Page 283 - JAPAN THE SHAPING OFDAIMYO CULTURE 1185-1868

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off the background portions, and subtly in- 202 Sword guard ing for the tang, is an inscription that
laid with contrasting colored metals such Kaneie (fl. late loth-early iyth reads, Resident ofFushimi, Jdshu
as gold, silver, and shakudd. century) [Yamashiro province]; Kaneie. Despite the
Depicted on the front of this elegant iron with inlaid gold and silver irregular shape and rough finish of the sur-
iron tsuba is an autumn view of Kasuga diam. 7.9(3 Vs) face, this masterpiece by Kaneie is techni-
Shrine near Nara, with its identifying deer, Momoyama period, early iyth century cally accomplished; it reflects the
a maple branch at the left edge, and at the sophisticated simplicity of medieval ink
upper right a pagoda and torii gate behind Eisei Bunko, Tokyo painting and the Buddhist faith of the war-
rolling hills. Inlays pick out the details, Important Cultural Property rior. HY
such as the copper torii and touches of sil- Also by Kaneie (cat. 201), this fist-shaped
ver on the deer and gold on the maple iron tsuba is crafted so that a kozuka (small 203 Sword guard
leaves. On the reverse a maple tree is knife) can be inserted through the single Umetada Myoju (1558-1631)
carved. Flanking the central opening hole to the left of the tang opening. On brass with inlaid shakudd
through which the tang of the blade is the front are the Buddhist deity Bisha- diam. 8.0 (3 /s)
l
passed are two holes for the kozuka (small monten and two old cedar trees, the de- Momoyama period, early iyth century
knife) and kdgai (skewerlike implement), tails picked out with subtle inlays of gold
here filled with shakudd. On the front, and silver. The reverse side shows two old Kawabata Terutaka Collection,
flanking the tang hole, is an inscription cedar trees and a pair of wild geese. On Kanagawa Prefecture
that reads Resident ofFushimi, Joshu the front, flanking both sides of the open- Umetada Myôju, one of the most famous
[Yamashiro province]; Kaneie. HY
swordsmiths of the Momoyama and early

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