Tsuba with the Taoist Immortal Kinkô on his Carp

Description The man riding the carp on this tsuba is the Chinese immortal Kinkô (Ch. Kingao [Kinkao]). The carp is leaping from the waves at the upper right. Kinkô was said to have lived over two centuries and frequently painted fish. The king of the fish offered him a journey through the river. After his visit, Kinkô appeared briefly to his disciples, asked them to never kill fish, and then disappeared into the river. The reverse of the tsuba shows a view of Mt. Fuji.

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

Inscriptions [Signature] 大月光興; [Translation] Otsuki Mitsuoki

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters