Tsuba with the Chinese General Komei Changing the Direction of the Wind

Description The Chinese general Komei (Ch. Zhuge Liang) is depicted at the right on this tsuba. Komei served the first two Han [Han] emperors in the 3rd century BC. This tsuba depicts his actions during a battle when he used magical powers to cause the winds to change directions. The new direction was more favorable to him and enabled his forces to win the battle. Lines indicating the wind are incised at the left of the tsuba. On the reverse is the first Han [Han] emperor Gentoku (Ch. Xuande) with an attendant.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquistion unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions [Signature] 鉄元堂　尚茂; [Translation] Tetsugendo/Naoshige

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters