Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with Legendary Figures by the Seashore
(Japanese Military Armor)
The long-armed men and long-legged men were legendary figures who lived together near the ocean. Some stories say they lived in China, while others say they lived on their own islands. They often worked together to catch fish. The long-armed man ("tenaga") would ride on the long-legged man's ("ashinaga") back to shoulders while he waded out to sea. The long-armed man would then reach into the ocean to catch fish. This tsuba shows them standing beside the sea. The long-armed man is reaching for a crab at the long-legged man's feet. On the back, more of the sea coast is depicted.
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 acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Tokyo (Edo)
(Place of Origin)
Japan, Echigo (Place of Origin)
Measurements
2 7/8 x 2 5/8 x 3/16 in. (7.3 x 6.68 x 0.45 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.
51.147