Page 285 - JAPAN THE SHAPING OFDAIMYO CULTURE 1185-1868

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205 Sword guard nizes well with the color of the iron. To the cately inlaid with gold. Among the extant
Hayashi Matashichi left of the tang hole the artist's name, Ma- tsuba of Hayashi Matashichi, this is a par-
(fl. mid-iyth century) tashichi, is inlaid in gold. HY ticularly fine work. HY
iron with inlaid gold
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diam. 8.o(3 /s) 206 Sword guard 207 Set of sword guards
Edo period, iyth century Hayashi Matashichi Kamiyoshi Rakuju (1817-1884)
Eisei Bunko, Tokyo (fl. mid-iyth century) iron with inlaid gold
Important Art Object iron with inlaid gold diam. left, 7.5 (3); right, 8.4 (3^4)
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diam. 8.o(3 /s) Edo period, icth century
On this flower-shaped iron tsuba are five Edo period, iyth century Eisei Bunko, Tokyo
openwork cherry blossoms. An inlaid gold Eisei Bunko, Tokyo
rope pattern encircles the inner portion, A verdant growth of dew-laden pampas
and beyond this in a concentric circle, fine The tsurumaru, literally "round crane," is a grass, with the moon shining through it,
threadlike openwork lines represent mist. type of dancing crane motif in which the has long symbolized Musashino, the broad
Evenly spaced around the scalloped pe- tips of the widely spread wings meet above grassy plain where the warriors of eastern
rimeter are four heart-shaped perforations. the head, forming a circular cartouche. Japan created the shogunal capital, Edo.
The blossoms of this powerful work are This red-tinted black iron tsuba is deco- As early as the Heian period Musashino
carved in slight relief, and the gold harmo- rated with the tsurumaru motif in skillfully served as a theme for literature and paint-
executed openwork. The eyes are deli-

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