Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with Kusunoki Masatsura's Death Poem
(Japanese Military Armor)
The front of this tsuba contains the death poem of Kusunoki Masatsura (1326-1348). In the 14th century, two branches of the imperial family claimed to be rightful heirs to the throne of Japan. Masatsura was loyal to the southern branch, established by the Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339). Masatsura was killed in battle against the supporters of the northern court. His loss at the battle seemed certain, so before leaving to fight he used an arrow to inscribe this poem on the door of Go-Daigo's funerary temple. "Should I not return, I leave my name among others killed by bows." The first line of the poem is carved along the right-hand edge of the tsuba and continues along the bottom. The other lines are read in order from right to left across the top. The background of the tsuba is sprinkles with small pieces of gold foil in the same manner often used on poetry paper. On the reverse of the tsuba are chrysanthemums by a stream.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Yamagata (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 2 5/8 in. (6.6 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.
51.363