Kozuka with a Dragon Coiled around a Sword

Description Provenance Inscription Credit

Description This is the rain dragon coiled around Kôbô Daishi's sword. Kôbô Daishi (also known as Kûkai; 774-834) was a Buddhist priest who studied in China and founded the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Japan. It is said he used a sword that had a dragon wrapped around it to bring rain at the end of a drought.

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

Inscriptions none [Sticker - edged with a blue trellis pattern] 863

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters

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Creator

Japanese (Artist)

Period

n.d.

Medium

silver, gold
(Arms & Armor)

Accession Number

51.797

Measurements

3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm) (l.)

Geographies

Japan (Place of Origin)

Location Within Museum

Not On View