Iron Soten style tsuba signed "Goshu Hikone Ju Mogarashi Soten Sei". Decorated with Minamoto No Yoshitsune learning from Tengu at Mt. Kurama. Mt. Kurama is mystical place located North of Kyoto that is associated with many deity, magical beings and holy spirits. This tsuba depicts Minamoto no Yoshitsune during training with Tengu. When he was 10, Yoshitsune was placed under care of the monks of Kurama temple. According to stories he did not learn his craft form monks but from magical beings, called Tengu. They taught him swordsmanship, tactics and magic. Some ninja schools also claim to learn their secrets straight from Tengu.
Made of iron with high relief. Workmanship wise this is a very interesting piece. There is a bit of nunome zogan used on gold parts of clothing. Small parts of clothing at the bottom are inlaid with wires placed on the parallel carved lines, I am not sure I remember seeing this technique before. However majority of decorations including complicated patterns on clothing are made with metals inlaid in the carved slots. This is mind blowing considering it was made in iron!
Made in late Edo period.
Size: 76 mm x 70 mm x 5 mm
