Tsuba – Japanese sword handguard
- published by: Busido association
- author: Jakub Zeman
- photography: Mgr. Ivana Matějková – Havlíková
- graphics: Milan Jaroš
- printing: FPS Repro
- ISBN 978-80-254-7973-5
- released : 2010 (1. edition)
After a long and intensive work we finally managed to publish a book about Tsubas – Japanese sword handguards. This book tries to show and introduce tsubas not only as a part of Japanese sword designed for fight, but also as a very interesting and superior artwork.
Annotation for publication Tsuba – Japanese sword handguard published by Busido association:
Unique publication describing Japanese sword handguard (tsuba) from historical, technological and art historian point of view. Its subject is some kind of a window into the spiritual and aesthetic world of ancient Japan. The extensive elaboration for the motifs acquaints the readers with Japanese and Chinese history, literature and poetry. This publication includes also so far unpublished handguards including some top level masterpieces from notable Czech private collections including former collection of Professor L. Jisl.
The author is Jakub Zeman, japanologist who dealt with these for many years as a curator of non-European collections of National Gallery; the photographer is Mgr. Ivana Matějková – Havlíková, internationally respected creator who used her rich experiences with jewels photography to photograph these exhibits. The appendix covers a history of Kinai school of Echizen from R. Banert and complete dictionary of technical terms linked to Japanese sword fittings, published for the first time in such range outside Japan.
Besides the handguards it also represents several examples of Japanese sword of high collector level. High photography level and successful graphic form on glossy paper. 160 pages.
