Tsuba with the Chinese General Komei Changing the Direction of the Wind
(Japanese Military Armor)
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.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquistion unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Kyoto (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 2 5/8 x W: 2 7/16 x D: 3/16 in. (6.7 x 6.27 x 0.5 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
51.242