| This tsuba is probably a work of Mogarashi Sōten (Soheishi Nyūdō Sōten) of Hikone in Gōshū (Ōmi Province).Mogarashi Sōten, active around the Genroku period, signed his works “Gōshū Hikone-jū” and became famous for dynamic designs depicting historical Chinese and Japanese figures, dragons, birds, and flowers. His works are especially admired for their distinctive and richly detailed techniques combining deep nikubori ji-sukashi carving with high-relief inlay and colorful iroe decoration.The subject of this tsuba is “Onkō Breaking the Jar.” According to the famous Chinese story, the child prodigy Onkō—young name of the Northern Song statesman Sima Guang—was playing in a garden with friends when one of them accidentally fell into a large water jar treasured by his father. Thinking quickly, Onkō threw a stone and broke the jar, allowing the water to escape and saving his friend’s life. Although he expected to be scolded for destroying such a valuable object, his father instead praised him. The story teaches that human life is more precious than any material possession.This scene is expressed in a highly skillful and lively manner, showing the narrative quality and decorative richness characteristic of Sōten school works. |
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