The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac" class="extiw" title="en:Chinese zodiac">Chinese zodiac</a>, which is also used in Japan, assigns an animal to each year. There are twelve animals in total, six of which are depicted on this tsuba. The other six animals were probably used to decorate other sword fittings used with the tsuba. Each animal is placed within its own cartouche. On the front of the tsuba are the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_(zodiac)" class="extiw" title="en:Rat (zodiac)">Rat</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat_(zodiac)" class="extiw" title="en:Goat (zodiac)">Goat</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_(zodiac)" class="extiw" title="en:Tiger (zodiac)">Tiger</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_(zodiac)" class="extiw" title="en:Horse (zodiac)">Horse</a>. On there reverse are the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_(zodiac)" class="extiw" title="en:Snake (zodiac)">Snake</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox_(zodiac)" class="extiw" title="en:Ox (zodiac)">Ox</a>.
<bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45266928" class="extiw" title="d:Q45266928">Egawa Toshinari</a>
</bdi>
between circa 1800 and circa 1825 <div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/7,P1319,+1800-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,+1825-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902</div> (late Edo)
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