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Source Description
According to Japanese legends, a large catfish who lives underground is responsible for earthquakes. The catfish is known as "namazu." Humans are often depicted trying to subdue him with a gourd. The motif symbolizes futile effort. This kashira is part of a set with Walters 51.913.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
39024
label
Kashira with a ""Namazu"" (Earthquake Fish)
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
39024
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Kashira with a ""Namazu"" (Earthquake Fish)
description
According to Japanese legends, a large catfish who lives underground is responsible for earthquakes. The catfish is known as "namazu." Humans are often depicted trying to subdue him with a gourd. The motif symbolizes futile effort. This kashira is part of a set with Walters 51.913.
provenance
William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
19th century (late Edo)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Arms & Armor
kashira
sword components
handles
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm) (l.)
Source extras
cul
Japanese
inscriptions
none
med
shibuichi
creator_ids
2648
collection_ids
JMA
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
b6b8f9e20e6227ab