.1238.3A | Accession |
dragon, dlkfjgdflkglf | Tags |

Fuchi with Autumn Flowers | Title |
18th-19th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1217.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Autumn Flowers | Title |
ca. 1800-1850 (late Edo) | Period |
51.1064 | Accession |

Fuchi with Autumn Flowers | Title |
19th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1062 | Accession |

Fuchi with Autumn Flowers | Title |
ca. 1866 (Edo-Meiji) | Period |
51.1258.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Bamboo | Title |
19th century | Period |
51.1263.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Bamboo and Plums | Title |
early-mid 19th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1243.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Basket of Peaches on a Table | Title |
1773-1829 (Edo) | Period |
51.1034 | Accession |

Fuchi with Benkei and Yoshitsune Fighting | Title |
late 17th-early 18th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1052 | Accession |

Fuchi with Bridge and Maple Leaves | Title |
n.d. | Period |
51.984 | Accession |

Fuchi with Bush Clover | Title |
mid 19th century (Edo-Meiji) | Period |
51.1010 | Accession |

Fuchi with Bush Clover | Title |
mid 19th century (late Edo) | Period |
51.1270.2A | Accession |

Fuchi with Carp and Water Milfoil | Title |
1st half 19th century (late Edo) | Period |
51.901 | Accession |

Fuchi with Cherry Blossoms | Title |
late 18th-early 19th century (late Edo) | Period |
51.1266.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Cherry Blossoms Floating on Waves | Title |
mid 19th century (Edo-Meiji) | Period |
51.907 | Accession |

Fuchi with Cherry Blossoms in Clouds | Title |
1848-1898 (late Edo-Meiji) | Period |
51.1102 | Accession |

Fuchi with Chinese Immortal Tekkai | Title |
n.d. | Period |
51.1122 | Accession |

Fuchi with Chinese Lantern Plants | Title |
19th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1265.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Chinese Warrior | Title |
mid 18th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1032 | Accession |

Fuchi with Chinese-style Lion and Peony | Title |
ca. 1800 (Edo) | Period |
51.1439 | Accession |

Fuchi with Chinese-style Lion and Rock | Title |
19th century (Edo-Meiji) | Period |
51.1225.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Chinese-style Lions and Peonies | Title |
1742-1807 (Edo) | Period |
51.1229.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Chôryô Holding Kôsekikô's Shoe | Title |
ca. 1800 (Edo) | Period |
51.980 | Accession |

Fuchi with Chrysanthemum | Title |
18th-19th century (Edo) | Period |
51.1006 | Accession |
kashira | Tags |

Fuchi with Chrysanthemums | Title |
n.d. | Period |
51.1094 | Accession |

Fuchi with Chrysanthemums | Title |
late 19th century (Edo-Meiji) | Period |
51.1234.2A | Accession |

Fuchi with Chrysanthemums and Basket Weave | Title |
late 19th century (late Edo-Meiji) | Period |
51.1144.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Clouds | Title |
1868-1912 (?) (Meiji) | Period |
51.1188.3a | Accession |

Fuchi with Crab and Water Plants | Title |
ca. 1871 (Meiji) | Period |
51.1244.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Crane and Reeds | Title |
n.d. | Period |
51.930 | Accession |

Fuchi with Crests | Title |
18th century (?) (Edo) | Period |
51.1196.3A | Accession |

Fuchi with Cricket | Title |
n.d. | Period |
51.936 | Accession |