Sword Guard (Tsuba) Depicting Group of Monkeys in a Peach Tree (猿猴摘桃透鐔)
This tsuba shows a group of eight monkeys in and around a peach tree, with one monkey actually holding a peach in his hand. The faces of each of the monkeys are inlaid in copper. Both hitsu-ana (openings for scabbard accessories) have been plugged with gilt copper plugs of which one has come off.
Monkeys fetching peaches is a common subject in Chinese and Japanese art. A Chinese legend has it that Su Wukong (Japanese: Son Gokū, 孫悟空), better known as Monkey King, steals the Peaches of Immortality guarded by the Queen Mother of the West (Chinese: Xiwangmu, Japanese: Seiōbō) and consumes them.
Monkeys fetching peaches is a common subject in Chinese and Japanese art. A Chinese legend has it that Su Wukong (Japanese: Son Gokū, 孫悟空), better known as Monkey King, steals the Peaches of Immortality guarded by the Queen Mother of the West (Chinese: Xiwangmu, Japanese: Seiōbō) and consumes them.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) Depicting Group of Monkeys in a Peach Tree (猿猴摘桃透鐔)
- Date: ca. 1615–1868
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Iron, copper, gold
- Dimensions: H. 3 3/16 in. (8.1 cm); W. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); thickness 1/4 in. (0.6 cm); Wt. 5.2 oz. (147.4 g)
- Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
- Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
- Object Number: 91.1.753
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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Japanese
late 14th century
Omori Hidenaga
18th century
Hirata School
ca. 1615–1868
Japanese
5th century
鷲田光中作 Washida Mitsunaka
19th century
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