Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Sword Guard (Tsuba) with a Rabbit Viewing the Autumn Moon
(Japanese Military Armor)
A rabbit at the lower right of the tsuba looks up at the moon in the upper left. Rabbits are connected to the moon because in Japan the figure that can be seen in the moon is said to be a rabbit pounding rice cakes. The rabbit is also one of the signs of the Chinese zodiac. Reeds are incised into the background of the tsuba. The relief of autumn flowers includes Chinese bell flowers, bamboo leaves, and patrinia. Another rabbit is shown on the reverse, among bamboo leaves. This small tsuba is for a short sword.
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, Tokyo (Edo)
(Place of Origin)
Japan, Yamagata, Shoani (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 1 1/2 × W: 1 5/16 × D: 3/16 in. (3.8 × 3.3 × 0.5 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.
51.163