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The history of Tsuba?
Tsuba also called sword guard for katana,wakizashi or tanto. Originally,The main purpose of a tsuba is to keep balance for the whole sword, the second purpose is preventing the enemy's blade slipping into his hand via its blade and injuring himself. In most of sword fighting techniques, the tsuba(sword guard) is also worked to block an opponent sword slash. During the medieval period of Japan(from the 1300s to the 1600s）,especially the Momoyama and the Muromachi time, the tsuba is created not mainly for esthetic but mostly for functional purpose. Iron, steel,brass or copper are all best choice for a tsubamaking.These are all hard metal to ensure the warriors' survival in a fight in japanese war at this time. Till the Edo period,which is a period of peace,the tsuba isgradually becoming more and more beautiful,most of tsuba in this period are really delicate,finely designed.Also gold,silver even new kinds of alloy metal(shakudo & shibuichi) has appeared,till Japanese shogunate time,The tsuba is made for reputation display when a samurai and his lord appeared at the leader’s court.
The present of Tsuba
Today,tsuba have became an individually collection art from katana. There are more and more collectors who specialize on thetsuba collection.
