Large Heianjo Tsuba with Aoi Mon
82mm x 80 mm x 3.5mm
This Heianjo tsuba features the Tokugawa Aoi Mon (hollyhock crest) is an antique Japanese sword guard characterized by its iron base and decorative brass inlay, often dating to the Edo period. The use of the Tokugawa Aoi Mon indicates a connection to the ruling Tokugawa shogunate family or domains that used the prestigious
Characteristics of the Tsuba
- Heianjo Style: Tsuba attributed to the Heianjo school (named after the old name for Kyoto) are known for their distinct shinchu zougan (brass inlay) on an iron plate. The designs typically feature floral or kamon (family crest) motifs executed in flat or low-relief inlay.
- Tokugawa Aoi Mon: The Aoi (hollyhock) crest was the exclusive family crest (mon) of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868). The design usually features three hollyhock leaves within a circle. Its presence on a tsuba signifies high status, allegiance, or production during the shogunate’s era.
- Auspicious Meaning: The Aoi motif was considered auspicious, as the leaves were thought to “look up” (aogu) to the sun, symbolizing good fortune.
- Edo Period Context: While early Heianjo works date back to the Muromachi period, many examples with the Aoi mon are from the more peaceful Edo period, when tsuba design shifted from pure utility to high ornamentation and symbolic expression
