Japan, 19th century, Tsuchiya school - Lot 133

Japan, 19th century, Tsuchiya school Oval sentoku tsuba (nagamaru gata) with incised and inlaid gold (takazogan) and shibuichi (sumi-zogan) decoration of raging waves around rocks under a crescent moon, banks of mist in ishime-ji, kozuka-ana filled in shakudo, incised on the reverse with a waka poem in Enshû cursive (17th century), signed Tôu zu 東雨 (after a drawing by Tôu) and added signature (later) Kaze Haruaki and kakihan. H. 7 cm Provenance: Christie's London, May 19, 1992, lot 172 Collection of Mr Y.M. Tôu is a name used by several masters of the Tsuchiya school. It probably refers to Tsuchiya Yasuchika, who died in 1852. Enshû's poem could be translated as follows: Ara iso no / Iwa ni kudakete / chiru tsuki no Hitotsu ni nashite / kaeru nami kana On the rocks of the wild coast, the moon breaks and scatters; the receding waves gather it into a single radiance Tokugawa Mitsukuni (known as Enshû), Daimyô of Mito, wrote this poem in the 17th century, taking the first line from a much earlier poem written by Taiken Mon In no Horikawa (12th century), in which the noble poetess drew an analogy between her heart and the wave breaking on the rock... But according to tradition, this poem was composed by Tokugawa Mitsukuni when he had the Ôarai Isosaki shrine rebuilt after it had been destroyed during the Sengoku war. Thus, the moon suspended in the distant sky, unchanging and peaceful, symbolizes a distant peace, while its near light is destroyed on the surface of the water, representing the "floating world" here below. This is not, however, a poem that laments the ruins of life. This scattered light eventually gathers again, thanks to the ebb and flow of the waves. (Our thanks to Alain Briot for translating and interpreting this poem)