Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
ca. 300–710
Medium
Iron
Dimensions
H. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm); W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm); thickness 3/4 in. (1.9 cm); Wt. 2.1 oz. (59.5 g)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1917
Accession Number
17.229.37
Art Historical Context
This exquisite iron sword guard, known as a *tsuba*, hails from Japan around 300–710 CE, the late Kofun early Asuka periods—a time when ancient warriors crafted practical yet symbolically potent arms. Measuring just 2⅞ inches high and weighing a mere 2.1 ounces, this compact disk fits snugly at the base of a sword's hilt, shielding the hand from an opponent's blade while allowing fluid grip during combat. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1917, it now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department, offering a tangible link to Japan's formative martial traditions. Craf...