Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with Taoist Immortals and Their Animals
(Japanese Military Armor)
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.
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 acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Hikone (Place of Origin)
Measurements
3 1/16 in. (7.8 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.
51.103