Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with a Gate Guardian at a Temple
(Japanese Military Armor)
On the front of this tsuba is one of the paired guardians ("ni-ô") who guard the main south gate at Buddhist temples in Japan. At the bottom, the top of the fence that typically surrounds the gods can be seen. The fierce figures protect temples from evil spirits. On the reverse are two figures among the pillars of the temple. Because of the unusually large size of the pillars, this may be the Great Buddha hall at Todaiji in Nara.
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, Tokyo (Edo) (Place of Origin)
Measurements
3 3/16 x 3 1/8 x 1/8 in. (8.16 x 7.88 x 0.36 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.
51.135