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Mumei Soten Tsuba



A well conceived and executed design of Hikone carving. Hikone (in Omi Province) Bori was originated by Shodai Kitagawa Uji Soten. Excellent example of the nidai or sandai Soten school. He and his school were very skillful tsubashi and the popularity of their carved works was well known. A Tatemaru-Gata Tetsu-Ji Sukashi Tsuba. Edo period. Complicated engraving using a mixture of iro-e takabori, sukidashi kebori, and zogan nado in ita-tsuba. 7.0cm x 6.6cm.
The design is a traditional one representing a battle scene which took place during the naval battle of the Bay of Katsuura in February, 1185. Nasu no Yoichi (c. 1169-c. 1232) was a samurai who fought alongside the Minamoto clan in the Genpei War. He is particularly famous for his actions at the Battle of Yashima in 1185. According to the Heike Monogatari, the enemy Taira placed a fan atop the mast of one of their ships, claiming it protected the ship from arrows, and daring the Minamoto warriors to shoot it off. Sitting atop his mount in the waves, his target atop the ship rocking as well, Nasu nevertheless shot it down with only one shot. It is said that both sides cheered at this uncanny marksmanship. This is one of the most celebrated events in Japanese history because the loss of that fan had much to do with the loss of the battle and the downfall of the Taira and the accession of the Minamoto. After the Genpei War, he was made daimyo of Tottori Castle, but he lost this position to Kajiwara Kagetoki after being defeated in a hunting competition. He left Echigo Province and, following the death of Minamoto no Yoritomo, Nasu became a Buddhist monk in the Jodo Shinshu sect. Eventually, he formed a temple, which has since been passed down to the oldest son of the Nasu family. For administrative purposes, detailed records were kept regarding who was to inherit the temple. As a result of this, it was possible to trace the Nasu lineage right up to the destruction of the temple during World War II. Most believe that he died at the age of 64, in the year 1232, during a ceremony in Kobe honoring those who died in the Genpei War.
$1220.00

The design is a traditional one representing a battle scene which took place during the naval battle of the Bay of Katsuura in February, 1185.

Nasu no Yoichi (c. 1169-c. 1232) was a samurai who fought alongside the Minamoto clan in the Genpei War. He is particularly famous for his actions at the Battle of Yashima in 1185. According to the Heike Monogatari, the enemy Taira placed a fan atop the mast of one of their ships, claiming it protected the ship from arrows, and daring the Minamoto warriors to shoot it off. Sitting atop his mount in the waves, his target atop the ship rocking as well, Nasu nevertheless shot it down with only one shot. It is said that both sides cheered at this uncanny marksmanship. This is one of the most celebrated events in Japanese history because the loss of that fan had much to do with the loss of the battle and the downfall of the Taira and the accession of the Minamoto.

After the Genpei War, he was made daimyo of Tottori Castle, but he lost this position to Kajiwara Kagetoki after being defeated in a hunting competition. He left Echigo Province and, following the death of Minamoto no Yoritomo, Nasu became a Buddhist monk in the Jodo Shinshu sect. Eventually, he formed a temple, which has since been passed down to the oldest son of the Nasu family. For administrative purposes, detailed records were kept regarding who was to inherit the temple. As a result of this, it was possible to trace the Nasu lineage right up to the destruction of the temple during World War II. Most believe that he died at the age of 64, in the year 1232, during a ceremony in Kobe honoring those who died in the Genpei War.