Humorous tsuba motif

Dan tsuba · May 13, 2023

Hello all!

So, I have only about 100 tsuba. But I have one that I find rather humorous!

It is a guy running in the rain with an umbrella over his head. I think the artisan showed a great sense of humor in the motif of this tsuba. I get a “chuckle” out of it every time I look at it! I have included pictures below.

I was wondering, does anyone else have tsuba in their collection which they find has a humorous motif?

With respect,

Dan

Spartancrest · May 13, 2023

It will be even funnier when the little guy trips on a rock because he can't see where he is going!

I have a lot of tsuba that are a joke - but nothing of a humorous nature.

Would a Rooster looking over a pin-up chicken count?

Tsuba of a cockerel contemplating a painted screen – 1816
Ōyama Motozane (泰山元孚: 1741-1830)
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Matsunoki · May 13, 2023

24 minutes ago, Dan tsuba said:

It is a guy running in the rain with an umbrella over his head

I think that exact design has been taken straight off an old woodblock print……but I cannot remember which one. I know I’ve seen him before!

Matsunoki · May 13, 2023

Maybe it was this one I’m thinking of…….not quite the same…..

Spartancrest · May 13, 2023

Dan there is a Hiroshige III (1843 - 1894) woodblock with the Thunder God Running from the Rain.

also a nice image in the V&A by Hokusai https://www.vandaimages.com/2013GD8914-People-running-over-bridge-to-get-out-of-rain-by.html They want money to reproduce it so you will have to view the link.

image.png.102a8904c4ebcf199e6d7e527eb8cf17.png

Spartancrest · May 14, 2023

Some humorous Monkey tsuba - The image bottom central is from a book on the Japanese sense of humour: "Japanese Humour: curt Netto ; Gottfried Wagener. with 257 illustrations, including 5 chromo-plates, 1901" it shows "The Monkey as a politician after a tsuba by Moritoshi." Originally printed in German [It has three tsuba as references and another three designs used for tsuba decoration.]

The images are from https://drouot.com/en/l/19649643, The Walters Art Museum https://art.thewalters.org/detail/31222/tsuba-with-a-monkey-teasing-an-elephant-with-a-stick/ The Metropolitan, Accession Number: 43.120.947 [image can be copied from Pinterest] The other two are from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

PS. if Piers is watching he will note the string for the ears on the monkey's glasses! :laughing:

image.png.a869a53a63de80d1a9c68cfc3ce726bf.png

Larason2 · May 14, 2023

Those monkey tsuba are great! My favourite is the monkey with the sword approaching the samurai. I love that kind of situational humour involving animals. Good, clean fun!

GoldenDrachen · May 15, 2023

I also like all these "monkey business" tsuba, very much!

Description under The monochrome one:

"The Monkey as an art critic."

I think that motif has very deep meaning.

I recall one satiric epigram by Russian fabulist Krilov.

https://ruverses.com/ivan-krylov/monkey-and-the-glasses/3723/

But I don't know if in Japanese culture, image of the monkey has different meanings.

Spartancrest · May 15, 2023

Good call Vitaly the description does indeed say "Art critic" not politician, you can't trust old translations [or sometimes new Google ones for that matter].

I love the Russian poem - univerally true of all humans. :thumbsup:

Spartancrest · May 17, 2023

Funny in more ways than I want to think of!

image.png.44c753fa89c4b0b5c6bf6c8846a0ab9b.png

Deez77 · May 17, 2023

I found this piece quite humorous (and disturbing at the same time). It's not something I would associate with someone of the samurai class wearing on their sword... but who am I to judge. It's late Edo period.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/25728

Damon

Spartancrest · May 17, 2023

Damon that tsuba reminds me too much of the movie "Wolf Creek" (2005) - 'Head On A Stick' scene, I won't post the link it is far far to graphic and no fun at all :shock: !!!