Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Zhūgě Liàng and Guān Yǔ (孔明・関羽図鐔)

Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Zhūgě Liàng and Guān Yǔ (孔明・関羽図鐔)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The obverse of this iron tsuba shows chancellor Zhūgě Liàng (181-234), courtesy name Kongming (Japanese: Kōmei,孔明 ), and general Guān Yǔ (?-201, Japanese: Kan’u, 関羽) with his famous halberd "Green Dragon Crescent Blade" (青龍偃月刀). The reverse is left undecorated. Both Zhūgě Liàng and Guān Yǔ are prominent figures of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, a Chinese historical text which covers the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty (ca. 184–220 A.D.) and the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 A.D.). As such Chinese classics were included in the curriculum of Japanese warrior education, relevant motifs frequently found on sword fittings. The artist Naotoshi (直寿・直壽) had studied with the Hamano School (浜野) master Naoyuki (直随, 1754-1827). He was based in Edo and used the art names Kaikūdō (皆空堂) and Ken’yūsai (顕有斎).

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Zhūgě Liàng and Guān Yǔ (孔明・関羽図鐔)Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Zhūgě Liàng and Guān Yǔ (孔明・関羽図鐔)Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Zhūgě Liàng and Guān Yǔ (孔明・関羽図鐔)Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Zhūgě Liàng and Guān Yǔ (孔明・関羽図鐔)Sword guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Zhūgě Liàng and Guān Yǔ (孔明・関羽図鐔)

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.