| This tsuba depict the nine-character self-defense meaning of "Rin臨, Hyo兵, Tou闘, Sha者, Kai皆, Jin陣, Retsu烈, Zai在, Zen前." The nine-character self-defense, meaning used in esoteric Buddhism and Shugendo to chant the nine characters and make nine types of fingers crossed. It is a uniquely Japanese incantation used to ward off disasters and win wars. The characters are delicately connected, and the iron condition suggests it was made in the mid-Edo period. The unique shape of the nakago hole is also intriguing. |
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