mid Edo – Edo – Murakami school

This is an iron tsuba with gold and silver inlays and incredibly elegant carvings.

The plot and signature are also extraordinary for this artist. Which makes this tsuba a curious specimen and an extremely rare item.

The tsuba depicts Fenggan ( Chinese) or Japanese Bukhan (birth and death dates unknown) was a Chan Buddhist monk and poet of the Tang dynasty in China.


Little is known about Bukhan’s place of origin or his family background.

He resided at Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai, appearing in a striking and unusual manner: he kept his hair long and unbound, carefully trimmed his eyebrows, and dressed in a tattered robe made of animal hides.

When questioned about the profundities of the Buddha-dharma, he would invariably reply, “in due course” – emphasizing harmonizing with each present moment and acting in accord with circumstances.

On one occasion, Bukhan entered the temple gates riding on a tiger, softly singing verses of the Dharma; this legendary scene has been immortalized in many paintings, depicting him a top the majestic beast.