Tsuba with Taoist Immortals and Their Animals

Description This heavily decorated tsuba shows six Taoist immortals. The front depicts Chôkarô on his magic mule, Kinko riding a carp, and Gama on a carp. On the back are Koan riding a tortoise, Chochika sitting on a mat, and Gomo carrying a fan. The back also shows a pair of cranes in flight. Cranes are said to live for a thousand years and often appear with Immortals. The stylized waves in the background may be a reference to the Island of the Immortals.

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

Inscriptions [Signature] Obverse: 藻柄子喜多河　入道宗典製; [Translation] Mogarashi Kitagawa/nyudo Soten Sei; [Transcription] On reverse: 江州　彦根住; [Transliteration] Go no Kuni/Hikone Ju; [Translation] Inscribed: Omi Province/Living in Hikone.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters