Title: Kogou to Nakakuni Zu Tsuba
Description
This Tsuba is recognized by The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, which is known as NBTHK. If you focus on the center part of this Tsuba, you would find a Mei (銘, engraved inscription). It is written as 正信 (Masanobu), and his Kaoh (花押, his stylized signature). The engraving lines on the Mei and the Kaoh are clear, and they are still in good condition even after a long period.
The theme of this Tsuba’s design was quoted from one of the Noh (能, a Japanese song and dance performed on a particular Noh stage using masks and beautiful costumes). performances called the Kogō (小督). The synopsis of this story is as follows. During the Heian period, when the Heike (平家) family was in power, Kogō no Tsubone was favored by the emperor of the time. The Kogō hid herself because she feared the power of the Taira-no Kiyomori (平 清盛), who was the father of the emperor’s wife. The emperor mourned deeply every morning and evening and was concerned about the Kogō’s whereabouts. The emperor ordered his vassal, Minamoto-no Nakakuni (源 仲国), to search for Kogō. Nakakuni once often played the flute to the tune of her music in the imperial court and could distinguish the tones of her playing. Eventually, Nakakuni finally found her based on the sound of the Koto (琴, one of the stringed instruments of Japanese music). Although he was refused at first, he desperately asked and was finally able to meet her. Kogō expressed her gratitude to the emperor for coming so far to look for her and gave Nakakuni a letter to him. She held a drinking party for Nakakuni, and he performed a dance. Eventually, the party ended, and Nakakuni returned to the capital on horseback while the Kogō saw him off. This is a story about a loyal retainer of the emperor who mediates the love between a nobleman and the woman he loves. The main character is Minamoto-no Nakakuni, who plays the role of mediator. He plays the role of supporting the tragic love colored by the nobleman’s elegant emotions behind the scenes and making it shine beautifully. For the emperor and Kogō, Nakakuni seems to be more than just a mediator of words. He links the hearts and feelings of two people who cannot meet.
If you look at this Tsuba again after knowing this story, your perception of the two characters depicted here might change. While the instrument Kogō is playing is a flute, it could be determined that the man listening intently to its sound is Nakakuni. It is wonderful that this work, which incorporates a deep knowledge of the performing arts into the weaponry of sword accessories, remains in such good condition today. And we are happy to be able to introduce it to you. We hope you will add this Tsuba to your great collection and enjoy viewing it up close.
*As this item is an antique, please check each photo and ensure its condition.
What is Tsuba?
Tsuba is the hand-guard of the Japanese sword. High-class Samurai wore his Katana sword with its beautiful sword mountings such as Tsuba. Tsuba’s front design tends to be more decorative as this part was often seen by other Samurais when he was walking on the streets.
Why is it that the sword mounting was important for Samurai?
The sword mountings of the Japanese sword have many kinds of decorations such as handguards (Tsuba), sword hilt (Menuki), pommel (Fuchi Kashira). The Japanese sword worked as a weapon and as an object to show who he was. For example, it shows their personalities and beliefs. You could say that it is like decorations for smartphones today. We recommend you zoom in on the pictures of the sword fittings. When you do so, you can see the skill of Japanese metal engraving techniques. They are mainly made of iron and copper with inlays of gold, silver, and bronze. When it comes to handguard (Tsuba), each one has a different outline and weight. These sword fittings that have lived with Japanese swords of the same age might be worth as much as the Japanese swords. They are inconspicuous parts of the Japanese sword. Nevertheless, if you are knowledgeable or particular about it, you will become a connoisseur of the Samurai.
Authentication Paper: NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
NBTHK, also known as Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai (the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), is one of the oldest Japanese sword appraising organizations in modern-day Japan. They authenticated the Tsuba on Sep 19th in the 63rd year of Showa (1988). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Tousougu, the Tsuba worth preserving for Japanese society. The purchaser will receive this original certificate as well. We can also translate what is written into English and make a PDF file for your record if you request.
【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. Time of delivery is estimated as accurately as possible by the carrier but does not take into account any delays beyond our control such as by inclement weather, post office holiday seasons.
We offer Free International Shipping as long as we can ship your order by EMS. If you prefer other shipping carriers, please contact us.
We will inform you of the order’s tracking number via email. Please make sure you fill out your valid email address correctly.
*Please keep in mind that due to the spread of COVID-19, there might be possible delays in delivery. If you like to make sure if EMS shipping is available to your country, please contact us.
【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 Tsuba and we are prepared to use the best of our ability to serve you.
【How to appreciate Tsuba】
While Tsuba is a small component of Japanese sword mountings, we would say it is one of the most conspicuous parts. Also, unlike the blade itself, Tsuba has a low risk of handling. Furthermore, it does not require a large space for storage. Thus, Tsuba is relatively easy to collect. Here we would like to propose a few ways to enrich your Tsuba experience after purchasing your favorite Tsuba.
-Inspection
Inspect and feel the artistry of Tsuba. You will be amazed by the maker’s work quality to make it look a great work.
-Find the right place to display
Tsuba would look great when displayed in the best way. Find the best place in your house, your office, or anywhere you like, so that Tsuba would be appreciated as much as you like.
※These photos are the example of Tsuba stand and how to place the Tsuba.
-Learn the details
Tsuba reflects quite a lot of detailed features of its maker. Sometimes you can find the maker’s signature on Tsuba. Tsuba makers tried adding elaborate artistry to Tsuba. Many techniques were invented to achieve this goal, such as openwork, engravings, and gold/silver inlays. There were many schools that trained Tsuba makers, and each of them has different characteristics. You would enjoy knowing these differences and find your beloved style.
-Arrange in modern style
We want to propose the way that you could enjoy the Tsuba as jewelry. By stringing a cord into the center hole of the Tsuba, it could be worn as a necklace. This modern way would show you a new charm of Tsuba. Here are the examples of neckless.
【Give the Tsuba as a special gift】
Are you looking for a special gift for a person who is interested in Japanese culture? We recommend you to give an antique Tsuba as a present for your significant other. Tsuba is an integral part of the Samurai sword, which was once a primary weapon for Samurai. Each Tsuba is a unique item and has a different design. We hope it would be a memorable gift. Now it is time for you to share the beauty of a piece of Samurai history with your family members or friends, for instance. Also, gift wrapping is available for Tsuba; it is for free. Here is an example of wrapping. For more information, please feel free to contact us. It is always our pleasure to serve you.
Would you like see some more Tsuba for sale? Please check the link below. We hope you can find your favorite Tsuba.
https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product-category/decorations/tsuba/
