Sun & Moon Tsuba

[FletchSan]

Hi All,

 

I really like this Tsuba of the night sky showing clouds, stars and a silver moon and golden sun. Interested to find out more about it. Any ideas as to the period & possible school?

 

cheers,

 

Ben

[ROKUJURO]

Without specific knowledge, I feel it has some HIZEN traits.  

[Stephen]

Nice! WAG. Hydra constellation.

[Bugyotsuji]

Unusual design, certainly. Almost Tachi tsuba, almost Namban. What size is it? The nakago-ana suggests a very thick kasane; one hitsu-ana is tiny!

[FletchSan]

The Tsuba is fairly small though part of a Katana Koshirae that is all original.

It is 6cm x 4.5cm x 7mm. A few more images of it as part of the Koshirae.

[Baka Gaijin]

Reminds me of the type of decoration found on a Gunbai 軍配

[Bugyotsuji]

Good point Malcolm.

 

日月 Jitsugetsu, = tsukihi the passing of the days and months.

 

Or the sun and moon design in for example the Emperor's flag, jitsugetsu no hata 日月の旗

[John A Stuart]

The Qixing (Chat Sing) constellation as on the tsuba is a very important constellation in Taoism and is part of the Hydra constellation of the west. Good eye Stephen. John

[Curran]

Very good eye. I missed that at least three times before noticing what Stephen was referencing.

Thanks for the explanation John.

[Bugyotsuji]

Agreed. I missed it too. Wonderful things are uncovered!

[FletchSan]

Fascinating. I love that its an actual constellation. Makes me want to dust off my telescope and do some star gazing