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Source Description
The figures on this tsuka illustrate the story of Kamatari and Tamatori. Fujiwara Kamatari was a historical figure who died in 669, but this episode is from a legend. His daughter had become the empress of China and sent a boatload of treasures, including an important jewel, back to Japan to be used for a temple. The Dragon King of the sea stole the jewel and hid it in his temple. Kamatari retrieved it with the help of his second wife, named Tamatori who sacrificed herself to ensure the jewel was returned to Kamatari. On the front of the tsuka, Tamatori is depicted with the jewel in her left hand. In her right hand is a dagger she uses to defend herself from an octopus. On the reverse of the tsuka, the Dragon King's palace can be seen amidst waves. This is part of a mounted set.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
36434
label
Tsuka with Tamatori Fighting an Octupus
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
4
Source metadata
id
36434
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Tsuka with Tamatori Fighting an Octupus
description
The figures on this tsuka illustrate the story of Kamatari and Tamatori. Fujiwara Kamatari was a historical figure who died in 669, but this episode is from a legend. His daughter had become the empress of China and sent a boatload of treasures, including an important jewel, back to Japan to be used for a temple. The Dragon King of the sea stole the jewel and hid it in his temple. Kamatari retrieved it with the help of his second wife, named Tamatori who sacrificed herself to ensure the jewel was returned to Kamatari. On the front of the tsuka, Tamatori is depicted with the jewel in her left hand. In her right hand is a dagger she uses to defend herself from an octopus. On the reverse of the tsuka, the Dragon King's palace can be seen amidst waves. This is part of a mounted set.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
1854 (late Edo)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Arms & Armor
tsuka
sword components
handles
imageCount
4
pageCount
4
source
import
dimensionsRaw
L: 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm)
Source extras
cul
Japanese
inscriptions
[Signature] 石黒政明; [Translation] Ishigo Masaaki (kao)
med
gold, shibuichi, shakudo
creator_ids
3247
collection_ids
JMA
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
80238924e8326a11
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
f5fde6764cc0b9b2
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
be7e921a479507f7
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
75e59ec5f51665fe
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no