National Treasure

Cord-Wrapped Sword Mounting ("Itomaki no Tachi")
梨地糸巻太刀(国宝 太刀 伯耆安綱(名物 童子切安綱)の拵)
Swords & Armour · Edo, 17th centuryTNM
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This sword mounting reportedly belonged to Yūki Hideyasu (1574–1607), a samurai lord and the second son of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, the military ruler of Japan. The scabbard is weatherproofed with multiple coats of vermilion lacquer. The hand guard depicts two oxen, strong and humble animals associated with spiritual enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.
— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.















