Kashira with Kôsekikô Holding a Scroll
(Japanese Military Armor)
The figure on this kashira is the legendary Chinese elder Kôsekikô (Ch. Huangshi Gong [Hwang Shi Kung]). He holds a staff in his right and a scroll of military strategy in his left. A famous story about him involved his encounter with the 3rd-century BC government minister Chôryô (Ch. Zhang Liang [Chang Liang]). While riding a mule across a bridge, Kôsekikô dropped his sandal. Chôryô returned it to him. As a reward, Kôsekikô gave Chôryô a book of military strategy. Later, Chôryô helped to establish the Han [Han] Dynasty (207 BC-AD 220). This is paired with a depiction of Chôryô holding the shoe on Walters 51.980.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
2007-2008 | Déjà Vu? Recurrence. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
Geographies
Japan, Tokyo (Edo) (Place of Origin)
Measurements
1 5/16 in. (3.4 cm) (l.)
Credit Line
Acquired by William T. or 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.
51.981