A Karako, Chinese Child is wearing Chinese-style clothing, with hair tied on top or on both sides of the head, and with all other hair shaved off. During the Tang Dynasty in China, designs depicting children were popular, and drawings of Chinese children playing were also introduced to Japan. This tsuba depicts a Chinese child playing on a seasonal festival, and is likely intended to represent celebration and auspiciousness. It is mumei/no sign, but has been attributed to the Mito tradition and passed the Hozon Tosogu shinsa in May 2025. |