Description
This gift is made in Japan. It is called the Takaoka Copper Crafts, which is a traditional craft in Japan. A famous Samurai’s helmet is designed on each one.
Mouri Motonari (毛利 元就) was born in 1947, Aki-no Kuni (安芸国, today’s Hiroshima prefecture), as the second son of a small feudal lord. He was in a position where he should never have been the head of the family. However, after losing his older brother and his older brother’s son one after another, he took over the Mouri clan. Since the Mouri family was small, Motonari actively adopted his children, including offering their eldest son, Takamoto (隆元), to make the Mouri family more prominent.
By offering his eldest son to a higher-ranking family based on his appearance, Motonari gained tremendous trust from this clan. After Takamoto had acquired a high level of education and a vast network of contacts, he took over as head of the Mouri family. Motonari was involved in the family that adopted his second son and eventually had his son succeed to the family headship of that family. He did something similar with his third son. Although some details about his daughters are unclear, it is said that they contributed to the prosperity of the Mouri family through political marriages, the same as their brothers. In this way, the Mouri family expanded by actively sending adopted children to higher-ranking or rival families. Political marriages and adoptions were common in the Warring States period but did not always work out. Motonari’s intelligence, famous for his clear mind, made this strategy possible. He used policies that could be considered ruthless, subdued his opponents, and successfully controlled almost all of the Chugoku region in one generation.
Furthermore, he was brilliant in his wits and outstanding in battles. The Arita Nakaide-no Tatakai (有田中井手の戦い, the struggle of Arita Nakaide) occurred in 1517, and it is known as the first battle of Motonari. According to a theory, the combined forces of the Mouri and Yoshikawa (吉川) families, numbered between 1,200 and 2,000, fought against the Takeda (武田) army, numbered 5,000. In this battle, Motonari overcame the overwhelming difference in military strength and defeated the Takeda army, making his name known worldwide in Japan. This battle later became called the Saigoku-no Okehazama (西国の桶狭間, the battle of Western Okehazama). Motonari has participated in more than 220 battles as far as records remain, and his winning rate is said to be 80%. From this, we can see that Motonari was not only a knowledge but also a fierce general.
On the verge of his death, Motonari left these words to his sons: “我、天下を競望せず,” which means he does not seek the world. At that time, it was a time when everyone was aiming for the world; he declared that he did not want the world. There are several theories about his true feeling that this was because he knew that the Mouri family was not strong enough to take over the country at the time. Or that he wanted the prosperity of the Mouri family more than the unification of the country. Only Motonari knows the truth. It might be a commandment that we will destroy ourselves if we have excessive ambition.
He is also known to be a very conscientious person. He told his sons they should always be on good terms with each other and the importance of family unity and cooperation. In the letters to his grandchildren, Motonari has written down some tips about drinking alcohol and properly honoring his ancestors. Unlike his character as a military commander who could be ruthless at times, as a single father, Motonari seems to have been a very family-oriented person. It is probably one of the reasons why he is a popular military commander, even in modern times.
What is Takaoka Copper Crafts?
It is considered to be the root of Takaoka Douki (高岡銅器, Takaoka Copper Crafts) that the Kaga Maeda (加賀前田) family invited seven foundries to Takaoka (高岡) area in the early Edo period. At first, iron castings for agricultural machinery and other products were the mainstay, which grew to become Takaoka town’s primary industry. It started as hardware for daily necessities, but copper castings eventually began to be produced.
Copper casting is a material that could be used to create complex and delicate shapes compared to iron and other materials and has the advantage of being highly workable. In the late Edo period, works of art and Buddhist utensils began to be made that took advantage of the characteristics of copper. As the number of varieties increased, decorative techniques such as coloring, inlay, and metal engraving also developed, and the products were exhibited at the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition and received very high praise. After that, from the Meiji period to the Taisho period, innovations in manufacturing techniques occurred, and production increased dramatically, leading to the area being recognized as a significant producer of copperware. Copper also has excellent corrosion resistance and does not rot like iron even when exposed to wind and rain, so many bronze bells and swords excavated from ancient ruins have retained their original form and are more than 1,000 years old. Many of the pagoda-top metal objects and utensils of the temples that were preserved retain their beauty even today.
【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.
【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 Samjurai helmet figurine for sale? Please check the link below. We hope you can find your favorite one.
