TSUNENAO FUCHI KASHIRA DEPICTING BENKEI AND YOSHITSUNE.

Edo perio, signed "Tsunenao (Kao)" on fuchi, which measures 3.8cm x 2.2cm x 1.4cm. The fuchi has a relief design of Yoshitsune, Benekei's master and the legendary samurai who fought in the Genpei war and was a key player in the defeat of the Taira. The scene appears to reference one of many instances where Yoshitsune rode his horse across a river, and in particular appears to be after a watercolor of Yoshitsune leading his men at the battle of Yashima. Yoshitsune and his horse are executed in shakduo, which the base metal is shibuchi, both accented with gold, including the rim. The kashira, fashioned en suite, depicts Benkei as he waits on the Gojo bridge, where he stood guard, taking swords from samurai as part of a personal quest to take 1000 swords. Legendarily, he encountered Yoshitsune as his to-be 1000th victim, but he lost the duel and instead became Yoshitsune's retainer. Benkei would stay with Yoshitsune until the Battle of Koromo River, where Benkei stood guard and protected Yoshitsune while the latter committed seppuku. According to legend, Benkei killed more than 300 men who tried to arrest Yoshitsune. Unable to overcome him in combat, other warriors chose to shoot Benkei and riddle him with arrows; after hours, and becoming brave enough to engage the surely weakened Beneki, the warriors realized that Benkei had died on his feet, now celebrated as the Benkei no Tachi Ojo. In paulownia wood kiri box. CONDITION: Very good, with some minor age related rubs and handling marks.