Tsuba with Symbols of the Star Festival (Tanabata)

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This tsuba refers to the story of the celestial lovers the Weaving Maiden (Jp. Orihime) and the Shepard (Jp. Hikoboshi). They are the stars Vega and Aquila. Because they neglected their work when they were together, the Weaving Maiden's father, the King of Heaven, decreed that they could only meet across the River of Heaven (i.e. the Milky Way) once a year. Their meeting is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month with a festival called Tanabata. The front of the tsuba shows objects associated with the story and celebrations of the festival. Along the lower edge are spools of thread used by the Weaving Maiden and maple leaves which form a bridge for the lovers to cross. Along the top and left edge are papers with poems. During the festival, celebrants write poems containing wishes and tie them to trees or bamboo poles. The back of the tsuba shows the stars and the Milky Way.

Page data

Page: 3
Source index: 0
Type: photo
Media ID: c3275a40396cf239
Size: unknown

Document data

ID: 5601
Core: obj
Type: object

DTO data

{
"id": "5601",
"sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/51.131",
"contentType": "object",
"stage": "normalized",
"title": "Tsuba with Symbols of the Star Festival (Tanabata)",
"description": "This tsuba refers to the story of the celestial lovers the Weaving Maiden (Jp. Orihime) and the Shepard (Jp. Hikoboshi). They are the stars Vega and Aquila. Because they neglected their work when they were together, the Weaving Maiden's father, the King of Heaven, decreed that they could only meet across the River of Heaven (i.e. the Milky Way) once a year. Their meeting is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month with a festival called Tanabata. The front of the tsuba shows objects associated with the story and celebrations of the festival. Along the lower edge are spools of thread used by the Weaving Maiden and maple leaves which form a bridge for the lovers to cross. Along the top and left edge are papers with poems. During the festival, celebrants write poems containing wishes and tie them to trees or bamboo poles. The back of the tsuba shows the stars and the Milky Way.",
"provenance": "Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquistion unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
"date": "1662 (early Edo)",
"citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/51.131",
"rightsUri": "CC0",
"language": "en",
"genreSpecific": [
"Arms & Armor",
"tsubas",
"sword components"
],
"iiifBase": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS3_51.131_Fnt_DD_JP08.jpg",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS3_51.131_Fnt_DD_JP08.jpg",
"largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS3_51.131_Fnt_DD_JP08.jpg",
"imageCount": 4,
"pageCount": 4,
"source": "import",
"dimensions": [
{
"units": "cm",
"width": 8.2,
"height": 7.8
}
],
"dimensionsRaw": "H: 3 1/4 x W above and below cutout: 3 1/16 in. (8.2 x 7.8 cm); W at cutout: 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm)"
}

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Document identity

{
    "localId": "5601",
    "label": "Tsuba with Symbols of the Star Festival (Tanabata)",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/51.131"
}

Document source metadata

Document source extras

{
    "cul": "Japanese",
    "style": "Umetada School",
    "inscriptions": "[Signature] 埋忠數馬助　橘宗義; [Translation] Umetada Kazuma-no-suke/Tachibana Muneyoshi saku; [Date] 寛文二歳　行年六十二; [Transliteration] Kanbun ni sai/gyonen roku ju ni; [Translation] Second year of Kanbun (1662)/ Age 62",
    "med": "iron, gold",
    "creator_ids": [
        "3422"
    ],
    "collection_ids": [
        "JMA"
    ],
    "exhibition_ids": []
}

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