Wave Tsuba ( Round )
The tsuba is a round guard at the end of the grip of bladed Japanese weapons,
like the katana and its various declinations (tachi, wakisashi etc.), tanto,
or naginata.
They contribute to the control of the arm (the right index of the fighter typically
touches the tsuba), and to the protection of the hand. The shodan no kamae guard
is determined by the tsuba and the curvature of the blade.
Tsuba are usually finely decorated, and nowadays are collectors' items. Tsuba
were made by whole dynasties of craftsmen, whose only craft was making tsuba.
They were usually lavishly decorated. In addition to being collectors items,
they were often used as heirlooms, passed from one generation to the next. Japanese
families with samurai roots sometimes have their family crest (mon) crafted
onto a tsuba. Tsuba can be found in a variety of metals and alloys, including
iron, steel, brass, copper and shakudo. |