Description
This item is a part of the Kura (鞍, saddle). It is a device worn on the back of a horse to allow it to sit on the horse. This item is used with the Abumi (鐙, stirrup). Abumi is a type of harness, a tool that hangs on the side of the horse and puts the foot on when riding. The Kakogashira (鉸具頭, ring-shaped bracket) and the Sasuga (刺鉄, rotating needle-like metal fitting), these parts exist for attaching stirrups to a saddle.
The saddle is basically assembled along a skeleton called the sella bone. It is made up of a Maewa (前輪), which is a front cover on the saddle bone on the side in the direction of travel, a Shizuwa (後輪), which is a back cover in the opposite direction to the direction of travel, and an Igi (居木), which is the valley that connects these two parts. The shapes of these covers and the number of Igi changed over time. The part of the Kura we introduce here is a Maewa or Shizuwa.
The theme of this Kura’s design is the Unryu Zu (雲龍図). It is a combination of dragons and clouds. Initially, dragons were imaginary creatures found in ancient foreign traditions or myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as a symbolic beast of auspicious signs. Its body is likened to nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, the belly is the Mizuchi (蛟, a mythical animal in Japan that looks like a snake and has a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers and ears are cows. It was thought that the dragon would reign at the top of all animals because of its odd-looking appearance. About the cloud pattern, clouds bring blessed rain and snow, and their movements significantly affect the day’s weather. Due to its supernatural power, a theory says that gods, spirits, and dragons dwell in the clouds. In Japan, there is a belief that worships dragons as water gods. Since rice cultivation has flourished in this country, people always treat water as an essential resource. We imagine some people wished for a plentiful harvest in the Unryu theme. From such a religious aspect, we could infer that dragon designs were familiar to people.
*As this item is an antique, please check each photo and ensure its condition.
【About us】
Samurai Museum is located in Tokyo, Japan, exhibiting antique artifacts related to the Samurai history. Samurai Museum Shop is the place for those who are interested in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. We deal with antique Samurai swords/armor, traditional crafts made in Japan and so on.
【Payment method】
We accept payment through Stripe (Credit card), PayPal, Apple Pay or ChromePay, all of which are secure payment methods. Also, you don’t need to make an account on Stripe for the checkout. If you prefer other payment method, please contact us. You may either pay in JPY, USD, AUD, CAD, EUR, CHF or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.
【Shipping duration】
We normally ship via EMS (Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. It usually takes at least 5-14 days to deliver the package after you place an order.
We offer Free International Shipping as long as we can ship your order by EMS. If you prefer other shipping carriers, please contact us.
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【Antique Japanese item and Export process】
After receiving the full payment from you, we will apply for its export permit from the Board of Education to legally export the item to other countries. It normally takes around 2 to 4 weeks to receive this permit. And we would like you to expect at least 1.0 – 1.5 months for your order to arrive at your given address after you ordered.
【How to make sure the condition】
Please keep in mind that what you are going to purchase is an antique item. We uploaded high resolution photos for you to check its condition thoroughly. If you like to see more photos with different angles, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send them to you so that you can make informed decision.
It is essential for us to know that you are happy with your choice of antiuqe item and we are prepared to use the best of our ability to serve you.
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https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product-category/antique/
