Tsuba with Minamoto no Yoritomo Hiding with his Warriors in a Hollow Tree

Description This tsuba shows Minamoto Yoritomo hiding from his enemies in a tree during the Genpei War (1180-1185). Yoshitomo was being followed through the Hakone Mountains by warriors from the Taira clan. One of these warriors, Kajiwara Kagetoki, was secretly a supporter of Yoshitomo. When the Taira soldiers came upon the tree where Yoshitomo was hiding, Kagetoki stuck his bow into the tree. This startled two doves that flew away from the tree. The doves are shown at the upper left of the tsuba. Kagetoki convinced the other Taira soldiers that no one could be in the tree with the doves, thus allowing Yoritomo to escape. Yoritomo's side won the war, and he became the military ruler of the county (shogun).

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

Inscriptions [Signature] 高瀬榮壽; [Translation] Takase Eiju

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters