Okamoto Naoshige - Tsuba with Two Figures with a Chinese Lion-Dog - Walters 51349 - Back

The openwork design on this tsuba features two figures standing at the right. The one in the rear carries a quiver of arrows and a bow. He is blowing a long horn. The figure in front holds a Chinese style lion-dog ("shishi") on a leash. This animal did not exist, but is derived from Chinese and Japanese interpretations of stories and paintings of lions in India.