EditorialTsuba, Iron, gold, This iron tsuba is kaku mokko (square with lobed corners) in shape and has a kaku mimi (square outer rim). Marubori-Sukashi (round openwork carving) shows a design with a military baton decorated with kin hira zogan (flat gold inlay)...
EditorialTsuba, Iron, shakudo (copper and gold alloy), The iron tsuba is an irregular oval in shape and has a raised, rim-chased mimi (edge)., At bottom, a high relief decoration of rabbits and plants with brass details. At top,a low relief of clouds and a moun...
EditorialTsuba, Iron, At the center is the nakago-ana, an opening through which the sword passes. Surrounding this is the seppadai, a flat oval area that is migaki (burnished). On either side are ryo-hitsu, openings for the kozuka (utility knife) and the kogai ...
EditorialTsuba, Iron, gold, This iron tsuba is nade (oval) in shape and has a maru mimi (round outer rim) with nanako (a punched pattern of dots). Sukashi (openwork) and iroyo takabori (high relief carving) show a scene with Shoki, the demon queller, and the de...
EditorialTsuba, Pierced iron, engraved brass inlay, The iron tsuba is round in shape, with sukashi (openwork), and has hon zogan (true inlay) decoration of shinchu hira (flat brass) showing mon-jirushi ni mogosa (various crests with waterweed). This Bizen Yoshi...
EditorialTsuba, Shakudo (an alloy of copper and 3-6% gold), gold inlay, At the center is the nakago-ana, an opening through which the sword passes, with remnants of sekigane (plugs added to fit the tsuba to a sword) made of shakudo (a soft copper and gold alloy...
EditorialTsuba, Iron, engraved brass inlay, Tsuba are disk-shaped metal sword guards that prevent the palm of the hand from slipping past the hilt and onto the blade. This tsuba was made during the Keicho period (15961615), a time when metalsmiths were beginnin...