- Tsuba - Kacchushi 24 arrows - rising sun motive

This early iron tsuba shows a radiating sukashi (openwork) pattern made of evenly spaced, wedge- or arrowhead-shaped cutouts extending from the central opening toward the rim. The design resembles a sunburst or a wheel with stylized spokes, giving the guard a sense of outward motion and martial energy. The thin, slightly uneven plate with its hammered surface and dark patina is characteristic of early armorer (katchūshi) work, and the simple oval hitsu-ana reflect its functional, battlefield-oriented origin.

The motif may symbolize the rising sun—an emblem of vitality, divine favor, and the warrior spirit—or a wheel suggesting continuity and readiness. The shapes can also be interpreted as abstract arrowheads, a fitting theme for early warriors. Such geometric symbolism was common among early samurai who preferred austere forms that communicated strength without unnecessary ornament.

A samurai might have chosen this tsuba for its lightness, its connection to early martial heritage, and its symbolic reinforcement of focus and divine protection. The disciplined, energetic design expresses the values of a warrior closely tied to tradition and practicality.

School & Date: Katchūshi; late Muromachi to early Momoyama (ca. 1500–1600).

Dimension 77,6 mm x 78,5 mm x 6,2 mm (5,7 mm) 93,2 g