Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuba with Marishiten and Atago Jizô
(Japanese Military Armor)
At the top of the tsuba are seven stars from the constellation Ursa Major. The deity Marishiten was believed to reside in Ursa Major, and she is depicted in the left cartouche. Marishiten is shown standing on a running boar, with a bow and arrow in her hands. She has three heads and six arms. She was worshipped by warriors in pre-modern Japan. At the right is the deity Atago Jizô. He is sometimes called Shogun Jizô and protected warriors. This manifestation of Jizô can also be linked to Maritshiten because his animal messenger is the boar. Gingko leaves and two pigeons are at the bottom. On the reverse is another pigeon and a bow and arrow.
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 acquistion unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Tokyo (Edo) (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 3 1/8 x W: 2 7/8 in. (8 x 7.3 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.
51.104