Tsuba with Watanabe no Tsuna Pursuing the Earth Spider into her Cave

Description On the front of the tsuba, Watanabe no Tsuna (953-1025) is shown on the right dressed in armor. On the left, the earth spider is shown in his cave. Tsuna followed the earth spider to the cave after the spider tormented Tsuna's lord, Minamoto no Yorimitsu (948-1021) while the later was ill. Yorimitsu recovered when Tsuna killed the spider. The cave is also depicted on the reverse of the tsuba.

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

Inscriptions none

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters