Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with Hotei
(Japanese Military Armor)
Hotei is one of the seven gods of good fortune, with his origins in both Taoist and Buddhist beliefs. Here, he is shown opening his bag of treasures on the right side of the tsuba. In his raised right hand is a Chinese style fan. Along the bottom of the tsuba are precious jewels, often depicted with Buddhist deities. Hotei carries treasures such as these in his bag. Along the upper portion is the branch of a pine tree. On the reverse, a pine tree is along the left side with bamboo at its foot.
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 acuqisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Tokyo (Edo) (Place of Origin)
Measurements
2 7/16 x 2 3/8 x 3/16 in. (6.15 x 6 x 0.48 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.
51.270