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1. The birth of tsuba
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The sword guard history of Japan began from the Tumulus period.
The left picture is [ Toran-Gata Sukashi Tsuba ] which means reclined egg shape openworked sword guard, excavated from a tumulus.
This type of sword guards were used for Kanto-Tachi (Ring-head slung swords) or Kabutsuchi-Tachi (Chinquapin-head slung swords).
After these two kinds of swords, Japanese swords have changed their shapes and developed through Kazari-Ken (Decorative swords), Kenuki-Gata-Tachi, Hyogo-Gusari-Tachi (Hyogo-chain slung swords), Hirumaki-Tachi, Kurourushi-Tachi (Black-lacquered swords), Kawazutsumi-No-Tachi, Itomaki-No-Tachi and some others.
Although, we skip the explanation of the sword guard history of those kinds of Tachi type swords (Slung swords).
When we call merely "tsuba", it indicates sword guards attached to "Uchigatana" swords.
Now, we would like to explain the history of tsuba for those Uchigatana swords. |
[Toran-Gata Sukashi Tsuba]
reclined egg shape openworked tsuba
The Tumulus period |
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[ Hyogo-Gusari-Tachi ]
The Kamakura period (1192-1333) |
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[ Oyoroi ] (Imitation)
Ashikaga Takauji |
The Uchigatana was created during the Nanbokucho period (1336 - 1392) and,
unlike the Tachi which was worn edge-down in its scabbard (Which hung
from the belt), the Uchigatana was worn edge-up in the belt.
Before the Nanbokucho period, most of the battles were done by horse soldiers
on flatlands. Though, battles by foot soldiers on mountains gradually
increased from this period. With increase of such battles, weapons
have developed in pursuit of more quickness of action and more practical
use. Samurai knights wore the Domaru or Haramaki which are snug and
out of the way of moving instead of Oyoroi. And they carried the Uchigatana
instead of the Tachi type sword. That's because the Uchigatana fixed by
the belt is not so shaky while the Tachi slung from the belt is moving.
Because Uchigatana were worn and fixed directly by belts, only Kurigata
and Kaerizuno can be seen on their scabbards. These parts are for
preventing scabbards from dropping. A hilt of Uchigatana was
coated with shark skin and reeled thread or leather on it.
Through the Onin War (1467 - 1477), Uchigatana became most popular by the
time of the Sengoku period (=The age of Civil Wars). |
2. Emergence of craftsmen who specialized in making tsuba
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All tsuba that we appreciate as independent art objects at the present day,
used to be installed in Uchigatana type swords.
Uchigatana superseded Tachi type swords during the Muromachi period.
In regard to tsuba installed in Uchigatana type swords, it is suspicious
that there existed craftsmen who specialized in making tsuba from
the first moment. In the early stages, most of tsuba for Uchigatana
were produced by swordsmiths (Tosho-Tsuba) or by armorsmiths such
as Katchushi (Katchushi-Tsuba).
The feature of these kinds of tsuba is that they are plane plate guards with
no pattern or only with a few simple and small openwork.
We can feel the flavor of the time from these kinds of tsuba especially from
Katchushi-Tsuba. The features of Katchushi-Tsuba are that ground iron
is forged very well, not thick, rather larger than standard ones.
Most of the shapes of their rims are Kaku-Mimi or Uchikaeshi-Mimi or Dote-Mimi. And, from their small
openworked patterns or characters, we can also feel faiths, philosophy
and spirits of the possessors of those tsuba who went to war fronts. |
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[ Tosho-Tsuba ]
The former part of the Muromachi period |
Thus advised, most of tsuba were made as side works by swordsmiths or craftsmen who engaged in smithery in the early stages. Though, as time went on, craftsmen who specialized in making tsuba emerged. They made more artisic tsuba than before. It is not sure when these kinds of specialists for making tsuba emerged, however, we conjecture they emerged at the middle part of the Muromachi period (1392 - 1573). It is generally believed that the first tsuba expert craftsmen who appeared at that time were the clan of the Shoami. At first, they made whole kinds of sword ornaments. Though, they gradually became tsuba making specialists. By the time the Muromachi period ended, this clan made openworked tsuba or inlaid tsuba with gold or silver or brass metal. |
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Onin-Tsuba and Kamakura-Tsuba are considered as the first ones that craftsmen specialized in making tsuba produced.
Onin-Tsuba is named by modern people because it is considered that this kind of sword guard started to be produced at the time of the Onin war (1467 -1477).
The features of Onin-Tsuba are that
(1) Thin iron plate like Katchushi-Tsuba
(2) Inlaid with brass alloy around Seppa-Dai or Kozuka-Bitsu hole or Kougai-Bitsu hole in point-inlay or line-inlay.
For more information, Onin-Tsuba developed into Heianjo-Shiki Shinchu-Zogan Tsuba.
Family crests or patterns such as arabesque are inlaid with brass all over surfaces of a sword guard, and its inlay techniques became more elaborate and decorative than those of Onin-Tsuba.
The nominal designation of Kamakura-Tsuba comes from the fact that its carving style is similar to Japanese wood engraving folkcraft "Kamakura-Bori".
Towers, bridges or castles and landscapes in Chinese style are expressed in engraving on thin iron plates. Openwork can be seen from some of Kamakura-Tsuba.
Therefore, Samurai warriors seeked more decorative sword guards made by tsuba craftsmen emerged at the latter part of the Muromachi period.
That cuased the declines of Tosho-Tsuba and Katchushi-Tsuba. |
[ Onin-Tsuba ]
The latter part of the
Muromachi period, Estimate |
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3. Increase of artistic quality and diversification of schools
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At the times around the Sengoku period and Azuchi-Momoyama period, it accelarated
moves to decorate sword guards more.
As a result, motifs and compositions of sword guards became diversified,
and also metals of base plates or inlay materials diversified. |
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[ Vine Leaves & Butterflies-Tsuba ]
Inscribed "Umetada Myoju"
Early part of the Edo period,
Nationally important cultural property |
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